RTÉ Archives take a look back at special moments of traditional Irish music and dance from the television archives. This exhibition features a taste of traditional music, song and dance from some of the top 'trad' musicians in the country, with performances taking place in a variety of social settings.
Specialist programmes on RTÉ Television such as 'Come West Along the Road', 'Country Airs', 'The Pure Drop' as well as programmes like 'The Late Late Show' have provided a platform to promote Irish artists and traditional Irish music and dance. From solo to céilí dancing, instrumental musicianship to sean nós singing, the selected clips celebrate the unique style of traditional Irish music and dance.
While many of the traditional songs and airs have a familiarity, they have unknown origins and go back hundreds of years, passed on from generation to generation. The notion of 'traditional' often conjures up images and sounds of the past. However, the performances presented here are testament to the continued popularity of traditional Irish music on our television screens. RTÉ has been associated with recording of traditional music since the 1940's and this exhibition provides a taste of the holidings from the television archives.
The accompanying image shows the Oranmore Céilí Band perform during the recording of RTÉ Television's 'The Mountain Lark', in February 1985.
The Furey Family play 'The Maid of Mount Cisco' recorded at the Abbey Tavern in Howth, Co. Dublin.
Production Year
1963
Contributor
Ciaran Mac Mathuna (Presenter)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Céilí on TV
Club Céilí, a bi-lingual programme of Irish music, song and dance. In this extract people dance the 'Siege of Carrick' to music from the Noel Tuohy Céilí Band.
Production Year
1965
Contributor
Seán Duignan (Presenter)
Don Lennox (Producer)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Fleadh Cheoil Thurles
An extract from a programme showing the highlights of the traditional music festival, the Fleadh Ceoil held in Thurles, Co. Tipperary in 1965.
Production Year
1965
Contributor
Aindreas Ó Gallchoir (Producer)
Adrian Cronin (Producer)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
The Fastest Reel in the West
John Conneely dances a reel in his unique style.
Production Year
1972
Contributor
Gay Byrne (Presenter)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Planxty Live at the National Stadium
Planxty playing live at the National Stadium in Dublin in 1972.
Production Year
1972
Contributor
Michael Monaghan (Producer)
Peter Dorney (Camera)
Stuart Hetherington (Camera)
Godfrey Graham (Camera)
John Coghlan (Sound)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Travelling Musicians
Irish traditional musicians Barney McKenna, Tony MacMahon and Micko Russell perform in the streets of Ennis, Co. Clare.
Production Year
1978
Contributor
Tony MacMahon (Producer)
Rory O'Farrell (Director)
Seamus Deasy (Camera)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
'I Am Thinking Ever Thinking'
Singer Dolores Keane with her aunts Rita and Sarah Keane talk about how they learned songs when they were growing up. Together they sing 'I Am Thinking Ever Thinking'.
Production Year
1980
Contributor
Doireann Ní Bhriain (Presenter)
Agnes Cogan (Producer)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Three Reels from the Kilfenora Céilí Band
The Kilfenora Céilí Band play three single reels.
Production Year
1982
Contributor
Tony MacMahon (Presenter)
Niall Matthews (Producer)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Shannon and O'Shaughnessy Play Set of Reels
Sharon Shannon on accordion and Paul O'Shaughnessy on fiddle play a set of reels.
Production Year
1987
Contributor
James Kelly (Presenter)
Tony MacMahon (Producer)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Longest Running TV Programme on Irish traditional Music
'Come West Along the Road' returns for a thirteenth series becoming the longest running television programme on Irish traditional music.
Production Year
2010
Contributor
Nicholas Carolan (Presenter)
Niamh White (Producer)
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Kíla Busking in Ennis
Members of the band 'Kíla' busk on the streets of Ennis, Co. Clare.
Production Year
1988
Contributor
Cliona Ní Bhuachall
Donal Mac an Rí
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE OF IRELAND
Paddy's Lament
Sinéad O'Connor and friends perform 'Paddy's Lament' and Sinéad talks to Pat Kenny about song writing and the power of traditional song.
