A documentary on Irish composer Ina Boyle airs on RTE on 5 June.

Photo courtesy of the Board of Trinity College Dublin.

Ina Boyle (1889-1967) was a major Irish composer of the early 20th century, yet she has been almost completely forgotten. A feature on RTE Lyric fm, From the Darkness, tells the story of her life and music.

The daughter of a Church of Ireland clergyman, she lived all her life in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, in a house which continues its musical connections to this day and is now home to singer Chris de Burgh and Diane Davison.

Ina Boyle achieved some major sucesses early in her career - she is the only female composer included in the Carnegie Collection of British Music - and studied with Vaughan Williams, who regarded her highly. But she often had to struggle to get her music performed or published, and lived out her final years alone in the large house in Enniskerry, an increasingly eccentric figure, still doggedly writing her music.

Much of her work has never been published or performed in public and the programme includes the first ever recordings of several songs performed by mezzo soprano Sonya Keogh, accompanied on piano by David Brophy.

This is an independent production for Lyric FM produced by Claire Cunningham, Rockfinch Ltd. The programme was made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

"FROM THE DARKNESS" - one hour radio documentary.  First broadcast: 7.30 am, Saturday 5 June 2010, RTE Lyric fm. Repeat broadcast: 7 pm, Saturday 12 June 2010, RTE Lyric fm.

Further information: Claire Cunningham (producer), email clairemmc@eircom.net