The Cardinal Ó Fiach centre in Cullyhanna was packed with singers from every corner of the country recently for an unique event where every song from the famed songbook, “Abair Amhrán”, was aired and celebrated.
Tháinig na hamhránaithe ó na ceithre hairde le chéile in Áras an Chairdinéíl Ó Fiach i gCoileach Eanach, Ard Mhacha le déanaí, chun páirt a ghlacadh in ocáid speisialta: Abair Amhrán-aton – eagraithe chun céiliúradh a dhéanamh ar oíche mhór eile a thárla ar an 16 Deireadh Fómhair, 1969.
Ar an dáta sin, tháinig Tomás Ó Fiaich, a bhí mar ollamh le Stair i Má Nuat le chéile leis an tAthair Brian Mac Raois, an tAthair Cathal Ó Fearraigh ó Ghaoth Dobhair, agus an tAthair – anois an tEaspag – Seán MacGiolla Riabhaigh in dteach Nuala Ní Ghallchóir i nGaoth Dobhair ag Éigse Uladh, agus chasadar gach amhrán ón leabhairín cailiúil.
When Fr Brian McCreesh told this story to teacher and musician Mary Savage, she contacted Marcas Ó Murchú who had edited a re-issue of Abair Amhrán last year, and between them, and a host of supporters, a singing marathon to match that which occurred in 1969 was organised for Cullyhanna for October 15th.
A brand new edition of ‘Abair Amhrán’, which was first published more than sixty years ago in 1962, and contains 105 songs, had been previously launched last year by Comhaltas Uladh. Editor, Marcas Ó Murchú, updated it now with notes, including historical context and biographical details, in the famed songbook and added some verses but the song collection, which has formed the basis of many a gathering of singers, remained the same.
It is hoped that it is now reaching a new audience, as now old favourites such as ‘Fear A’Bhata’, ‘Buachaill ón Éirne’, and ‘An Poc ar Buile’ are getting a freash airing, as well as the ‘big songs’ which have stood the test of time such as “Róisín Dubh” and “Sliabh na mBan”.
A re-emergence of some of the great sean-nós songs with fine and powerful airs which were widely sung in the past may be expected – with Priosún Chluain Meala in that number and Ceol an Phíobaire.
In addition, lively songs often sung by those who came together for Claisceadal Ceoil, such a “Iníon An Phalaitínigh”, are being heard now again by a new generation as teachers and song-sharers are reminded of such classics while thumbing through the pages of the re-issued classic.
I ndiaidh an chomhrá le Mary Savage, chuaigh Marcas Ô Murchú a chaint lena chairde i saol na Gaeilge agus an cheoil agus thug siad na cuairteoirí chuig Coileach Eanach le chéile donm ocáid speisialta ar 15 Deireadh Fomhar.
“Ba mhór an pléisiúr dom an ceol a reachtáil agus an tráthnóna a chur i láthair. Ócáid stairiúil a bhí in san Abair Amhrán-atón,” a deir Ó Murchú.
“Buíochas le mo chairde flaithiúla Pádraig Ó Sé agus Damien Ó Dónaill (RnaG), Réamonn Ó Ciaráin agus Gael-Linn” a thug cead taifead cartlainne le Seán Ó Sé a úsáid” arsa Marcas.
Several talented groups from local schools also took part, and the centre was packed as young and old took part in superb renditions of old favourites such as “Báidín Fheilimí” and “Amhráinín Síodraimín” and “Beidh Aonach Amárach”.
Bhíodar ar fad ar fheabhas, mar a bhí an casadh agus an ceol don rud uilig, a dúirt iad siúd a bhí ag freastal. Sheas an slua go spontáineach nuair a chas Úna Mhic Mhathúna Sliabh na mBan, ceann de na hamhráin mhóra tírghrá sa leabhar.
Thóg an tAthair Brian Mac Raois chuig an tionól an cóip d’Abair Amhrán a bhí aige ar 16 Deireadh Fómhair 1969 nuair a cheol seisean, sa chomhleadar luaithe thuas, an 105 amhrán ar fad as an leabhar i dteach Nuala Uí Ghallchóír.
An tsean cóip!
The organisers arranged for clips from the archives to be played, or asked singers to submit a song if they couldn’t be present on the day, but by 8pm that evening, after a 3pm start, all 105 songs from Abair Amhrán had been aired.
Seán Ua Súilleabháin: Buachaill Bán
Fuair an coiste míreanna ó “Sheán Ua Súilleabháin Ar an dTaobh Thall den Ghóilín; Seamus Ó Leighin a cheol An Buachaill Bán; Cathal Ó Curráin agus Na High Seas a dúirt Mo Ghloine Uisce Beatha; Cór Cholmcille, Doire, Outlet Records, a dúirt Maidin i mBéarra; Féilim Mac Donncha, Nás na Ríthe a dúirt Úna Bhán agus Mo Theaghlach; agus ó Aoife Granville, Ciarraí, a dúirt Gleann Beag Lách ar físeán”.
Ghabh Marcas buíochas speisialta as “Déirin Dé”, le David Wells-Cole, Paddy Finney (feadóg) agus Alex ‘Sandy’ McClintock (orgán béil) agus The Ryecatchers ó thaifead a rinneadh ar Fhéile Loch Garman/Wexford Festival i 1968. A bhuí le Chris Dove i Valencia sa Spáinn as a chur ar fáil.
Tháining an t-amhránaí Áine Uí Cheallaigh ( i lár) ón Rinn chun aitheasc a bhronnadh, a thug uncail Áine, Nioclás Mac Craith, in ómós do chuairt an Chairdinéil Tomás Ó Fiaich ar an Rinn. Feictear í le Mary agus Marcas Ó Murchú sa phictiúir thuas.
I measc na n-amhránaithe ann bhí: Caitríona Uí Mhurchú, Inis Eoghain, Mary Savage, ón gcoiste a d’eagraig, Úna Mhic Mhathúna, Corcaigh, Niamh Uí Bhriain, BÁC 2ú sraith: Áine Uí Cheallaigh, An Rinn, Róise Ní Mhurchú, Bláithín Mhic Canna ón gcoiste, Máire Ní Choilm, Gaoth Dobhair, Aisling Uí Ghribín, coiste, Pádraigín Mhic Fhrainc ón gcoiste, coiste, Póla Ní Raifeartaigh, an tIúr, Cathal Ó Manacháin a cheol Bean an Fhir Rua, Tír Eoghain, Marcas O Murchu, Doire agus Rann na Mónadh, coiste agus fear tí a dúirt ocht n-amhrán.
Tháinig Dónal Ó Braonáin, a cheol Sail Óg Rua, ó Chonamara, Irial Ó Ceallaigh,a cheol roinnt amhrán as Cúige Mumhan ó Bhéal Feirste/An Rinn, agus Piaras Ó Lorcáin, Crois Mhic Lionnáin a chas an Spailpín Fánach, agus amhráin bhreátha eile.
Tá Abair Amhrán le faíl ó uladhcomhaltas@gmail.com agus ón Siopa Leabhar agus ón gCeathrú Póilí.
“Buíochas le Mary Savage as na córacha ó Scoileanna Naomh Iosaif agus Bunscoil Choileach Eanach, Bunscoil Chros Mhic Lionnáin, Meánscoil Naomh Pól ón tSruthán agus a n-ardmháistir Jarlath Burns (a cheol Fir a Bhàta), Ciara Hall as Dún Dealgan, Micheál Bennett, Aisling agus clann Uí Ghribín agus gach duine de na ceithre scór amhránaithe sa tsluacheol as achan chearn d’Éirinn a cheol go binn, croíúil, glórach,” dúirt Marcas Ó Murchú.
Bláithin Mhic Canna
Maíre Ní Cholim
Róise Ní Mhurchú le Marcas
Buíochas le Marcas Ó Murchú, Comhaltas Uladh, Gaelphobal Árd Mhacha Theas, Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, Cormac Ó Murchú, agus Séamus MacDháibhéid do na pictiúirí agus na físeanna.