Having the Craic, Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrated in style in County Hall
A great evening was enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience at the annual Seachtain na Gaeilge Oíche Cheoil agus Amhránaíochta (Evening of music and song) in the Atrium County Hall Swords on Tuesday last. Acclaimed musicians Cormac Begley and Eoghan O Ceannabháin provided the entertainment, and as well as the beautiful music the audience were given a fascinating insight into the history of the songs and tunes as well as the instruments themselves.
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Cllr Daire Ni Laoi, Bernie Kelly Irish Officer, Cormac Begley, Cllr David O'Connor
There was a great crowd in attendance including Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, Chief Executive Paul Reid, Cllr Daire Ní Laoi and Cllr David O'Connor as well as staff and the Fingal community. Eoghan ÓCeannabháin , as well as playing flute, fiddle and concertina treated the audience to some wonderful songs from the ancient Sean Nós singing tradition in Conamara. Speaking about his recent album which has been described as “nothing short of spectacular” Cormac Begley explained that he wanted to use “ the full range of concertinas from bass, baritone, treble to piccolo, and to highlight some of the instrument’s possibilities spanning across seven octaves”. This was certainly in evidence in the wonderful music on the evening and the audience was left wishing that the evening wouldn’t end.
Seachtain na Gaeilge Irish Language Festival took place from 1 – 17 March and during this time as well as this concert there were events in Local Libraries, in the Seamus Ennis Centre and many events organised by groups across the county. The Film Song of Granite came to the Seamus Ennis Centre in the Naul on Thursday March 15th. The film, in Irish with English subtitles, tells the story of internationally famous Sean Nós singer Joe Heaney from Carna in Conamara. Among the events in Libraries were Harp Recitals from the O’Donnell sisters Marie Louise and Theresa and bilingual talks from poet and screenwriter Celia
de Fréine. Children from local schools were also treated to Irish storytelling from Seosamh O’Maolalaí.
Speaking on the evening Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley, thanked the musicians for their wonderful tunes and stories and continued “Unfortunately the weather caused some of the events early in the festival to be cancelled or postponed and I have heard this year’s festival renamed “Sneachta na Gaeilge”, but it was great to see the many events for young and old that did go ahead around the county.”
Paul Reid Chief executive of Fingal County Council said “I am delighted that we are again using the Atrium in County Hall during Seachtain na Gaeilge, as it was intended, as a community space for all Fingal citizens. We are committed to supporting the Irish Language and its use within the Council and in the Fingal area and will continue to do this throughout Bliain na Gaeilge, along with the Council’s Irish Language Coiste Gaeilge”
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Chief Executive Paul Reid, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley, Cormac Begley
Fíbín Theatre group presents a new bilingual version of Diarmuid agus Gráinne called Tóraíocht in Draíocht, Blanchardstown April 17th and 18th, for information on this and other events see www.draiocht.ie . Events take place in our Branch Libraries throughout the year, for information contact your local Library of see our website www.fingal.ie or follow us on social media. For information on events in The Seamus Ennis Centre see www.tseac.ie .