The Wild Bees’ Nest: A Concert of Unaccompanied Traditional Irish Song

Free concert at National Library of Ireland, 17 December 2010 at 1 pm

Admission is free and all are welcome

Featuring singers Luke Cheevers, Fergus Russell, Tim Lyons, Pat Burke, Anne Dunne, Niamh Parsons, Paddy Daly, Tony McGaley, Micheál Marrinan, Mick Fowler and Tim Quan.

‘The Wild Bees’ Nest’ is a research project involving a group of traditional singers from throughout Ireland. The project is co-ordinated by Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert and is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland in conjunction with The Bealtaine Festival, The National Library of Ireland and the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

The eleven singers hail from Waterford, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Dublin. Since October they have been researching material relating to a traditional song of their choice in the National Library and ITMA. They will share the history that informs the song, and perform the songs at the concert. Personal research diaries and video recordings of the singers will be featured on the website www.thewildbeesnest.ie which will be launched at the concert.

This is part of an ongoing series of research based projects conducted by Michael and Aileen in conjunction with The Bealtaine Festival and The National Library. To view the 2009 project please visit www.themagpiesnest.ie

Peadar Ó Riada’s book on ‘sean-nós’ singing

Peadar Ó Riada has just published a book about ‘sean-nós’ singing, Amhránaíocht Dúchas na nGael.

Peadar writes: “I had to explain background stuff and hope that it makes sense. It is ‘as gaeilge’ -eventually i will do an English version. It surprises me how such a big heap of hassle for me over the last 4 yrs could fit into such a small bundle.”

“Seo leabhar ina ndeinean Peadar Ó Riada iarracht ar míniú do thabhairt ar cad as nó cad é an bhrí atá le “Sean-nós” nó amhránaíocht Dúchas na nGael mar thugaid ar in áiteannaibh éagsúil inniu. 122 leathanach faoi chlúdach cruaig le roinnt pictiúirí agus léaráidí daite nó dubh agus bán. Tá gach cóiop a ceannaíotar tríd an suíomh idir-línne sinithe go pearsanta ag an úghdar.”

You can order your copy for €20 + postage here >>>

Album release pays homage to a music legend

[From the Sindo >>>]

Last Wednesday would have been Luke Kelly’s 70th birthday and to mark the occasion a definitive collection of his timeless recordings has been released.

Luke, if you returned this week to celebrate your 70th birthday, you would surely have greyed a little, but you’d still be sporting that familiar halo of curls, and when you’d break into songs of protest, you’d startle the heavens.

To voice our protest today, Luke, you wouldn’t have to write a new poem.

You said it all 40 years ago when you penned For What Died The Sons Of Roisin. How prophetic your lines . . . “Will German, French or Dutch inscribe the epitaph of Emmet, when we’ve sold enough of Ireland to be but strangers in it” . . . and . . . “Or the faceless men who for mark and dollar betray her to the highest bidder”.

Fair play to you Luke, you had the measure of failed politicians in the Sixties and their smokescreen banter hasn’t changed!

Happy birthday to you, Luke.

Alyth McCormack @ Music Under the Mountains

Alyth McCormack, from the Isle of Lewis, led the Sunday afternoon Music Under the Mountains’ singing session in Tutty’s (seated beside Kevin Conneff, with whom she has performed with many times in the Chieftains). A superb communicator & story teller, as well as a delicate, honest & moving singer, Alyth held the room still with her voice while both talking and singing.