From Drumsna Co Leitrim, Edwina Guckian is a dancer, farmer, teacher, filmmaker and folklorist.
Her new publication Sparks from the Flagstones is an illustrated book on Irish folk traditions and calendar customs. Of the book, President Michael D. Higgins says "Guckian's ability to bring people together in celebration of our land, nature, communities and culture, echoes the timeless spirit of our Irish ancestors".
In May, she performs at the Tradition Now Festival, the National Concert Hall's annual celebration of new folk and traditional music.
We asked Edwina for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
Henry Glassie has spent the last 50 years making in-depth studies of communities and their art and I greatly admire all his work over his lifetime, particularly the documenting of his time spent in Fermanagh in the 70's. I highly recommend watching Fieldwork by Pat Collins, which so intimately captures the process of the artist through Glassie’s eyes in extraordinary detail. I’m also looking forward to seeing Collins’ upcoming adaption of McGahen’s novel That They May Face the Rising Sun.
MUSIC
The latest musicians to join our Leitrim neighbourhood are Ultan O’ Brien and Zoe Basha. Their fiddle music and singing are a mix of Appalachian, Occitan, and improvised music, yet deeply rooted in Irish tradition.
I’ve also just had a sneak preview of the upcoming album from Cuas. The album was recorded live in West Kerry featuring local dancers and wild slides and polcas that emit so much energy, it’d nearly make you get into the car and hit the road for Dingle.
BOOK
The Stars of Ballymenone by Henry Glassie, The Year in Ireland by Kevin Danagher and A Year’s Turning by Michael Viney are three that I regularly return to throughout the year.
I also read a lot of children’s books with my own little family and we love the wonderful work that continues to appear from Irish authors and illustrators. Our favourites at the moment are Fox and Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly, The Great Book of Irish Wildlife Through the Seasons by Juanita Browne and Puifín Beag agus an Ubh by Erika McGann & Gerry Daly.
THEATRE
I love the work of Mikel Murfi: The Man in the Woman’s Shoes and I Hear You Rejoice are two of my favourites.
TV
TG4 and all the documentaries they produce.
GIG
I recently attended the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, and it was food for the folk soul. Acts performing on the night included Steve Cooney, Brendán Ó Beaglaoich, Cathy Jordan, Seamie O' Dowd, Rhiannon Giddens, Aoife O’ Brien, Zoe Conway, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Bláth na hÓige.
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I’m also really looking forward to seeing and hearing The Bothy Band in the National Concert Hall this April. I’ve never seen them live but their music was the soundtrack of my teenage years.
ART
Artist Barry Kerr from the south shore of Lough Neagh. His paintings are steeped in the traditions of our island, from landscape to music to its people. He is currently Artist In Residence at UCC.
RADIO/PODCAST
The radio is always on in our house. All week long we listen to Louise Duffy, John Creedon, South Wind Blows, The Rolling Wave, and living on a farm, CountryWide is one we never miss. I really enjoy listening back on long drives to the Doc On One podcasts - their work over the years has been incredible. I'm currently listening to their series Runaway Joe and hanging on every piece of information!
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TECH
ITMA.ie - the Irish Traditional Music Archives on Merrion Square is the national public archive for Irish traditional music, song and dance. They have recently updated their website making so easy to access thousands of recordings from thousands of Ireland’s national and local treasures. Give this website a visit and you will find yourself returning to it again and again.
THE NEXT BIG THING
People returning to the land to sow, grow and farm together, for each other. The future is local and community is future. If I dream of it, maybe it’ll happen!
Sparks from the Flagstones is out now, and is available from selected bookshops and from Edwina's website. Edwina performs at the Tradition Now Festival at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Friday, May 3rd - find out more here.
