Fearghal Ó Ceallacháin Death:e RTÉ Concert Orchestra Mourns Horn Player Fearghal Ó Ceallacháin Who Passed Away
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed horn player, Fearghal Ó Ceallacháin. A pillar of the orchestra since joining in 1985, Fearghal’s presence was a constant, his talent gracing our stage right up until a recent RTÉ lyric fm Lunchtime broadcast just weeks ago. Our deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and his many colleagues from over the decades.
In 2018, speaking to *The Irish Times*, Fearghal reflected on the orchestra’s enduring spirit. Noting old photographs of members past, he observed, “It still feels the same as people pass through. There’s a sort of collective intelligence.” He likened the ensemble to a ship, pondering how many planks you change before it becomes a different ship, yet it remains continuous.
In a poignant twist, amongst the images accompanying that very interview, Fearghal himself can be seen studying those historical pictures on the wall—a thoughtful guardian of the orchestra’s legacy. Now, as we mourn his passing, we understand his metaphor more profoundly. While a vital plank of our ship is gone, the vessel sails on, forever shaped by his contribution. Fearghal’s own remarkable intelligence, diligence, dedication, and warm humour are now woven into that collective intelligence he described, continuing to resonate within the orchestra he helped to steady for nearly forty years.
