Ciara Nic Chormaic, Director of new film Ó Bhéal spoke to Seán Rocks on Arena on RTÉ Radio One about the documentary, an exploration of the rise of hip hop and electronic artists in Ireland who are embracing oral traditions of folklore, ancient poetry and sean-nós.
Ciara said the interesting scene of Irish hip hop inspired her to make a film about hip hop which also is an exploration of identity of Irish language rappers Seán 'Mory' Ó Muirgheasa and Oisín Mac, producer and multi-instrumentalist Fehdah, and Limerick rapper Strange Boy.
Even though many of us imagine hip hop as a contemporary artform, Ciara says many of the artists involved see it as 'the reimagining of an ancient artform', 'seanrud i bhfoirm nua'. She mentions Oisín Mac who draws on ancient texts such as Pangúr Bán and Cúirt an Mheánoíche and renowned writer Máirtín Ó Cadhain in his work.
Le déanaí, tá ceoltóirí Hip Hop agus Ceol Leictreonach in Éirinn ag tarraingt as tobar domhain an traidisiúin béil, an tseanfhilíocht agus an amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós, ag briseadh talamh nua i réimse an cheoil. Trí súile ceathrar ceoltóir – Mory, Oisín Mac, Fehdah agus Strange Boy faightear léargas domhain ar an gcaoi go bhfuil siad ag brú teorann nua agus ag cruthú ceoil úrnua na nGael.
Labhair Ciara faoin tslí go bhfuil na healaíontóirí béil seo níos compordaí á gcur féin in iúl trí mheán na Gaeilge agus go luíonn sin le cultúr an hip hop i gcoitinne a bheith 'keepin' it real'. Thagair sí freisin don ilchultúrachas atá anois sa seánre anois go bhfuil leithéidí Fehdah ag baint úsáide as an dá chultúr atá timpeall uirthi, cultúr na hÉireann tríd an sean nós agus an cultúr Afraiceach.
Ó Bhéal is released this Friday, 10 November and there will be a Live Q and A in the Lighthouse Cinema with Ciara and some of the artists at 7.30
