The ambassador for An Gaeltacht for this year’s Culture Night has said that he is excited to have an opportunity to share the sean-nós style of singing with the wider world.
Conamara sean-nós singer Pól Ó Ceannabháin said it was an honour to be asked to be the Gaeltacht ambassador for the nationwide celebration of arts and artists.
The award-winning singer from Ard Thoir, Carna will host an oíche airneáil by the fireside in his home with his family on Culture Night, which will be streamed from Ealaín na Gaeltachta’s Facebook and YouTube page.
Pól said that he feels that being ambassador gives him an opportunity to bring sean-nós singing to a wider audience, and that it will demonstrate that the language lives on in the music.
“The Irish language has been and is under pressure, like a boat sailing on the sea, trying to navigate the choppy waters,” he said.
“Everyone who uses the Irish language is giving wind to the sails of that boat and the language is propelled to the next generation and lives on.”
Twenty events across the Gaeltacht and online are being supported by Ealaín na Gaeltachta this year, as part of the Culture Night celebration.
Ealaín na Gaeltachta has partnered with TG4 and Molscéal to celebrate Gaeltacht artists through a new film, Tearmann (8pm TG4, Friday 18 September) and an online series with Molscéal meeting artists from Gaeltacht regions all around Ireland.
Due to current restriction lots of this year’s Culture Night’s events will be streamed online.
Highlights include Tonn-Fuaime a multi-part project curated by artist Áine Ní Chíobháin in Dingle, which will feature Amhrán Dóchais a song of hope with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Emma Ní Fhíoruisce and friends, an art film showing the visual artists at work goes live online a few days after Culture Night, as well as a pop-up shop, gallery and a wall mural in Dingle.
In Gaoth Dobhair, an online video will showcase the brilliant work of artists Andrew Duggan, Cathal Mac Fhionnghaile and Sarah Lewtas at an Gailearaí.
In Ráth Chairn local artists will join for a musical celebration. Events will take place in Gaeltacht communities all over Ireland from Inis Oírr to Oileán Acla and from Gaeltacht na Mí to Gaeltacht na Rinne and further afield.
Micheál Ó Fearraigh, Feidhmeannach Forbartha Ealaíne, Údarás na Gaeltachta said: “In celebrating the cultural and artistic richness of the Gaeltacht we are enlightened by the vitality of the arts in presenting the image and identity of the Gaeltacht both nationally and internationally.
“We invite the public to participate in and be proud of the high-quality art continuously being produced by Gaeltacht artists.”
