Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh agus bhur gcéad míle fáilte isteach chuig the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
Well, the Bluffer is getting all dolled up tonight for a trip to Halla na Cathrach - the City Hall in Belfast this evening for the launch of Gradam Ceoil TG4 - the TG4 music awards.
This will be the first time the awards for the
finest exponents of traditional music have been launched in Belfast and it promises to be a fab evening.
It is apt that the event will be happening cois Lagáin - beside the Lagan because Belfast has long been a mecca for traditional music with many mentioning a specific a specific Belfast style that is níos funniúla - more energetic and níos tiománta - more driven than other styles.
There is also a huge amount of musicians in the city, those who have been born and others who are studying or working here.
The history of ceol traidisiúnta - traditional music has a long history in the city with the famous Féile na gCruitirí - the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792 being one of the most important events in our musical history.
Many people will also have heard of the McPeake family who have been making music for four generations or more before the explosion of interest in folk music in the 1960s.
The arrival of seminal bands such as Planxty and the Bothy Band led to another burst of interest in Irish music that hasn’t died since.
In fact the quantity and the quality of music being played in Belfast is greater than it has ever been and venues such as the Duncairn, An Droichead, and beáranna - bars like Madden’s and the Five Points are great places to hear Irish music.
Not only that, but adventurous musicians have taken it well outside its traditional comfort zone and are fusing it with all kinds of modern sounds and technology from all over the world.
(If you want to learn more about the history of trad in Belfast there is a great walking tour centred in the Cathedral Quarter. You can find out more at www.belfasttradtrail.com)
Gradam is an award, be it an Oscar or a Golden Raspberry and there are six handed out at Gradam Ceoil TG4 - Ceoltóir Óg - young musician; amhránaí - singer; Gradam Saoil - Hall of Fame; cumadóir - composer; Gradam na gCeoltóirí - the Musicians’ Award and the main award of Ceoltóir Traidisiúnta na Bliana - traditional musician of the year.
Since 1998, the selectors have included Meaiti Joe Shéamuis Ó Fátharta, Fintan Vallely, Kevin Crawford, Ann Mulqueen, Áine Hensey, Cathal Goan, Breanndán Ó Beaglaíoch, Mary McPartlan, Robbie Hannan, Liz Doherty, Mary Bergin and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh.
To say you play something you would say seinnim ar ... . I play the ... so seinnim ar an fhidil - I play the fiddle or ar an phíb - the pipes, or ar an fheadóg stáin - on the tin whistle or ar an bhosca ceoil - on the accordion.
There are more instruments than ever being used to bring new sounds that complement the tradition rather than overwhelm it.
It’s an exciting time for trad so fáilte mhór roimh Gradam Ceoil TG4.
CÚPLA FOCAL
Halla na Cathrach (halla na kahrakh) - the City Hall
Gradam Ceoil TG4(gradam kyoil tee gee kehir) - the TG4 music awards
cois Lagáin(cush lagaan) - beside the Lagan
níos funniúla(neess fwinyiula) - more energetic
níos tiománta(neess chumanta) - more driven
ceol traidisiúnta(kyawl tradishoonta) - traditional music
Féile na gCruitirí (fayla na gritchoree) - the Belfast Harp Festival
ceoltóir óg(kyawltore awg) - young musician
amhránaí(oraanee) - singer
Gradam Saoil - (gradam seel) - Life Achievement (Hall of Fame)
cumadóir(cumadore) - composer
Gradam na gCeoltóirí(gradam ne gyawltoree) - the Musicians’ Award
Ceoltóir Traidisiúnta na Bliana(kyawltore tradishoonta ne bleeana) - traditional musician of the year
seinnim ar ... (shenyim er) - I play the
seinnim ar an fhidil (shenyim er un idgle) - I play the fiddle
ar an phíb(er un feeb) - on the pipes
ar an fheadóg stáin(er un yadawg staan) - on the tin whistle
ar an bhosca ceoil(er un wuxa kyoil) - on the accordion
