The Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway has announced the appointment of Tomás Ó Neachtain as Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence.
Born and raised in Coilleach, An Spidéal, Tomás is part of a family which has a long and rich tradition of sean-nós singing.
Tomás heard and learned most of his singing from his father, and indeed his father had learned from his father before him.
Though he briefly spent time in England as a young married man, it is in Coilleach that Tomás and his wife Nancy have reared their own family.
His son Seosamh, a renowned sean-nós dancer and musician, was appointed as the first Sean-Nós Dancer in Residence at the Centre for Irish Studies in 2009.
Tomás’s distinct, clear, sweet vocal style echoes the singing he heard in his youth.
His repertoire is wide and varied, but he particularly favours big songs such as ‘An Droighneán Donn’, ‘Tomás Bán Mac Aogáin’ and ‘An Chaora Ghlas’. Tomás gives singing workshops and is two-time winner of Corn Uí Riada in 1980 and 1981.
During his time as artist-in-residence, Tomás will deliver a series of workshops at NUI Galway and will contribute to the expanding Sean-Nós Archive Collection.
The workshops are free and open to the public and take place in the autumn and spring of 2018-19.
