Featured Music
Tobar an Dúchais: by Muiris O Rócháin
"Bríd O'Donoghue has long been recognised as one of Ireland's finest whistle players. She herself is very modest about her musical ability and has never sought the limelight. Paddy Canny, a wonderful fiddle player from East Clare considers Bríd the finest traditional whistle player he has heard. She had the good fortune to be born into a very rich musical community. Many of her near neighbours and immediate family were all brilliant musicians and those include her uncle J.C. Talty, Bobby Casey, Thady Casey, Junior Crehan, John Fennell, Joe Cuneen, Michael Falsey and Paddy Galvin. She was a regular visitor to the Willie Clancy household being related through marriage to Willie. Willie recognised her musical ability and gave her much of her earlier tuition and encouragement to continue playing.
Bríd won several national awards for whistle playing. Séamus Ennis awarded her the Gradam (a gold medal) in the Slógadh competition as the finest traditional whistle player in any age group at the All-Ireland Slógadh.
Bríd has been central to most of the musical activities in the Miltown Malbay area. She has taught in the Willie Clancy School almost from the outset and runs a very successful traditional music school all through the winter in the Miltown Malbay area. Most of the many fine traditional musicians in the area have been taught by Bríd. In 2004 she presented a series of radio programmes in Irish entitled "Fonn na Seachtaine" and was awarded first prize in a National Radio Competition as a result. She represented Ireland internationally as a musical ambassador in places as diverse as Italy to Cape Breton in Canada.
This unique solo recording will make Bríd deservedly known to a larger audience and give further testimony of the rich musical heritage of her native West Clare. It will be of interest to lovers of music everywhere and is a worthy tribute to a very brilliant and gifted musician. It is a tribute to all involved and gives a portrait of a unique musician playing the music of her own rich heritage. "
Bríd receiving her Gradam from former President Paddy Hillery at the All Ireland Slógadh
Bríd has been central to most of the musical activities in the Miltown Malbay area. She has taught in the Willie Clancy School almost from the outset and runs a very successful traditional music school all through the winter in the Miltown Malbay area. Most of the many fine traditional musicians in the area have been taught by Bríd. In 2004 she presented a series of radio programmes in Irish entitled "Fonn na Seachtaine" and was awarded first prize in a National Radio Competition as a result. She represented Ireland internationally as a musical ambassador in places as diverse as Italy to Cape Breton in Canada.
This unique solo recording will make Bríd deservedly known to a larger audience and give further testimony of the rich musical heritage of her native West Clare. It will be of interest to lovers of music everywhere and is a worthy tribute to a very brilliant and gifted musician. It is a tribute to all involved and gives a portrait of a unique musician playing the music of her own rich heritage. "
Seán, Bríd's eldest son, playing with his grand uncle, JC Talty.
Do bhuaigh Bríd duaiseanna iomadíla i gcomórtaisí éagsíla. Roghnaigh Séamus Ennis í chun bonn óir a thabhairt di mar dhuais don cheoltóir ab fhearr a bhí ag seint i gcraobh na héireann do Shlógadh.
Dlíthdhiosca neamhghnáthach é seo do cheoltóir aonarach ag seint léi féin gan aon tionlacan. Ní haon áibhéil tobar an díchais a bhaisteadh air mar tá a saol caite ag Bríd ag maireachtaint in iarthar an Chláir agus tá sí lárnach do na himeachtaí ceoil traidisiínta ar fad atá sa cheantar. An díchas as ar fáisceadh Bríd níl aon teora leis an saibhreas ceoil idir cheol íirlise agus amhráin a bhaineann leis an seanshaol.
Beidh éileamh agus spéis go forleathan ar an dlíthdhiosca álainn seo. Tá an tobar doimhin as ar tháinig sí ann fós agus tá eiseamláir anseo de scoth ceoil shaibhir iarthar an Chláir. Tá an-éagsílacht sa cheol idir cheol rince agus foinn mhalla áille. Tá an taifeadadh déanta go slachtmhar agus níl aon dabht ach go mbeidh tóir air seo i bhfad is i gcéin."
