WATCH: The music of Conor Walsh has been used for a breathtaking Mayo tourism video

‘The Front’ is an instrumental piece written by the late musician Conor Walsh. Accompanying ‘Transitions’ - the third short film in the ‘Wild Mayo’ series by mayo.ie - ‘The Front’ was the culmination of Conor’s work before his untimely passing in 2016. The film centres on the personal story of world triathlon medallist Con Doherty and his relationship with Mayo. It is dedicated to Conor’s memory and is available on YouTube and Facebook.

A talented composer and musician from Swinford, County Mayo, Conor Walsh’s perfectionism set him apart from his contemporaries. Having performed at Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, and Other Voices, as well as supporting Hozier on his 2013 tour, Conor’s music drew comparisons to the likes of Philip Glass, Aphex Twin and Nils Frahm. His minimalist piano style was largely inspired by the Mayo landscape in which he lived. The ‘Wild Mayo’ video not only acknowledges Conor’s legacy; it gives a visual platform to the landscapes which surrounded Conor and formed the basis for his work.

Featuring exceptional cinematography, panoramic backdrops and poetic narration by Con Doherty, ‘The Front’ complements the isolation of Con’s training regime. The video sees Con, who is bidding to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, swimming in gruelling Atlantic Ocean conditions, cycling on quiet country roads and running up Croagh Patrick, close to where he grew up. Commenting on the film Con explained “The funny thing is that I never really grasped how incredible a place Mayo is before I left home. It wasn’t until I began travelling the world with sport that I realised how unique Mayo is. I’ve been fortunate to have already seen more of the world than most do, but of all the places I’ve been to so far there’s nowhere that makes me feel so alive.”

Mayo.ie has created the ‘Wild Mayo’ films in association with production company Cut Media to showcase the scenery, beauty and ruggedness of County Mayo to potential visitors. “We knew the music for the video had to accurately represent the Mayo landscape and do justice to Con’s journey,”explained Padraig Judge of mayo.ie. “The Front is one of those tracks which quite literally gives you chills. Conor Walsh was a special talent by all accounts and that’s obvious in the powerful emotions contained in his music. The track epitomizes the highs and lows of Con’s sport, while capturing the wildness and unpredictability of Mayo. It is a fitting tribute to a proud Mayo man.”

The video’s release coincides with the summer tourism season. It is intended to increase awareness of Mayo as a destination for domestic and overseas visitors to Ireland. Watch the video in full here: