Éigse sees Múscraí Gaeltacht pay tribute to beloved sean-nós singer

Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin died tragically in a car accident in 1991. His family, friends, and fellow singers have been organising an annual event that keeps his memory alive, as well as showcasing some of the immense musical talent of the area

Wed, 29 Nov, 2023 - 02:00

Pet O’Connell

The distinctive sean-nós singing style of the late Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin has been at the heart of the annual festival held in his memory in his native Múscraí Gaeltacht since the broadcaster’s tragic death in December 1991.

That will again be the case when Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin opens in Cúil Aodha this Friday, but celebrated alongside the legacy of Ó Súilleabháin, known for songs such as ‘Carraig Aonair’ and ‘Bruach na Carraige Báine’ will be that of the area’s wealth of female singers, poets, and songwriters.

In the three decades since his death in a car accident in West Kerry, Diarmuidín’s brothers Éoiní and Danny Maidhcí Ó Súilleabháin have continued the family singing tradition alongside sisters Eilís, Máirín, and Nóirín. Although their father Maidhcí was the source of many of the siblings’ songs, their mother Nóra’s knowledge of song words and their history was another important part of their musical upbringing.

The Múscraí area, where Cork borders Kerry, has among its noted female singers, songwriters, and collectors the likes of Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Cronin and Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire, who will be among those highlighted at this year’s festival. Professor Tríona Ní Shíocháin, author of the book Bláth’s Craobh na nÚdar, on the songs of ‘Cath Chéim an Fhia’ poet Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire, delivers Saturday’s Éigse lecture on the role of women in Múscraí’s cultural heritage.

Nell Ní Chróinín is one of the artists taking part in this year's Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin.

Danú lead singer Nell Ní Chróinín of Béal Átha ’n Ghaorthaidh is among today’s leading female exponents of Múscraí sean-nós song and features in the line-up for a gala concert the same night.

She will be also be passing on the tradition as sean-nós singing tutor in a programme of Éigse workshops which also features Mary Bergin (whistle), Jim Murray (guitar), and John Lynch, who will teach the Baile Mhúirne reel and Cúil Aodha jig set dances.

Showcasing the influence of women on the area’s singing tradition at Friday’s opening event will be young pupils of Múscraí’s Aisling Gheal singing scheme. Pupils involved in a project entitled ‘Lorg na mBan’ researched local female singers and poets, whose songs they will perform on the night.

“We’re putting the emphasis on the legacy and the contribution of women singers and writers in the Múscraí area this year,” said Éigse Cathaoirleach Cathal Ó Riada. “For example in Scoil Chúil Aodha they’re doing Siobhán Bn Uí Cheallaigh [Ní Mhulláin, whose father Dónall composed An Poc ar Buile]. She wrote ‘Naomh Gobnait’ and other hymns for the choir, and in Baile Mhúirne they’re doing Bess Cronin.

“It’s a joint project with Scéim Aisling Gheal and the primary schools to give recognition to people such as Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire and Síle Bn Uí Shuibhne,” he said.

“The amount of children now that are singing sean-nós and taking part in the various Oireachtas competitions and the Éigse is just fantastic.”

Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin singing with Seán Ó Liatháin.

Many among their number will be on stage on Sunday as Scéim Aisling Gheal showcases dozens of young singers at Éigse Amhránaíochta na nÓg, while the scheme’s tutors Máire Ní Chéileachair and Eibhlís Uí Thuama both host singing sessions during the weekend.

Young musicians will be to the fore at the Éigse with a performance by trad orchestra Ensemble Mhúscraí, directed by multi-instrumentalist Paul Clesham, who launches his album with Conor Arkins, The Morning Thrush on Friday.

Flute player Conal Ó Gráda performs a recital with his sister Máire on uilleann pipes, along with Armagh singer Piaras Ó Lorcáin, after Sunday’s Mass with Cór Chúil Aodha, broadcast live on Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Musicians and singers from various Gaeltacht areas are among those for whom the Éigse has become an annual gathering, with Neill Byrne and musicians from Waterford’s Gaeltacht na nDéise performing on Saturday.

The connection between Cúil Aodha and Kerry’s Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht, which became a second home to RnG broadcaster Ó Súilleabháin, will be renewed as footballer and journalist Tomás Ó Sé officially opens the festival.

A walk from the Top of Coom will honour the memory of Ó Súilleabháin’s sister Síle, who passed away in 2020, while the festival’s strong connection with Sliabh Luachra music will continue despite the death of Kerry accordion player Jimmy Doyle, a stalwart of the Éigse since its inception.

Last year’s Éigse marked one of the last performances by Doyle, who passed away in January, and his loss will be marked this weekend at a seisiún in his honour.

“He was there since day one,” said Ó Riada, “and we’re making a small presentation to his family in memory of Jimmy, to mark the great friend that he was to the Éigse over the years”.