Gael Linn

Last updated

Gael Linn
Formation1953 [1]
Type Irish language
Irish culture
Gaelic revival
Headquarters35 Dame Street, Dublin [2]
Website gael-linn.ie
Gael Linn headquarters at Dame Street, Dublin Gael Linn HQ.jpg
Gael Linn headquarters at Dame Street, Dublin

Gael Linn (Irish pronunciation: [ˌɡeːlˠˈl̠ʲiːn̠ʲ] , "Gael-with-us") is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation focused on the promotion of the Irish language and the arts. The organisation's funding includes government and lottery sources. [3]

Contents

History

Gael Linn was founded in May 1953, following a meeting in Cork, [4] with the goal to foster interest in the Irish language and promote artistic events. [5] Since the early years of its foundation, the organisation has also run language courses. [5]

In the mid-1950s, Gael Linn supported the production of short films and news reels which were distributed to cinemas. [6] In 1955, Gael Linn established the Irish-language Damer Theatre on St Stephen's Green which it operated until 1976. In 1959, Gael Linn produced the feature length documentary film Mise Éire, which included an acclaimed score by composer Seán Ó Riada. [1] [7] [8]

Record label

Gael Linn Records is a record label which was founded in the 1950s and is run by Gael Linn. According to the organisation's web site, the "Gael Linn record label was established in 1956 to provide an outlet for recordings of sean-nós singing and traditional music". [5]

Gael Linn has released records by a number of traditional Irish musicians. [5] In the early 1970s, the label released Skara Brae's self-titled debut album, and the single from that album also contained Clannad tracks from their own début album on the other side. Clannad was one of the label's most popular acts, until the band signed with RCA Records in 1982.[ citation needed ] The former members of Skara Brae have all released solo/duet albums under Gael Linn. These artists include Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, as well as Altan's Daithí Sproule.[ citation needed ]

Gael Linn Records have issued recordings by Michael Coleman, Seán Ryan, and Ceoltóirí Chualann.[ citation needed ] The label's roster has also included Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, The Bothy Band, De Dannan, Dolores Keane, Nóirín Ní Riain, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, and Gerry O'Connor. Several of the label's recordings have been licensed to be reissued on the Green Linnet label.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

The Bothy Band were an Irish traditional band active during the mid 1970s. They quickly gained a reputation as one of the most influential bands playing Irish traditional music. Their enthusiasm and musical virtuosity had a significant influence on the Irish traditional music movement that continued well after they disbanded in 1979.

"Siúil a Rún" is a traditional Irish song, sung from the point of view of a woman lamenting a lover who has embarked on a military career, and indicating her willingness to support him. The song has English language verses and an Irish language chorus, a style known as macaronic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh</span> Musical artist

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish folk music band Altan, which she co-founded with her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987. Ní Mhaonaigh is recognised as a leading exponent in the Donegal fiddle tradition, and she is often considered one of the foremost singers in the Irish language, her native tongue. She was part of the Irish supergroup T with the Maggies who performed in January 2009 at Temple Bar TradFest in Dublin their first ever two concerts under that name and who released in October 2010 their debut album. After nearly 22 years with Altan, on 28 December 2008 Ní Mhaonaigh premiered in Gweedore her debut solo album Imeall which was later released worldwide in February 2009. After 29 years with Altan, in October 2016 Ní Mhaonaigh released her alternate band Na Mooneys' debut album Na Mooneys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlín Maude</span> Poet, singer and Irish language activist from Ireland

Caitlín Maude was an Irish poet, language revival activist, teacher, actress and traditional singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proinsias Ó Maonaigh</span> Musical artist

Proinsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney was a fiddler from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture. He is the father of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and grandfather of fiddle player Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mícheál Ó Domhnaill</span> Irish singer, guitarist, composer and producer (1951 - 2006)

Mícheál Ó Domhnaill was an Irish singer, guitarist, composer, and producer who was a major influence on Irish traditional music in the second half of the twentieth century. He is remembered for his innovative work with Skara Brae, the first group to record vocal harmonization in Irish language songs, and The Bothy Band, one of the most influential groups in Irish traditional music. His reputation was enhanced by a successful collaboration with master fiddler Kevin Burke, and his work with the Celtic groups Relativity and Nightnoise, which achieved significant commercial and critical acclaim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nóirín Ní Riain</span> Musical artist

Nóirín Ní Riain is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian, and authority on Gregorian Chant. She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium (surpeti), shruti box and feadóg (whistle). She was Artist-in-Residence for Wexford and Laois. She performs with her sons Eoin and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin under the name A.M.E.N. and gives workshops about "Sound as a Spiritual Experience".

<i>Clannad 2</i> 1974 studio album by Clannad

Clannad 2 is the second studio album by Irish folk group Clannad, released in 1974 on Gael Linn Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paddy Glackin</span> Musical artist

Paddy Glackin is an Irish fiddler and founding member of the Bothy Band. He is considered one of Ireland's leading traditional fiddle players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skara Brae (band)</span>

Skara Brae were an Irish traditional music group from Kells, County Meath with origins in Ranafast, County Donegal. The group consisted of three siblings, Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, with Dáithí Sproule from Derry. Their debut and only album Skara Brae is considered a seminal album in the Irish music tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill</span> Musical artist

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer, keyboard player, and composer, considered one of the most influential female vocalists in the history of Irish music. She is famed for her work with traditional Irish groups such as Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Relativity, Touchstone, and Nightnoise.

Joe Heaney was an Irish traditional singer from County Galway, Ireland. He spent most of his adult life abroad, living in England, Scotland and New York City, in the course of which he recorded hundreds of songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill</span> Musical artist

Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer from Kells, County Meath. She is known for her work with the short-lived, but very highly regarded Skara Brae and her collaborations with her sister Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, as well as other traditional musicians. She has recorded and performed with the West Ocean String Quartet (WOSQ).

"Ar a Ghabháil Chun a Chuain Damh" is an Irish folk song. It is also known as "Béal Átha hAmhnais", which is the Irish name for the town of Ballyhaunis in County Mayo, Ireland.

<i>Ceol Cheann Dubhrann</i> 2009 studio album by Various Artists

Ceol Cheann Dubhrann is an album supporting Scoil Naisiúnta Rann na Feirste, a National school and Áislann Rann na Feirste, a community centre in Ranafast in the Gaeltacht of County Donegal, Ireland. The album was recorded, mixed, produced and engineered by Mánus Lunny and mastered by Paul McGeechan at Park Lane in Glasgow and features notable singers such as Máire Ní Bhraonáin and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T with the Maggies</span>

T with the Maggies are an Irish traditional supergroup from County Donegal, Ireland. The group first performed together in 2007 at a tribute concert to folk singer and guitarist Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, older brother of Triona and Maighread, and released their debut album in October 2010.

<i>Skara Brae</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Skara Brae

Skara Brae is an album of Irish traditional music by the group Skara Brae. Released by Gael Linn Records in 1971, the self-titled album contains "beautifully performed Gaelic songs" and is considered one of the most important albums in its genre, notable as the first recording to include vocal harmonization in Irish language songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin</span> Musical artist

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin is an Irish singer, songwriter, academic writer from Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eithne Ní Uallacháin</span> Irish singer

Eithne Ní Uallacháin was an Irish singer, songwriter, and former teacher from County Louth, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damer Hall</span> Irish language theatre located in Dublin, Ireland

Damer Hall, also known as Damer Theatre and An Damer, is a former theatre and former school located in the basement of the Dublin Unitarian Church at 112 St Stephen's Green in Dublin, Ireland.

References

  1. 1 2 Cronin, Michael. "The Gaelic Hit Factory". drb.ie. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. "Gael Linn". dublintown.ie. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  3. "Gael Linn got second most from scheme". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. "'Quiet hero' of Irish language movement dies". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "About Us - History". gael-linn.ie. Gael Linn. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. "Gael Linn Film Collection". ifiplayer.ie. Irish Film Institute. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. "Inside the Damer Theatre".
  8. "Dith mhór na drámaiochta san ardchathair".