Ina Boyle

Who was Ina Boyle?

Ina Boyle was an Irish composer. She was born in Bushey Park near Enniskerry and took violin and cello lessons as a child. She studied counterpoint, harmony and composition with Drs. Kitson and Hewson in Dublin, and by correspondence with her cousin Charles Wood. She also traveled to London periodically for lessons with Ralph Vaughan Williams. She also studied with Percy Buck.

Because of her isolation, Boyle's music was seldom performed. However, she continued to compose until her death. Her composition The Magic Harp received a Carnegie award, and she won an Olympic Honorable Mention in 1948 for Ireland with Lament for Bion, a composition she submitted to the Olympic Cultural Activities Committee. She died of cancer in Enniskerry, and her papers are housed in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

A feature length documentary about the life and music of Ina Boyle titled From the Darkness was broadcast 12 June 2010 on Ireland's RTÉ Lyric FM.