Irish Trad Music Blog

Cover of Altan Beidh an grúpa iomráiteach Altan ag seinm ag ceolchoirm mhór a bheidh ar siúl ar an bpríomhstáitse i ndugaí na Gaillimhe mar chuid de Lá na Gaeilge, ag ceiliúradh cuairt rás mór an Volvo ar chathair na Gaillimhe. In éineacht leo beidh aíonna óna ceantair Ghaeltachta eile timpeall na tíre. Is é an Déardaoin, 5 Iúil, atá roghnaithe mar Lá na Gaeilge agus tá na grúpaí Gaeilge ar fad i gCathair na Gaillimhe ag teacht le chéile chun a chinntiú go mbeidh deis ag na cuairteoirí, chomh maith le pobal na Gaillimhe féin, blaiseadh den teanga a fháil. Ar na grúpaí a bheidh páirteach tá Údarás na Gaeltachta; le seastán acu sa Global Village chun ardán a thabhairt don Ghaeltacht; Conradh na Gaeilge a mbeidh ag eagrú ranganna Gaeilge do chuairteoirí; Gaillimh le Gaeilge a mbeidh gníomhach le comhlachtaí agus siopaí na Gaillimhe, agus Músaem na Cathrach a mbeidh ag seoladh clár imeachtaí dá chuid féin don ócáid..

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) MÁIRE MHAC an tSaoi, one of the most significant Irish poets of the 20th century, and the most important living poet working as Gaeilge, will be celebrated in NUI Galway. NUIG will host The Miracle of the Parish: Máire Mhac an tSaoi Symposium on Wednesday May 23 from 9am in the university’s Moore Institute. Along with Máirtín Ó Direáin and Seán Ó Ríordáin, Máire Mhac an tSaoi revolutionised the practice of poetry in Irish in the 1940s and 1950s and paved the way for a new generation of women poets, working as Gaeilge agus as Bearla in the 1970s and 1980s. Máire Mhac an tSaoi also gave voice to the intimate and subversive aspects of women’s experience in poems that challenged the moral orthodoxies of the time.

Cover of Sharon Shannon DkIT enthusiastically embraced Irish language and culture this week as students and staff participated in various activities throughout the campus for Seachtain Na Gaeilge, promoting the Irish language as well as Irish music and dance. Seachtain na Gaeilge is an annual two-week celebration, with schools, communities and organisations all over the country organising and taking part in events covering all aspects of Irish culture and arts. Events in DkIT kicked off on Monday, as students took part in various "tradathons" throughout the campus. The money raised from the traditional Irish music sessions was put towards "HelpSergio", a charity set up in aid of Dublin-born Sergio O' Connor, who was born with an incomplete oesophagus. Sergio's condition prevents him from eating, drinking and swallowing, as his digestive system cannot function correctly. The foundation aims to raise funds to enable one-year-old Sergio and his family to tra...

Image via Wikipedia "The music of Ireland is known for its presentation and distinct melody created by performers that make it immediately identifiable as hailing from the Emerald Isle. But the instruments used-such as fiddles, banjos , accordions and harps-can also be found in the musical traditions of other countries. Irish music ensemble Bru Boru has been playing at the Shanghai Expo's Ireland Pavilion. The group has been proving to audiences from around the globe that knowledge of Irish culture or even the country itself is not necessary to savor its music. Eileen O'Brian is a lecturer at the University of Limerick . She plays the fiddle in the group and has been with Bru Boru for many years. 'Music is the universal language , same as Chinese music , any music from any other society in the world. You're able to communicate through your music. We've always felt it was a great way of breaking down barriers and making contact with people of other ethn...

Image via Wikipedia The annual Fleadh Nua will bring together concerts, céilithe, music, song and dancing workshops, street entertainment, and pageants/parades in Ennis next weekend. The festivities will commence on Sunday 23rd May at 8pm with the official opening followed by Corofin Teach Ceoil Tribute Concert and the Fleadh Club in Cois na hAbhna, Ennis. Monday 24th May until Thursday 27th May will feature similar activities. Each day will begin at 11am with Ciorcal Comhrá. At 1pm, there will be a lunchtime concerts (Riches of Clare) in the County Museum. The Old Ground Hotel will host Foinn Seisiúns with Frank Custy at 4pm. At 9pm the Fleadh Club will take place in Cois na hAbhna. Additional weekday activities include: Monday 24th May at 7:30pm there will be an Oíche Ghaelach in Cois na hAbhna. On Wednesday Dick O’Connell will host a Set Dancing Class at 9pm in the Library Bar. Thursday will see pub sessions in various venues in Ennis commencing at 10pm. Weekend festivities will k...

Image via Wikipedia Fleadh Nua Website There are many Irish traditional festivals organised throughout the summer months but there are few people who will dispute that Fleadh Nua which started in Dublin in 1970, is the forerunner of them all. The concept of bringing together concerts, céilithe, music, song and dancing workshops, street entertainment, pageants/parades and much more was innovative in its time. However, it's still a winning formula today as evidenced by the thousands of visitors who flock to the festival every May for a week of unsurpassed traditional entertainment.

Paul Brady via last.fm Top names in Irish music came to Donegal on Monday to take part in a concert supporting the ongoing protest against a proposed high-power line across miles of rural Donegal. "Don't forget why we're here," said Moya Brennan , who hosted the concert in the Meenaleck pub that her father, Leo Brennan, started. Monday night's SOS (Save Our Scenery) concert was held to support the ongoing campaign against plans to erect a high-power line. The concert, the first of what organisers said will be several, was organised by Alternatives to Pylons (ATP), in conjunction with Coiste Timpeallachta Ghaoth Dobhair and Tábhairne Leo. Moya was joined on stage by Paul Brady , Glen Hansard , Mundy and other respected musicians. ATP and Coiste Timpeallachta Ghaoth Dobhair oppose plans by the ESB and Eirgrid to erect a 110kv power line across 102 kilometres of the county. But supporters say the 40 million euro project will bring a secure power supply that will ...

Image by M+MD via Flickr Christy Moore has been singing, writing and collecting songs for most of his life. He has been on the road since 1966, and has made over 30 albums, both solo and with the prestigious bands Moving Hearts and Planxty. His live performances have run the gamut from small folk clubs in Ireland and England to premier concert halls throughout the world. Christy is regarded by many as one of Ireland’s most important and influential artists. He has been called ‘Ireland’s Woody Guthrie ’, and in February 2004 was awarded the very first IRMA (Irish Recording Music Association) Lifetime Achievement award for his remarkable contribution to Irish Music over the last forty years. His solo style includes driving rhythms on guitar and bodhrán as well as slower ballads. In 2006 Christy paid a surprise visit to the legendary An Góilín traditional singers' club in Dublin and sang songs reflective of the Irish language and socially radical culture of the club such as Na C...

Image via Wikipedia Virginia, Co. Cavan -- For seven years now the NYAH festival in Co. Cavan has sought to involve the community in this Ulster county and widen the awareness of the rich musical heritage all around it. NYAH is one of those wonderful expressions (pronounced neeyah) used to describe music from the heart that is neither forced nor phony, so the festival tends to recognize those who have made the deepest contributions not only in the Breffni County but all around Ireland. Its influence and success as cultural and tourism driver has grown in that span to such a level that it has encouraged Cavan town to take on one of the largest challenges in the traditional Irish music world, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann (All-Ireland Festival) later on in August. Last year, I visited the NYAH festival for the first time and found its magnetic pull once again bringing me northward upon arrival in Dublin last week. The festival (www.cavanmusic.com) spreads over three weeks around St. Patrick...