David is worthy recipient of Ashling Murphy Scholarship
David Vesey being presented with a scholarship dedicated to the memory of Ashling Murphy
TALENTED Laois musician David Vesey has been awarded a scholarship dedicated to the memory of Ashling Murphy, the teacher and musician whose life was tragically cut short in January 2022.
The scholarship was awarded at the recent fleadh cheoil in Belfast, where David secured the tract devoted to a scholarship in education.
Ashling was a talented teacher and an exceptional musician and sportswoman, whose death shocked the entire country and whose loss continues to be felt by everyone who knew her, and most especially by her family.
In her memory and thanks to the generosity of the Murphy family, Comhaltas established three scholarships to be awarded each year, covering community, education and research – these scholarships are also funded by Ken Barrett of KB Leisurewear, a Portlaoise-based enterprise.
Ashling was a member of Spink comhaltas, the Laois chapter of the Society of Musicians in Ireland and is said to have made a strong and enduring impression on everyone who worked with her and she continues to be fondly remembered. David and Ashling were co-leaders of the comhaltas tour of Ireland and Britain in 2017 and 2018. Ashling was also a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, alongside David.
David's project is to develop educational resources for teaching piano in the context of traditional Irish music. As a professional pianist and educator who operates on the boundary between traditional and classical music, David brings significant experience to this project. He is a teacher at the annual Scoil Eigse music school at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a music examiner for the Comhaltas SCT music exams, a teacher at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and regularly delivers music workshops. His debut album sets out his original arrangements and interpretations of Turlough O’Carolan’s music for piano. The album was launched in 2024 and was critically praised.
In a statement celebrating the news, Spink Comhaltas said: “We are confident that his project will be a significant tribute to Ashling as a musician and teacher.” David will perform in Emo Court on Friday 18 September as part of Culture Night. The concert is open to everyone and is free.
