Entertainment

Trad/roots: Tyrone maestro Arty McGlynn to feature in 10th series of ’Sé mo Laoch

The 10th series of ’Sé mo Laoch will showcase the huge diversity of Irish traditional music and musicians, but what I'm looking forward to most is the story of Tyrone guitarist Arty McGlynn

Omagh guitar player Arty McGlynn has collaborated with the likes of Planxty, Four Men and a Dog, De Dannan, Liam O'Flynn and Van Morrison
Omagh guitar player Arty McGlynn has collaborated with the likes of Planxty, Four Men and a Dog, De Dannan, Liam O'Flynn and Van Morrison Omagh guitar player Arty McGlynn has collaborated with the likes of Planxty, Four Men and a Dog, De Dannan, Liam O'Flynn and Van Morrison

ONE thing I hope this column has shown is the huge range of music that could be called trad or traditional. Not only that but that trad-heads are no longer thought of of one-dimensional characters with a burning zealotry for the pure, unadulterated music of Ireland that has been played since time immemorial.

The truth is that Irish music has always been influenced by musics from all over Europe and even trad deity was never immune to the impure drop. The truth also is that traditional musicians are as varied a bunch of people as you could imagine in terms of their personal history, their foibles, the musical journeys they have taken.

This certainly comes to light with a new series starting on TG4 ’Sé mo Laoch which tells the story of some of our greatest musicians.

This is the 10th series of ’Sé mo Laoch, and it will feature what has been described as an ‘A-list’ of traditional musicians and singers and gives an insight into the lives and minds of these legendary figures.

Each a brilliant solo artist in their own right, they have also variously been members of such groups as The Chieftains, De Dannan, The Bothy Band, Planxty, Skara Brae and Patrick Street.

Directed by fiddler Dónal O’Connor, the series kicks off with someone I interviewed recently for this column, Frankie Gavin, he of De Danann fame and current TG4 Musician of the Year. (The interview is still available on line)

Frankie and I spoke of the break-up and reunion with another De Danann founder, Alec Finn, who is also featured in the series.

A trained artist and proud Yorkshire man with a background in the blues, Alec came to Ireland accompanied by a falcon (eh?), embraced traditional Irish music and developed a style of accompaniment on the Greek round-back bouzouki that had never been heard before. He made Ireland his home and left an indelible mark on the tradition with his extraordinary talent.

The programme also takes a look at his life and music through conversations with guests such as Eleanor Shanley, Mary Bergin, his son and reggae artist Cian Finn, fellow castle owner Seán Ryan (Alec and his wife live in Oranmore Castle in Co Galway), John Faulkner and Kathleen Loughnane.

However, I personally am most looking forward to the programme on Tyrone guitar maestro Arty McGlynn. The documentary charts Arty's life and career featuring new and old performances with Neil Martin, Nollaig Casey, Paul Brady, Sean Keane and Matt Molloy.

From his early years on the showband scene to his time as Van Morrison’s musical director and his collaboration with the likes of Paul Brady and The Clancy Brothers, Arty’s unique and original style of guitar accompaniment has had a huge influence on traditional music. He has also collaborated with many of the greats across numerous musical genres – in ‘Sé mo Laoch he tells his own story, in his own words.

Others to feature include Ballaghadareen-born Matt Molloy, born into a family of flute players. During the burgeoning 70s Matt was a founder member of the Bothy Band. After its short life he joined The Chieftains, in 1979.

Maighréad and Tríona Ní Domhnaill from Kells in Co Meath are two singers blessed with a repertoire and tradition from Rann na Feirste in the Donegal Gaeltacht but with two very distinctive voices.

As members of the groups Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Night Noise, Relativity and T with the Maggies they have brought the songs of of their ancestors in Donegal to audiences worldwide. They too tell us their story in their own words.

Aniar TV are launching the series today with a show-reel screening at The Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin, followed by a Q&A and performance featuring Frankie Gavin, Matt Molloy, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Alec Finn and Arty McGlynn, alongside executive producer Niamh Ní Bhaoill, director Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and producer Dónal O’Connor.

The first programme goes out on October 14.