News

Enniskillen-born pianist and composer honoured with blue plaque

Joan Trimble has been honoured with an Ulster History Circle blue plaque
Joan Trimble has been honoured with an Ulster History Circle blue plaque Joan Trimble has been honoured with an Ulster History Circle blue plaque

THE musical contribution of a woman regarded as the "doyenne of Irish composers" has been celebrated in Co Fermanagh.

Joan Trimble, a composer, teacher, concert pianist and owner of the Impartial Reporter, was remembered last night with the unveiling of a blue plaque at the newspaper office she once owned.

The Ulster History Circle said Ms Trimble was being honoured for the "highly significant contribution" she had made to Irish music.

Born in Enniskillen in 1915, she was well-known for her successful two-piano partnership with her sister Valerie.

In 1938, the two women formed a two-piano ensemble, encouraged by the late conductor and composer, Arthur Benjamin, and led them to become household names for decades to come.

Educated at Enniskillen Collegiate School, becoming its first head girl in 1931, Ms Trimble studied at Trinity College, Dublin, Royal Irish Academy of Music and attained her Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

After the outbreak of World War Two, the two Trimble sisters were among the first artists to be engaged by the BBC when restricted music broadcasts began again and contributed to these programmes throughout the war.

The sisters, who volunteered as Red Cross nurses, made their London Proms debut with Sir Adrian Boult in 1943.

When her father WE Trimble died in 1967, Ms Trimble took over as managing director of The Impartial Reporter, commuting fortnightly from London to Enniskillen.

In the 1970s she retired from music to Enniskillen with her husband to devote herself to the newspaper. She died in 2000, aged 85.

Chris Spur of the Ulster History Circle said: "Joan Trimble made a highly significant contribution to Irish music, as a performer, a composer, and a teacher.

"Her broadcasting work ensured that she and her sister Valerie became well-known far beyond their native Ulster.

"The Ulster History Circle are delighted to commemorate Joan Trimble with a blue plaque at the offices of the newspaper she managed for many years."