Seineann Fiona Howell an fheadóg leis an White Mountain Céilí Band i New Hampshire, scríobhann sí úrscéalta agus anois tá flash cards foghlama deartha aici do cheoltóirí seisiúin gur mhaith leo cur lena gcuid Gaeilge. Tá sí cruthaitheach, d'fhéadfá a rá.
Labhrann sí le RTÉ.ie/Gaeilge sula dtagann sí ar cuairt go Baile Átha Cliath do TradFest na bliana seo.
Cad as ar tháinig an smaoineamh do na Flash Cards seo?
"Táim ag foghlaim Gaeilge le roinnt blianta, ach go háirithe tré cleachtadh ceoil sna seisiúin agus i gceolchoirmeacha, uair go mbím ag seinnt fliúit agus feadóg agus ag canadh amhráin ar an tseannós."
"I have traveled in western Ireland several times to learn more. Even the customs people speak Irish to me in the airports, due to my red hair and name! Shortly, I will be in Dublin for the week of the annual Trad Fest music festival."
"For this event, I had the idea to make flash cards of typical Irish language comments for myself to use in sessions but then thought others would like them, too."
"Níl a leithéid cártaí le fáil don cheoltóir fásta gur mhaith leo níos mó Gaeilge a bheith acu. Sílim go bhfuil spéis ag go leor ceoltóir sa smaoineamh."
Conas mar atá ag éirí leo?
"The cards have just been released but already have been received very well! Bitesize Irish, an online Irish learning center, did a feature on them in their newsletter this week!"
"A bhuíochas leo siúd, tá roinnt díolta cheana féin agam!"
Where can they be bought?
"On my website: www.fionahowellmusic.com at my Shop page."
"Chomh maith leis sin tá treoir fuaime foghraíochta agam ar an leathanach Listen ar an suíomh agam."
"There is a QR code on the title card that will take you there. They are available by print-on-demand from another site."
What do you hope to hear at TradFest?
"I am just attending Trad Fest for the first time, although I will sit in on some sessions. I perform in New England, mostly in New Hampshire and Maine, with my local band, The White Mountain Céilí Band."
"Deinim roinnt seó aonair freisin agus táim tosnaithe ar an gceol a mhúineadh chomh maith - fionahowellmusic@gmail.com for more info on lessons!"
Fiona, san hata, lena grúpa The White Mountain Céilí Band - Dexter Harding, banjo, Mike Levine, guitar agus Siena Kaplan-Thompson ar an bhfidil.
You have roots in Ireland clearly - who's are you?
"Ar thaobh m’athair tá oidhreacht Éireannach (mar aon le oidhreacht na Breataine Bige) agam. Ar thaobh mo mháthair, tá oidhreacht na Bríotáine agam ó mo sheanamháthair. Tá fuil fíor-Cheilteach againn!"
"My great-great-great grandfather emigrated to the US in 1831 from Roscommon, which is known for its great Irish flute players. I think it came full circle with me! I always wanted to play flute but switched from classical to Irish flute while getting my music degree at Loyola University New Orleans."
"Bhí sé ana-bhréa bheith ag cónaí ansin ar feadh cúig bhliain – sheinn mé seisiúin seachtainiúla ar fud na cathrach. Tá pobal mór Éireannach ann."
You not only play music but you're a writer of poetry and fiction too - where did you develop all this creative expression? Is there something in the water in New Hampshire?
"I have always been a creative person. My family are also very creative people. My aunt Tina Weymouth and uncle Chris Frantz are part of the well-known band, The Talking Heads."
"Bhí mo mháthair sa ghrúpa eile acu, Tom Tom Club. Is eagarthóir é m'athair a chaith seal mar DJ thíos ó Dheas agus tá sé anois ag obair leis an Delta Blues Museum i Mississippi."
"There are a lot of musicians and writers in my family. However, I am the only one focused on Irish music. My mother was the one who gave me the Irish movie, 'The Secret of Roan Inish' about a little girl also named Fiona. I loved the soundtrack and learned all the songs in Irish and also the tunes."
"B’shin mar a thosaigh sé. Thosaigh mé ag seinnt in seisiúin Gaelacha ina dhiadh sin i New Orleans agus in New England nuair a bhí mé sa bhaile ón ollscoil. Tá an gheimhreadh ana-fhada agus ana-fhuar i New Hampshire."
"We just had a record wind chill temperature on top of Mt Washington of minus 108F! So, there’s plenty of time indoors to think and write. I have two fiction books up on Amazon currently and am about to release my third book this year."
"Tá ard-oideachas ar gach éinne sa réigiúin agam, White Mountains, agus tá ardmheas ar cheoil agus ar scríobh. Is as cathair New York mé ó thús; bhogamar go New Hampshire nuair a bhí mé deich mbliain d’aois."
"People ask me, 'what do you do in the country?' - 'A lot of creative things!' is the answer. I also broke and sprained my big left toe back in October. It took a very long time to heal so I needed something to do during recovery. The Irish flash cards were the best distraction!"
Is féidir leat na flash cards a cheannach anseo.
Lean ceol Fiona Howell ar Fiona Howell Music agus ag White Mountain Céilí Band. Dá cuid scríbhneoireacht téigh go Fiona Howell Writes.
