Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin
Photographer: Lára Ní Mhaoláin
Usage rights: COMHAR
Date: 14 September 2020
Setting: Saint Anne's Park, Dublin
Genres: Translator, Folklorist, Academic writer, Songwriter/composer
Rugadh Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin in Oirialla, áit a bhfuil an chuid is mó dá saol caite aici. Is i gCo. Mhaigh Eo agus i nDún na nGall a chaith sí blianta a hóige. Bhí béim ar leith ar cheol, canúint agus béaloideas Chúige Uladh sa chlann mhór inar tógadh í le Gaeilge. As sin a spreag an tsuim ar leith atá aici in amhráin, i dtaighde, sa cheol agus i gcumadóireacht. Cuireadh príomhthoradh a cuid taighde, ar amhráin Oirialla, A hidden Ulster—people songs and traditions of Oriel, i gcló i 2004, agus leagan athnuachana ar líne www.orielarts.com—gníomh a spreag glúin nua le seilbh a ghlacadh ar a dtraidisiúin féin in Oirialla. Bronnadh dochtúireacht uirthi i 2009, de bharr na taighde sin, ach is mar amhránaí gairmiúil is mó a chaith sí a saol. Tá deich ndlúthdhiosca d’amhráin i nGaeilge foilsithe aici, idir amhráin nuachumtha, amhráin do pháistí, amhráin na manach, amhráin Oirialla agus amhráin athnuaite. Bí an chéad bhean í a d’fhoilsigh dlúthdhiosca iomlán d’amhráin nuachumtha i nGaeilge, Áilleacht 2006. Rug a cuid cumadóireachta réimse de bhuanna Oireachtas na Gaeilge i gceol nuachumtha a chur le liricí traidisiúnta, agus b’é ceann acu ‘A Ógánaigh Óig’ a rug an chraobh i gCorn Uí Riada san Oireachtas 2019. Imeasc na n-iliomad duaiseanna atá aici, tá Gradam TG4 2018 agus Gradam Sean-nós Cois Life 2006. Bhí a saol agus a saothar luachmhar faoi chabidil i 'Sé Mo Laoch TG4, 2020
Pádraigín is a native of Co. Louth, who was brought up in an Irish speaking family in Co. Mayo and Co. Donegal. It was a culturally rich upbringing which cultivated and instilled a deep love for Ulster music, the Ulster dialect and folklore, which was the springboard for a lifelong interest in song, research and new composition. The fruit of her main interest, ‘A hidden Ulster—people, songs and traditions of Oriel’, was published in 2004 and its online renewal version, www.orielarts.com in 2018. This work of restoration has inspired a new generation of young singers to reclaim their own local tradition of song. She was awarded a doctorate for this research in 2009, although her main interest has been in performance, and composition. As a professional musician, she has recorded 10 albums of songs, including traditional song, songs for children, medieval monastic songs, Oriel song, new song compositions and bardic song. She is the first woman to record a full album of new songs in Irish, ‘Áilleacht’ CD 2006. Her many awards and residencies include the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, QUB, RLF Fellowship, Arts Councils awards and a TG4 Gradam Award 2018. Her work and life was the subject of the documentary, 'Sé Mo Laoch TG4, 2020.
Cara Caoin
Siúil liomsa, a chara dhil, suas fá na hardáin,Ar thuras na háilleacht’ is an ghileacht amuigh,
Le go ndeánfaimid bogán de chreagáin a’ tsléibhe,
Is le páideoga lasfaimid dorchadas oích’.
Ní laoithe an bhróin a cheolfainnse duitse,
Ná ní caoineadh donóige nó doghrainn daoi,
Ach le silleadh a mhillfinnse méala an chumha
Sa phluais sin go maidin ar shliabh na caillí.
D’ólfainnse an drúcht leat ó smús go smior milis
Is leagfainn ort síoda faoi sholas gealaí;
Agus luífinn ar leabaidh chlúimh éan leat go maidin
Á do chothú le biolar is le copógaí sí.
Chuirfinnse fleasc ort de chraobh gheal a’ tsamhraidh,
Le rósaí is pabhsaí is sabhaircín buí;
Bháfainn le deoir tú is thriomóinn le póg tú;
Agus nífinn do chréachta le braonta mo chroí.
Tá d’éadan mín séimh i ngach áit dá dtéimse,
A chara chaoin álainn ó Choimín na sí;
Ar ghleannta an aoibhnis go tobar an uaignis,
Tá do chairdeas mar bheannacht gach orlach den tslí.
Bhaist tú le grá mé, le sonas is ádh mé;
D’fhág tú faoi gheasa m’anam ’s mo chroí;
Agus lig tú do rún liom, go deo faoi mo chúram,
Mo ghrá leat a choíche, gach lá de do shaol.
Ón dlúthdhiosca Áilleacht, © Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. Foilsitheoir: Ceoltaí Éireann, 2006
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