Irish Trad Music's Influence On Contemporary Culture

Lightholler

The past, present and future role of traditional Irish music in the shaping of Irish contemporary culture will be one of the main issues discussed at the 19th annual Douglas Hyde conference (Comhdháil an Chraoibhín) in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon from October 20th-22nd 2006. The event titled ‘Many Streams, One Broad River’ will also involve discussions on the influence of Irish music on other cultures around the world.

Roscommon-native Dr. Douglas Hyde (1860-1949) – the first President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League – was a strong advocate of preserving Irish culture. This year’s conference, which was first held in 1988 and is hosted by Roscommon County Council, will attempt to emulate his own contribution towards it through a series of thought-provoking and informative talks, readings and recitals by highly esteemed poets and musicians. They include Sean Nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, uilleann piper Peter Browne, Irish-language poet and dramatist Liam Ó Muirthile, fiddler Deirdre Shannon, poet Ciaran Carson, and Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance formerly the Irish World Music Centre. Mr. Ó Súilleabháin will, in music and speech, examine and illustrate the ways in which Irish music has had influence around the world, and in its turn been influenced by music from many cultures.

According to renowned poet and Conference Director, Theo Dorgan, “The true cultural identity of Ireland was always shaped by and influenced by a rich diversity of external sources. For example, the English we speak is the language of former immigrants. Irish poetry in the 17th century was radically influenced by Spanish and Italian practices and forms, while our widely exported music has long since returned in new modes which, in turn, influence the way we make music today.”

Mr. Dorgan - a broadcaster and member of the Arts Council of Ireland - added, “At this year’s Douglas Hyde Conference, people will have a unique opportunity to experience our contemporary culture, including its traditional music, and contribute to the formulation of a new and more ample idea of Ireland. From looking differently at our history and contemporary culture we identify, recognise and value the sources from which they spring. We learn new possibilities for shaping the future.”

The Douglas Hyde Conference will this year attempt to identify the different strands of Irish traditional music. In what is set to be one of the musical highlights of the three-day event, singer Iarla Ó Lionáird will be joined on stage by piper Peter Browne. From the roots of O’Riada, Cork-native Ó Lionáird is one of the foremost new generation Sean Nós singers with a voice that has earned him a vast international reputation. Peter Browne, meanwhile, is a founder member of the Bothy band whose peerless musicality is widely admired by fellow musicians and audiences alike.

Philip Delamere, Arts Officer with Roscommon County Council says the combination of different genres of traditional Irish music goes in line with the theme of the Douglas Hyde Conference 2006. “This year we take the River Shannon as our central metaphor, the great river that runs north to south down the spine of our island, from the depths of prehistory into that future we are all engaged in shaping. Many tributaries, each with their own source and particular culture, feed the Shannon. This diverse range of influences on and interpretations of Irish culture will come to the fore at this year’s Conference. No more will this be evident than in the poetry and music performance by poet Ciaran Carson and fiddler Deirdre Shannon”, Mr. Delamere stated. Ciaran Carson's black humour, satire, and playful and serious interests in wordplay make him, in the words of American author Ben Howard, “one of the most gifted poets now writing in Ireland." His wife, the renowned fiddle player, Deirdre Shannon, will accompany him on stage.

Dr. Patrick F. Wallace, Director of the National Museum will officially open the Dr. Douglas Hyde Conference 2006 on Friday October 20th. President McAleese will give her keynote address on the night of Saturday 21st. The Conference will be held in St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon on Friday and Saturday October 20th/21st while the final lecture by archeologist Kieran O Conor will take place at the Douglas Hyde Interpretative Centre, Frenchpark on Sunday October 22nd 2006 before a field trip on the River Shannon aboard the MV Moon River exploring north Roscommon’s later medieval archeology.