We are delighted to announce that Éigse Dhiarmuidín festival will be opened by Liam O’Connor, newly appointed Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive ( www.itma.ie ) on the evening of Friday 29 November, 2019 in Cúil Aodha. This will be the 28th annual musical celebration in memory of the Cúil Aodha singer, Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin, in the Múscraí Gaeltacht of County Cork.
Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin was very well known for his unique singing style and versions of many celebrated songs to come from the Múscraí area. He was, among other things, a teacher and later worked as a journalist with RTÉ Ráidió na Gaeltachta.
Students of traditional singing are spoiled for choice as we’re doubly lucky this year to have Rita Gallagher from Frosses in Co. Donegal, teaching traditional singing in English and Treasa Ní Mhiolláin, from Árann Mór in the Aran Islands, Co. Galway teaching sean-nós singing as Gaeilge.
All eight workshops will take place on the morning of Saturday 30th November and will be conducted by talented singers and musicians. They include gifted concertina player Caitlín Nic Gabhann, and from Killeshandra Co. Cavan on flute Cein Sweeney, on fiddle Dylan Carlos from Co. Roscommon, dancer Breandán Seoighe from Conamara and on Accordion from Co. Galway Conor Connolly and all the way from Sligo and Kilmoyely in Co. Kerry, one of Ireland’s leading uilleann pipers, Leonard Barry.
These workshops are in high demand and for further information on them please contact ‘Ionad Cultúrtha an Dochtúra Uí Loingsigh’ on www.ionadculturtha.ie or on 026 45733, to reserve your place as soon as possible. All details on the workshops and the festival are on www.eigse.ie .
Shortly after the workshops will have concluded a special screening of the film ‘DIARMUIDÍN’ by local director Peter Carr will take place, free of charge, in the local cultural centre ‘Ionad Cultúrtha an Dochtúra Uí Loingsigh’ on Saturday 30th November at 14:00.
Music, song and dance will be heard all over the Múscraí area during the Éigse weekend in the local establishments with a Gala Concert taking place on Saturday evening at 20:00 in Áras Éamoin Mhic Shuibhne in Cúil Aodha, when the workshop teachers mentioned will be joined by popular traditional music group ‘Out The Gap’, the local and internationally renowned male-voice choir Cór Chúil Aodha and the winner of Corn Uí Riada 2019 at Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Máire Ní Choilm. It promises to be a very special concert indeed.
As if that wasn’t enough, after the Gala Concert in the community Hall in Cúil Aodha, you can join the music session in the Abbey Hotel in Baile Bhuirne led by Richard Lucey and friends or join the Singers’ get together in The Mills Inn and well-known local singer Eoiní Maidhcí Ó Súilleabháin as Fear an Tí .
At 11:00 on Sunday the Ó Riada mass will be sung by the legendary local choir, Cór Chúil Aodha directed by Peadar Ó Riada.
A very special Music Recital in the magical atmosphere of the Old-Church in St. Gobnait’s cemetery later on Sunday at 12:00 is a must for music lovers. This year’s recital will feature Caitlín Nic Gabhann on concertina and Leonard Barry on uileann pipes and this promises to be a unique and charming occasion.
If you feel like listening to the finest of Sliabh Luachra music on Sunday afternoon, you can call to the Abbey Hotel in Baile Bhuirne at 15:00 and join Jimmy Doyle and friends or head to Barr an Chuma/Top of Coom, the Highest Pub in Ireland, for an afternoon of traditional singing, which starts at 15:30. This afternoon of singing will feature the best in traditional and sean nós singing from local singers and visiting singers alike.
Whatever feature of Irish singing and music you’re interested in, ÉIGSE Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin is a real gem and feast of traditional culture with the Irish language itself at the very heart of the festival, naturally.
Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin in the heart of the Múscraí Gaeltacht is considered by many to be a Mecca on the Irish traditional music landscape.
So what are you waiting for, re-schedule, clear your diaries and call to, and take part in, the Éigse this year.
Beidh fáilte agus fiche romhat ag an Éigse.