Could teaching traditional music and song to children be the key to keeping the Irish language alive?
Formed in Dundalk in 1976 folk group Glasheen sing in Irish and English but with the emphasis on traditional Irish music and song. When not performing the group members are all full time teachers. Glasheen means a small stream and is also the name for a herb used for dying wool in the Donegal area.
The members of Glasheen are: Conor Mac-Bride on flute and tin whistle; Peter McArdle on the accordion; Hugh McCague on the fiddle; Jimmy Johnston on the guitar and mouth organ; Tom Kindlon on the mandolin and bodhran and Kevin Wynne on the guitar.
Glasheen has been busy translating the songs of Bob Dylan into Irish. Their repertoire includes the Irish version of the song 'Sara' from Bob Dylan's 1976 album ‘Desire’.
Peter McArdle and his fellow teachers do not think enough emphasis is put on the teaching of traditional music in national schools. They suggest,
Both the language and the music will die out sooner than later if schoolchildren aren’t involved.
Peter McArdle knows singing is taught adequately in schools but instrumental music is neglected. He feels schools should do more to teach traditional music and folk songs, especially if teachers have a proficiency in these areas.
This belief is shared by school principal Fred Bell,
Very few teachers are able to teach music properly, especially instrumental music.
Peter McArdle and Jimmy Johnston teach music after school but Fred Bell would like to see their expertise used within the school hours. They could also help other teachers within the school to teach music properly.
The members of Glasheen are considering a future of playing music full-time, which would see them giving up their teaching careers. However Peter McArdale envisages Glasheen recording a series of albums of traditional, music and song for use in primary and secondary schools, with a special emphasis on the Irish language aspect of it.
On 5 November 1978 Glasheen played at the opening night of the £60,000 Redeemer Parish Community Centre in Dundalk. The guest of honour for the occasion was Archbishop of Armagh Tomás Ó Fiaich.
A ‘Newsround’ report broadcast on 12 November 1978.
