Pianist Fiachra Garvey has announced the establishment of a new chamber music festival based in Russborough House in Blessington, West Wicklow.

Taking place on 19–21 May, the inaugural festival will feature Quatuor Zaïde performing string quartets by Mozart and Schumann; Ducasse Trio (William Slingsby-Duncombe, clarinet; Charlotte Maclet, violin; Fiachra Garvey, piano) performing Milhaud, Khachaturian, Ives, Bartók, Arutiunian, Shostakovich and Stravinsky; mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly with a song recital; and Quatuor Zaide and Garvey performing Brahms.

Writing about the establishment of the festival, Garvey said:

I had the privilege of growing up as a farmer and pianist in Ballyknockan, on the glistening Blessington lakes. In 2011, I moved to London to pursue my Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music, and subsequently have travelled extensively to many great festivals all around the world.

With every new festival I attended I could no longer ignore my desire to establish a festival in my native Wicklow… This festival will bring the riches of wonderful artists from Ireland and abroad to West Wicklow, for the enjoyment of all-comers. Russborough House, one of Ireland’s most beautiful Palladian houses, is a fitting venue with its intimate surroundings and its long history and association with music.

My sincerest hope is that this festival can be one of which the people of West Wicklow can be proud.

The festival is being supported by the Apollo Foundation and  private donors.

For full details, visit www.westwicklowfestival.com