Partholón, hungry for power, violently murders both his parents. He loses his left eye in the attack but will suffer a worse fate at the hands of his brother if he remains in Sicily. Therefore, Partholón flees Sicily, accompanied by some 5000 followers on a long sea voyage. First, they travel East to ancient Greece and Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey), but they find no refuge. Out of desperation, they sail West again until reaching the unchartered waters of Kenmare Bay in Ireland. Upon reaching the fair shores of Ireland, Partholon and his followers sound their war-cry, but no response echoes back. Confident that no other occupying force stands in their way, Partholon and his followers march upon this new land, claiming ownership. The future for Partholón and his followers looks bright, but evil lurks in the shadows… a story you, the audience, must wait for until 2010! View Cork Youth Orchestra event page.

The Uilleann Pipes represent the very essence of Irish tradition and culture, but also exhibit the rich interface that always existed between Ireland and mainland Europe. Flaithrí Neff grew up with traditional Irish music and culture, Irish (Gaelic) was his first language. Born in Cork, Ireland, his earliest music studies were in the Cork School of Music where he took Uilleann Pipes lessons with Tomás Ó Canainn.

Flaithrí is an accomplished musician having won ten “All-Ireland” championships in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann between the ages of 14 and 18, amongst many other regional and national competitions. 1994 saw the whole family performing and this grew into the critically acclaimed group NeffBros which released two albums in 2000 and 2003, earning accolades such as “... where traditional skill and high art meet ... nothing short of genius ...” Celtic Beat, USA, “... virtuoso playing from start to finish ...” Irish Times. His compositions were first recognized in 1998 winning first prize at the Leitrim 1798 Original Music Contest.

In 1998, he was chosen to be soloist for Eddie McGuire's large symphonic score “L'Epopée Celtique” with the Lorient Festival Symphony Orchestra in Brittany, France, and again, in 1999, as soloist with the Royal Scottish National Symphony Orchestra, in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2002 Flaithrí was invited  as soloist with The Cork Youth Orchestra performing “The Brendan Voyage” suite by Shaun Davey in Ireland and touring Tuscany, Italy, and again in 2006.

Beginning in 2003 he has performed extensively throughout North America and Europe with Riverdance. It is Flaithrí's unique range of interdisciplinary experience which makes him such a wonderful communicator, encompassing traditional music and western art music. He has worked with TG4, RTÉ, BBC, 'Micheal Collins' Cork Opera House, John Spillane, Fionnuala McSherry, Carlos Nuños, Afro Celt Sound System. 

Flaithrí holds an Honours Degree in Music from University College Cork and a First Class Honours Master of Science Degree in Music/Audio Technology from the University of Limerick. He is currently finishing a Ph.D. in the Computer Science Department at University College Cork researching in the field of Advanced Interface Design using Virtual 3D Sonic Environments. He is delighted to be working with the Cork Youth Orchestra on his own composition for Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles and Orchestra. The composition, entitled "Partholón", (orchestrated by Peadar Townsend) recounts the gripping story of a mythological Sicilian prince in the ancient Irish text, LEBOR GABÁLA ÉRENN (The Book of Invasions). The 9 minute piece will function as a portal to a much larger work in progress for 2010.