News

Colmcille Folklore with Gearóidín Breathnach

Colmcille has a special place in the folklore of Ireland and Scotland. For this reason, Foras na Gaeilge asked the renowned  storyteller Gearóidín Breathnach and LIGID TV Productions to make a series of short videos, Seanchas Cholmcille, as  part of Colmcille 1500. In each video, Gearóidín Breathnach visits a location in Donegal associated with the saint, and she tells a story and local traditions about him:

1. The birth of Colmcille
2. Eithne’s Well, Termon and the birthplace of Colmcille
3. How Colmcille got this name
4. Ray Cross and the Great Cross.
5. Colmcille’s Turas and Well in Gartán
6. How the Leannan River got its name

Subtitles for the videos are available in Irish and Scottish Gaelic and in English, and it is possible to view them without subtitles.

Gearóidín is from a well-known family of  storytellers from Rann na Feirste in West Donegal. She has twice won Corn Uí Riada at Oireachtas na Gaeilge, the most important competition for traditional singing in Irish, along with the main prize for story telling. This last prize is named after her father, Neidí Frainc Mac Grianna, who first inspired her love of storytelling. Gearóidín has  spent many years promoting storytelling and traditional singing among young people, and has an important place in the traditional singing and storytelling of Donegal.

The signature tune for the series is a piece of the song Ainnir Dheas na gCiabhfholt Donn, sung by Aodh Mac Ruairí, another singer from Rann na Feirste. The verse tells of advice from Colmcille, and it can be heard in its entirety at the beginning of the first video:

Is é ‘dúirt Colm  Cille linn go hIfreann nach dtéid fial

Lucht an tsaibhris go gceileann siad a bpáirt mhór le Dia

’S nach mór an tubaiste d’aon duine a ndearnadh riamh

‘Oiread a chruinniú is a choinneodh as Parthas é.

translation

Colmcille said that the generous do not go to Hell.

The rich deny their affinity with God

What a catastrophe for any one ever made

To gather as much as would keep him from Paradise.

As part of the Colmcille 1500 commemorations, a number of commissions will be awarded to artists from Ireland and Scotland, as recently advertised on social media. These awards are for work in any artistic medium addressing an aspect of the heritage of St Colmcille or Columba and the relationship between the Gaelic-speaking communities of Ireland and Scotland. The commissions are for those working in Irish or Scottish Gaelic or, in the case of non-verbal arts, in with communities of Gaelic speakers. It is anticipated that the value of the commissions will be between €2,500 and €15,000 (or the sterling equivalent) depending on the concept, the link with St Colmcille and with Scottish and Irish Gaelic. If you have a project in mind, please contact colmcille@forasnagaeilge.ie. The deadline for applications from Ireland (north or south) is the 10th September 2021, and for applications from Scotland, the 15 September 2021 An application form is available here.

A series of nine on-line ‘Colmcille 1500’ lectures organised by Donegal Library Service with guest speakers Dr. Brian Lacey, Christy Gillespie, Donal Mac Polin, Tim Stampton, Paula de Fougerolles and Joe Brennan.
These lectures are free of charge and will be streamed online on the Donegal County Council YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/wwwdonegalcocoie/videos

Further details at www.donegallibrary.ie

MEITHEAL CHOLMCILLE – 8th AUGUST 2021

Islander artist Cathal Mc Ginley will curate an art project on Inisdooey as part of the ‘Colmcille 1500’ celebrations this year. The theme of the project will be influenced by local folklore and the connection of Saint Colmcille and Saint Dubhthach to the local islands. Cathal will be joined on the 30th July by the children of Club Óige Mhachaire Rabhartaigh to complete the art project.

On the 8th August there will be an exhibition of both the children’s and Cathal’s artwork. There will also be a guided walk and boat trip around Inis Bó Finne with songs, stories and refreshments provided. – Further information @ 087 656 1879