Is Sean-Nós Singing Alive in the Gaeltacht Areas?

Singer Ciarán Ó Gealbháin

Is Sean-Nós Singing Alive in the Gaeltacht Areas?

A seminar discussing key issues in sean-nós singing takes place in Conamara this Saturday.

This Saturday 24 September, as part of the Oireachtas Chois Fharraige festival in County Galway, a seminar on sean-nós singing will take place in Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán, at 11am.

Featuring guest speakers Ciarán Ó Gealbháin from An Rinn, Waterford; Lillis Ó Laoire from Ghort a’Choirce, Co. Donegal; Róisín Nic Dhonncha from Carna, Co. Galway; and chaired by Caitlín Ní Chualáin from Indreabhán, Co. Galway, the seminar will address questions such ‘Is sean-nós alive in the Gaeltacht areas?’, ‘Is there a danger that more respect rather than enjoyment will be paid towards the songs in the future?’, and ‘Who will listen to the songs, where and why?’

The seminar will begin with a screening of a programme made by film-maker and writer Bob Quinn for the series Aisling Gheal in 1980. The programme is a recording of a lecture and debate on sean-nós singing organised then by the music school An Gaelacadamh and featuring many renowned singers and scholars. The contents of the film, and the journey travelled by sean-nós since then, will be discussed also

The seminar will feature live performances by some of the singers participating, and is aimed towards singers, musicians, students, parents, media and all those interested in Irish culture. 

Oireachtas Chois Fharraige runs until Sunday 25 September and also features a concert of young musicians from An Gaelacadamh on Friday at 6pm; Cathréim, a concert based on music and songs from the plays of Patrick Pearse, presented by harper and singer Síle Denvir, on Friday at 8pm; and a concert on Saturday night featuring a range of artists including Cór Fear na nDéise and Cór Chois Fharraige and broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

For further information on the sean-nós singing seminar, contact Odí Ní Chéilleachair on 086-8643125 or email odharnait [at] hotmail.com

For more on the festival, visit https://goo.gl/G1178f

Published on 22 September 2016

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