Gael Linn has announced that a new film on the history of the organisation, Gael Linn ag 70, will be broadcast on TG4 on St Stephen’s Day at 8pm.

Produced by Aniar TV, the documentary has a particular focus on the organisation’s record label and its impact on Irish music, and features a number of musical contributors including Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Rossa Ó Snodaigh, Mary Bergin, Macdara Ó Faoláin, Peadar Ó Riada, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, Moya Brennan and Iarla Ó Lionáird.

Gael Linn was established in 1953 to support the Irish language, but it soon tapped into the demand for new recordings of Irish traditional music and built one of the most prestigious catalogues in the genre over 70 years. The list includes albums by artists such as Clannad, Mary Bergin, Tony MacMahon, Joe Cooley, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Seán Ó Riada and Séamus Ennis. More recently, the label released an album by the popular new group of young singers Bláth na hÓige.

Regional impact and Ó Riada
The new film, which is directed by Oisín Ó hEartáin and produced by fiddle player Dónal O’Connor, explores various aspects of the organisation’s work, including the release of albums by Donegal acts such as Clannad, Skara Brae, and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy; its cultural activities in Northern Ireland; Gael Linn’s best-selling recording, Mary Bergin’s Feadóga Stáin; the music of Seán Ó Riada and films such as Mise Éire; the influence of the national youth festival Slógadh; and the importance of the organisation’s work in sean-nós and contemporary song in Irish.

Commenting on the film, O’Connor said:

I have had a personal connection throughout my life with Gael Linn. My parents, Eithne Ní Uallacháin and Gerry O’Connor released a record on the label in 1987 and my aunt, Pádraigín Ní Uallácháin, released several records with them as well…

I have always understood the importance of Gael Linn’s work collecting, preserving and making this incredible archive of music and song available to the public. Amongst the varied aspects of Gael Linn’s work over the years, I believe that the music and the music label are the most significant and we decided to focus on that in this celebratory program.

Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, CEO of Gael Linn, added:

All of us at Gael Linn are delighted that this special programme, Gael Linn ag 70, will be broadcast on TG4. A great wealth of heritage has been recorded on the iconic Gael Linn label and it is important that part of that large catalogue and interesting archive from the organization’s accomplished history are central to the program that has been so beautifully and artistically produced by the team at Aniar.

For more on Gael Linn, visit www.gael-linn.ie.

Subscribe to our newsletter.