Tag Archives: gaeilge

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IMLÉAlbum launch and video for single Críochfort

What you may need to know…

01. Last time we checked in with Gaelgóir funk/hip-hop outfit IMLÉ, they’d been doing well with single Fún Orm and preparing for their debut full-length.

02. The aforementioned is now complete, and releasing via Gael Linn this month.

03. Streaming above is the video for new single Críochfort, featuring the Hot Zombie collective, and directed by the band’s Fergal Moloney. On the song’s subject matter, the band writes:

Tá neart faoin saol seo le bheith dóchasach faoi. Déanann Críochfort plé ar an gcaidreamh casta atá againn mar dhaoine leis an domhan. Tá rudaí diúltacha agus dearfacha ag baint leis, ach sin cuid den tsaoil ina maireann muid.

04. The band launches the record next Thursday at the Bello Bar in Dublin (formerly the Lower Deck), with more national dates to follow.

VERDICT: Subtly groovy stuff that doesn’t really fall neatly between any set of pews musically. Adoption of the mother tongue is but one aspect of IMLÉ’s sound.

IMLÉ

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ImléFún Orm

Here’s what you may need to know…

01. Decent Irish(-language) hip-hop brought to you by Imlé, a Gaelgeoir collective of musicians and creatives led by Raidió na Life/Wild Promises man Cian MacCárthaigh, and flanked by numerous guests and collaborators, including, on this track, Gaelgeoir wordsmith MC Muipéad.

02. Part of a resurgence of the mother tongue in Irish independent/contemporary music, it seems: as well as appearing on The Gloaming‘s reconstructed versions of trad standards, an Gaeilge can be heard these days in the works of bands like West Cork black-metallers Corr Mhóna, as well as via various compilation/rearrangement projects over the past few years.

03. Imlé formally kicked off last May at Féile na Bealtaine, and swiftly followed up with the launch of their debut single Pádraig. They’ve since appeared at Electric Picnic’s Puball Gaeilge stage. Not just dealing in hip-hop, either, as you may gather from listening to Pádraig, their work explores the contemporary music landscape.

04. 2016 looks to be a busy year for the boys, as they launch their debut full-length later this year, via Irish-language gatekeepers Gael Linn. Production comes from The Frames/Ham Sandwich desk-man Karl Odlum.

Verdict: Ceol den scoth. More contemporary music as Gaeilge, please (suggestions are more than welcome in the comments), and ways to put it into the curriculum, while we’re at it.

Imlé

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A new Irish language centre is to open later in east Belfast to cope with an increasing number of learners.

The Turas [Journey] centre, based in the Skainos building (above) on the Newtownards Road, houses a classroom, offices and a library/social area. Development officer Linda Ervine said a growing interest in the language had led to the need to expand.
Ms Ervine said a “taster” Irish class held three years ago had revealed a surprising level of interest in the language.”We started a regular class two years ago which was meant to last for 15 weeks,” she said.
“Now, around 90% of our learners are Protestants. “People contact me on a weekly, even daily basis. All we have done is to open the door.”


Irish language centre opens in east Belfast (BBC News NI)

Previously: Teanga Up In Red, White And Blue

linda

Picking up the Roll of Honour Aisling Award for her commitment to Irish language was Linda Ervine, Irish language development officer for East Belfast where she runs SEVEN Irish classes a week in the Turas project at East Belfast Mission.

Linda, is a sister-in-law of the late PUP leader David Ervine, who himself learned Irish while in prison.

Mrs Ervine has previously said,

“What the language does is, it allows people to explore the idea of Irishness in a non-threatening way. We are Irish. I feel I’m Irish.”

 

She learned from the 1911 census that her husband’s relatives had lived in East Belfast and spoke both Irish and English. Yet their signatures were listed on the Ulster Covenant. Linda deduced that their knowledge of Irish wasn’t linked to their politics.

Fair plé dhuit, in fairness.