Letters: Debating Sean-nós

Antain Mac Lochlainn

Dear Editor,

Having read another of Bob Quinn’s self-serving ‘more Conamara than the Connies themselves’ articles (‘Exotica Anonymous’, March/April 2003), I can only say that I would much prefer to listen to the beautiful and moving singing of Pádraigín Ní hUallacháin, Lillis Ó Laoire, Brian Ó Dónaill et al than listen to a man sing his own praises. And, as regards the ‘learnability’ of Conamara sean-nós, to say that Mairéad Nic Uistín is the only living ‘non-Connie’ who has mastered the style is to ignore such fine singers as Antaine Ó Faracháin and Éamonn Mac Donncha, both of whom hail from Bob’s own native Dublin.

Antain Mac Lochlainn
Skerries
Co. Dublin

 

Antain Mac Lochlainn is from Coleraine Co. Derry, and has a Ph.D in Irish Studies from the University Of Ulster (1996). He was Irish langauge editor of The Irish Music Manuscripts of Edward Bunting, (Colette Maloney, ITMA, 2000).

(More articles by Antain Mac Lochlainn)

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