Labhair muid le bainisteoir Raidió RíRá, Emma Ní Chearúil faoin gcéad bhliain den togra, Glór ár Linne a thacaíonn le healaíontóirí nua atá ag obair i nGaeilge trí mheántóireacht agus forbairt scileanna praiticiúla.
Dúirt Emma go raibh éileamh mór ar an scéim nuair a fógraíodh é, rud a dhéanann ciall toisc go bhfuil leithéidí IMLÉ, Séamus agus Caoimhe, Huartan agus dár ndóigh, Kneecap ag léiriú go bhfuil spás ann don cheol i nGaeilge ní hamháin in Éirinn ach níos faide i gcéin.
Roghnaíodh sé ghrúpa as na daoine uilig a chur isteach ar an scéim agus d'éirigh leis na grúpaí uilig a gcuid scileanna fuaime, taifeadta, poiblíochta a fhoghlaim ó leithéidí Sexy Tadhg, Megan Nic Ruairí, ón ngrúpa Big Love agus Matt Ó Baoill ón ngrúpa, Tebi Rex. Tá spéis mhór ag daoine a bheith ag cruthú ceoil i nGaeilge ach an bealach le briseadh isteach a aimsiú
Chaith na grúpaí seo an samhradh ag cleachtadh a gceirde agus iad ag dul ar stáitsí ag féiltí samhraidh na hÉireann. Bhí siad le feiceáil ar chlár teilifíse TG4 a tháinig ón Electric Picnic agus mar bhuaicphointe den obair ar fad, beidh siad le feiceáil ag ceolchoirm speisialta sa Grand Social ar an 17 Meán Fómhair.
This new initiative, run by Raidió Rí-Rá, Ireland's national Irish language youth and pop station, and in partnership with Creative Ireland and Dublin City Council, aims to foster a new generation of Irish language bands and artists with mentorship and creative spaces. This was a pilot year for the scheme, which will run again in 2025-2026.
The programme offered six bands and musicians the opportunity to undertake eight weeks of workshops and recording sessions, training them in music production, songwriting, stage presence, marketing and other essential skills for getting ahead in the industry, and following in the footsteps of the likes of Kneecap and Huartan. Their mentors and workshop facilitators were a mix of musicians and industry professionals including Sexy Tadhg, Megan Nic Ruairí (Bold Love), and Matt Ó Baoill (Tebi Rex).
Cé go bhfuil na bannaí nua atá ag teacht chun cinn ag féachaint ar aistear rathúil ghrúpaí eile Gaeilge, deir Emma go raibh siad uilig cinnte faoina bhféiniúlacht agus a bhfuaim féin. Bhí Emma an-sásta a rá linn go mbeidh an togra ag tarlú an bhliain seo chugainn freisin.
Musicians were platformed at gigs and festivals through the scheme, performing at festivals like Féile na Gealaí, The Dublin Rose Festival, Cruinniú na nÓg, and will be taking to the stage at Electric Picnic and performing across Dublin city in a series of pop-up gigs during the month of August too.
Raidió Rí-Rá Station Manager Emma Ní Chearúil says;
"there’s a lot of talk about a 'language revival’ lately, but it’s more than that, it’s a cultural revolution and people are realising they can live their lives as Gaeilge. Music, culture and the arts play a huge role in this and we want to make sure that the next Kneecap, RÓIS or Huartan are being nurtured and given guidance to break into the music industry. The language isn’t a fad or a trend, and bands and musicians like IMLÉ, Cian Mac Cárthaigh and James Shannon prove that the language is not a barrier but a doorway when it comes to making it as a professional musician."
After a great summer full of opportunities and new experiences, the scheme is culminating in a celebratory group show in The Grand Social on Wednesday, September 17th. The featured musicians are: Aisling Moran, Jessie and the Veil, Earthmover, Little Kings, Éire agus Chulainn, and Lisa Murray.
