There won’t the sound of laughter, romance and the Irish language in the country’s Gaeltacht summer colleges this year but the craic refuses to die.
The Comórtas Amhrán Tí is looking for young people to join up and form their own online teach in the Gaeltacht to perform a song in Irish and hopefully win a prize.
The competition is being
run by Gaeltacht X (GX) in conjunction with RTÉ’s 2FM Breakfast with Doireann & Eoghan programme.
A staple for those who spent summers in Gaeltacht areas, from Corca Dhuibhne, to Leitir Meallain to Rann na Feirste, the performance of amhráin tí or house songs was always a highlight.
GX and 2FM are looking for versions of popular songs or original songs from young people individually or by putting their own Tigh together through zoom or other social distanced recording. There will be a €300 weekly prize and a €1000 prize for the overall winner after five weeks, culminating the week of August 17th.
Eoghan McDermott, Presenter of 2FM’s Breakfast with Doireann & Eoghan, says;
“Many’s the amhrán tí I’ve written - and won (only messing - but I did take part in many!) so it’s great that our show and Gaeltacht X will be providing this opportunity to young people who have missed out on their Irish sum- mer college experience this year. Creativity, spirit and craic are what I’ll be looking for in songs to represent Tigh Eoghain.”
Each week two songs will be chosen to represent Tigh Eoghain and Tigh Dhoireann. They will be played on the breakfast show Tuesday morning, and a public poll will then open over on Gaeltacht X’s Instagram account (@gaeltachtx).
There will be 24 hours for followers and listeners to cast their vote be- fore the winner is announced on Wednesday’s show.
Raidió Rí-Rá, the Irish language chart station, will also be supporting the initiative by helping to choose shortlists.
Songs can be sent to us from now until Friday 10th August. However, songs will be chosen to represent Tigh Eoghain or Tigh Dhoireann
on a weekly basis - so the sooner you get your entry in the more chance you have of your song being chosen.
The first round of songs will go on air on Tuesday 21st July. To apply send your entry to gx@cnag.ie.