Centre for Irish Studies Newsletter

 Nuachtlitir Ionad an Léinn Éireannaigh                          Issue 9                Spring  2011

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COVER STORY

Treasa Ní Mhoilláin, Sean Nós Singer-in-Residence, 2010-11

                                                        
                                      Treasa Ní Mhiolláin, Amhránaí Cónaitheach ar an Sean-nós, 
                                Ionad an Léinn Éireannaigh, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh 2010-11.

NUI Galway is delighted to announce the appointment of Treasa Ní Mhiolláin as Sean-nós Singer in Residence at the Centre for Irish Studies for 2011.

The Aran Islands have been known as a repository of Gaelic song and music since George Petrie and Eugene O’Curry’s famous collecting trip there in 1857. Other visitors followed and confirmed Aran’s peerless status through their experience of music and song there. Treasa Ní Mhiolláin is heir to that rich seam of traditional song, a sean-nós singer who has achieved an international reputation over the years.

Treasa is a renowned exponent of the great love songs of Connacht, but also possesses a store of locally composed songs and some English ballads. One cannot think of Treasa without recalling ’Sagart na Cúile Báine,’ ’Dónall Óg’ while also remembering her famous and unique version of ’Cúirt Bhaile Nua.’ She is also a noted performer of the light-hearted songs with quicker tempo such as ’An Spailpín Fánach’ and ’Bríd Thomáis Mhurcha.’ Treasa has twice won the coveted ’Corn Uí Riada’ award, the top prize for sean-nós singing at Oireachtas na Gaeilge (1972, 79), and her distinctive singing was featured in Bob Quinn’s television series Atlantean.

In 1996, she received the prestigious Sean-nós Cois Life award for her efforts in promoting and encouraging sean-nós singing. Since returning to Aran permanently, Treasa has taught many younger singers the art of traditional Gaelic song, numbering Macdara Ó Conaola and The Mulkerrins Brothers among her students. She has continued to tour and perform internationally over the years, having given concerts and taught in Germany, Switzerland and Sardinia among other countries.

During the period of her residency, Treasa will participate in a series of performances and workshops at the Centre for Irish Studies and other venues throughout Connemara and the Aran Islands. She will also record her own work and that of other singers.

This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle Ealaíon in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at NUI, Galway.

Tá clú agus cáil ar Árainn mar láthair d’amhráin Ghaeilge ó thug George Petrie agus Eoghan Ó Comhraí cuairt ar an oileán in 1857.  Le blianta fada fuair go leor eile blas ar shaibhreas amhrán agus ceoil na n-oileán. Is oidhre barántúil ar an oidhreacht shaibhir sin í Treasa Ní Mhiolláin.

Is as an Sruthán, Árainn do Threasa, amhránaí a bhfuil a cáil imithe i bhfad agus i ngearr le blianta fada. Amhráin mhóra Ghaeilge Chonnacht na hamhráin is mó a bhfuil tóir ag Treasa orthu ach tá saibhreas d’amhráin áitiúla aici chomh maith agus bailéadaí Béarla mar bhreis air sin. Ní féidir smaoineamh ar Threasa gan smaoineamh ar amhráin mar ’Sagart na Cúile Báine,’ ’Dónall Óg,’ gan dearmad a dhéanamh ar a sainleagan féin den amhrán ’Cúirt Bhaile Nua’. Tá na hamhráin mheidhreacha aici chomh maith. Is breá uaithi ’An Spailpín Fánach’ agus Bríd Thomáis Mhurcha’ a chur amach. Caiséad amháin atá déanta ag Treasa agus tá a guth agus a stíl shoiléir shainiúil le cloisteáil freisin ar cheirníní éagsúla eile. Tá duaiseanna iomadúla buaite ag Treasa ó thosaigh sí ar an amhránaíocht go poiblí.

Thug sí léi sméar mhullaigh na nduaiseanna d’amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós, Corn Uí Riada, i 1972 agus arís i 1979, and bhí páirt shuntasach aici i sraith teilifíse Bob Quinn Atlantean, sna hochtóidí. Bronnadh gradam iomráiteach Shean-nós Cois Life uirthi i 1996 mar gheall ar a tallann agus ar a bhfuil déanta aici chun an sean-nós a chur chun cinn. Sa bhliain 2009 bhí sí ina haoi ar shraith TG4 ’Amhráin is Ansa Liom.’ Ó d’fhill Treasa ar Árainn go buan, tá na sluaite d’amhránaithe óga oilte aici i gceird an tsean-nóis agus aithnítear í ar mhúinteoirí bisiúla na ceirde. Ar na daltaí ar chuir sí oiliúint orthu, tá Lasairíona agus MacDara Ó Conaola agus deartháireacha Uí Mhaoilchiaráin.

Tá roinnt mhaith taistil déanta ag  Treasa le blianta mar amhránaí agus ceolchoirmeacha agus ranganna tugtha aici san Eilbhéis agus sa tSairdín, i measc áiteanna eile. Is mór an t-údar sásaimh d’Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh go raibh Treasa toilteanach glacadh leis an gcuireadh a bheith ina hamhránaí cónaitheach.

Pictured at the reception to mark the appointment of Treasa Ní Mhiolláin are from left:  Dr Gearóid Denvir, NUI Galway, Pádraig Ó hAoláin, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Treasa Ní Mhiolláin, Dr Nessa Cronin, Centre for Irish Studies and Dr Lilis Ó Laoire, NUI Galway.

On Tuesday the 9 ^th of November, despite adverse weather and transport conditions, a large number of Aran islanders congregated in the seminar room at Martha Fox House, to celebrate the inauguration of Treasa Ní Mhiolláin’s tenure of the sean-nós singer in residence for 2011 with the staff of the Centre and other members of the University community.

From An Sruthán, ón Árainn (or Inis Mór), Treasa is a well known figure on all three islands. She works as a peripatetic teacher of song and has taught many young islanders the old Gaelic song repertoire as well as something of her own inimitable singing style. She numbers among her pupils Máire Ní Dhomhnaill, Macdara Ó Conaola and his sister Lasairfhíona, from Inis Oírr and the winners of Ireland’s Got Talent, The Mulkerrins Brothers. The latter came with their parents on the night and greatly added to the festive atmosphere.

Song and dance alternated and complemeted the music for two hours and one would have been forgiven for thinking that we were actually as well as virtually in Árainn itself. Previous singers in residence also attended, among them Micheál Ó Cuaig and Josie Sheáin Jeaic Mac Donnchadha, who with Treasa, Joe John Mac an Iomaire and his wife Rita, regaled the assembly with sparkling renditions of the sean-nós repertoire. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile, a doctoral researcher on Árainn’s music also played and added to the general bonhomie.

From 7.00 until 9.30 the revelry continued, showcasing the reasons why Árainn has been celebrated for the vibrancy of its music and song. Then, almost as suddenly as it began, the crowd vanished into the dank and blustery November night, having well and truly installed their heroine, Treasa Ní Mhiolláin, twice winner of Corn Uí Riada and international performer, as amhránaí cónaitheach ar an sean-nós for 2011. Simply astounding.

                                                                      -  Dr Lillis Ó Laoire, Roinn na Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh.

This online newsletter is published by the Centre for Irish Studies.  Any views, comments, or suggestions are welcome and should be forwarded to Nessa Cronin, Editor at nessa.croninnuigalway.ie or Samantha Williams, Technical Editor at samantha.williamsnuigalway.ie

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