The show entitled The Spirit of Ireland was toured by the RTE Concert Orchestra, plus other performers, around North America in March. A short run began at the National Concert Hall last night, with minor changes to the original programme.

This is a broad-brush look at Irish culture, emphasising the traditional, middle-of-the-road and popular. The fare includes dance, 17th-century folk song, ancient stories, modern poetry and lots of orchestral music from, and inspired by, Ireland. Proinnsias O Duinn conducts the RTECO and Bill Golding provides a witty narration.

Michael McGlynn and Michael Holohan wrote music for the tour. In Cnoc na Ron, McGlynn evokes the countryside of Roundstone, Co Galway, using his characteristic, eclectic mix of traditional-style material and instrumental colour. Holohan's Lost Land deals judiciously with the Famine by using music, including traditional tunes, to accompany poems by Pearse Hutchinson and Davoren Hanna. For the present series, Bernard Reilly wrote Celtic Temptress, for dancers and orchestra. This is inspired by the story of Diarmuid and Grainne at Tara.

Here and everywhere else, the Spirit of Ireland Dancers (two women, four men) performed with panache and polish. Meav Ni Mhaolchatha sang the several songs, including a limpid account of "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" from Balfe's The Bohemian Girl. There was some excellent uilleann pipe playing from Michael McGoldrick.

There was Oirish music, of course, such as excerpts from The Quiet Man, with accompanying pictures on a screen behind the stage. I found this much-used screen too small. One was not drawn in, but peered at it like a domestic TV. That apart, The Spirit of Ireland is a lively and entertaining show.