The TG4 series Ceol ón Earagail features a very special programme this Sunday 23rd June at 9.30pm celebrating the popular songbook, Abair Amhrán, with performances by Na Casaidigh and many more.
The traditional music series, which started airing on TG4 in February, combines highlights of concerts recorded in front of live audiences at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, during Earagail Arts Festival, with specially-curated intimate performances recorded in various locations around Donegal in the summer of 2023.
This is the second year in a row that well-known production company ANIAR has covered the festival and includes a stellar line-up of musical talent, including Bríghde Chaimbeul with Aidan O’Rourke and Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Lisa O’Neill, Flook, Fidil and many more. The full series to date can be watched back world-wide here on the TG4 Player.
Renowned young Irish traditional artists, Sibéal Ní Chasaide and Cathal Ó Curráin are also back on presenting duties for the seven-part series.
Hosting from Earagail Arts Festival, and other musical venues around the county, Sibéal and Cathal bring us the best of singers and musicians from across the island of Ireland and further afield.
ABAIR AMHRÁN
This Sunday at 9.30pm, the series features a special programme celebrating the renowned Irish songbook from our youth, Abair Amhrán. The programme takes a deep dive into this gorgeous collection of songs, originally published over 60 years ago.
The book is full of songs you will all recognise, like Báidín Fheidhlimí, Buachaill ón Éirne, An Cailín Álainn and many more, which you will hear in this special programme where singers perform their favourites from the book.
On stage at An Grianán in their 2023 Earagail Arts Festival performance, legendary family group, Na Casaidigh, are joined by their niece and presenter, Sibéal, to perform their favourites from the songbook.
Also appearing in the programme is Marcus Ó Murchú (pictured above on stage with the group), editor of the latest edition of Abair Amhrán, who performs with his wife Caitíona and daughter Róise.
Emma Ní Fhíoruisce and Connor Ó Gallachóir also join in with their favourites, as well as one of the finest singers in the country, and a hero in Donegal, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.
This book was published for the first time in 1962. It is an absolute gem of a book brimming with songs which we all heard in our childhood. Even if you don’t recognise the book, you will recognise the songs, and there’s every chance you will know one, at least!
Seven editions of the book were published between 1962 and 1978 but after they were sold, you couldn’t get a copy for love nor money.
Sibéal learnt many of the songs she knows from an old copy her father, Odhrán, had. But now, over 60 years after the first publication, an entirely new edition has been printed with many new verses added and, to celebrate, Cedol ón Earagail brings you some of the most popular songs from the book.
Don’t miss Ceol ón Earagail – Abair Amhrán on TG4, Sunday 23rd June at 9.30pm, and catch-up on the series to-date worldwide on the TG4 Player at www.tg4.ie
Photos by John Soffe Photography for ANIAR
