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A journey through the native Irish-speaking areas of Ireland
These are the words of welcome that Irish people have greeted visitors with for centuries. They may well be the words that greet you when you visit. If they are, I urge you to take time to grasp their deeper meaning. Venture beyond the tourist hotspots and gain an insight into an older Ireland by exploring its Gaeltachtaí. These are pockets of the country where the Irish language (Gaeilge) is still the living language of the local community, and where the centuries-old cultural traditions of Gaelic Ireland are very much alive. There are nine of them in total, each offering visitors an opportunity to experience an Ireland that remains richly informed by its native language and culture. You’ll find most of them scattered along the western seaboard, and each one merits a detour. If your flight lands in Dublin, that detour needn’t be long at all. A mere 44 miles away, you will find the Meath Gaeltachtaí of Baile Ghib a
Traditional musicians are beginning to discuss what the post-COVID world will sound like once pandemic restrictions are lifted and life begins to return to normality.
But, according to Eoin Stan O Sullivan, the Newmarket-based Musician In Residence for Sliabh Luachra, musicians are considering whether they will be playing more gigs in community halls and other large venue settings rather than pubs when restrictions begin to be relaxed. There are questions whether many pubs will survive the pandemic and whether people will be willing to go back to pubs to hear live music, he said. During last summer, we were planning to organise a series of music events in some of the new digital hubs around Sliabh Luachra and stream them online - but we had to rethink that.
The newly formed Ensemble Múscraí, a traditional music orchestra, was this week receiving the plaudits of trad lovers following its debut performance .
The ensemble featured in an online Christmas concert which was made available on Sunday night by Baile Mhúirne s Ionad Cultúrtha an Dochtúir Ó Loingsigh.
The event on YouTube featured local musicians with national and international followings, as well as up and coming musicians and singers.
Ensemble Mhúscraí is an orchestra led by TG4 award winner Oisín Morrison which will focus on performing new works as well as tunes made famous by composer and musical pioneer Seán Ó Riada, who lived in Cúil Aodha.