By Tara McCormack
GAOTH DOBHAIR’S own Clíona Ní Ghallachóir, a 25-year-old sean-nós singer from Mín a’ Chladaigh, recently returned from an unforgettable experience at the prestigious Festival Interceltique in Lorient, France.
Representing Ireland as a soloist, Clíona shared her remarkable talent on an international stage, an opportunity she describes as “a memorable experience.”
Reflecting on her time at the festival, she expressed her gratitude for being part of such a unique event.
“I’m so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to represent Ireland at Festival Interceltique de Lorient in France this year.
It was a great privilege to take part in the festival alongside performers from other Celtic countries who share the same love for their language and heritage but who also face similar challenges regarding the preservation of those.”
Among the other Irish performers, Clíona, pictured below, was joined by Nia Byrne, Caoilte Ó Cuanaigh, Rinceoirí Cois Laoi, and Píobairí na Mumhan.
She extended special thanks to Reuben Ó Conluain and the Irish delegation, who made this wonderful opportunity possible.
One of the standout experiences for Clíona was performing at the Horizons Celtiques event, where she sang in front of thousands of people over four magical nights.
“It was surreal,” she said.
“Walking out each night to a stadium filled with enchantment and tranquillity and to an audience who showed great appreciation for each Celtic performance whether it was song, music or dance, was amazing.”
The acoustic environment only added to the magic of the event, and Clíona found herself reflecting on the importance of bringing sean-nós songs to an international stage.
“I understand the importance of recognising and celebrating sean-nós songs at a national level, but to take it to an international stage is something I’ve never dreamt of doing. I enjoyed every second of it.”
Despite the grandeur of the event, the Donegal native remained grounded, attributing her confidence to her early years of performing in local recitation competitions like ‘Abair Amach’ and ‘An Béal Binn’, as well as her involvement with the local theatre group, Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair.
“People ask me, ‘Were you not nervous?’ and my answer is, ‘Not at all.’ I’ve no doubt that the confidence gained through these experiences has helped me take to the biggest stage I’ve performed on to date.”
The experience was filled with memorable moments, but one that stood out for Clíona was her performance at the local hospital in Lorient.
“It was very humbling to see how the sean-nós songs brought joy and entertainment to patients there even though they wouldn’t have been familiar with the language.”
This moment, along with her performances at Horizons Celtiques, left a lasting impression on Clíona, who felt immense pride in representing not just Ireland, but the Irish language, heritage, culture, and arts.
Her journey as a sean-nós singer began when she was just four years old.
Over the years, she has developed her craft, learning songs, attending workshops, and competing both locally and nationally.
“I’ve been singing since I was four years old and that was when the journey began,” she shared.
Her dedication has earned her All-Ireland titles at ‘Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann’ and at ‘Oireachtas na Samhna’.
However, Clíona sees this as an ongoing journey, one in which she continues to research, collect songs, and develop her own unique sean-nós style.
“I’m very fortunate to have grown up in the Donegal Gaeltacht amongst renowned sean-nós singers who have been of great influence and support to me. The tradition is very much respected and nurtured here which is important for the next generation.”
As for those looking to follow in her footsteps, she offers valuable advice: “We’re very privileged to have such a rich sean-nós singing tradition in Donegal where accounts of love and loss in bygone days are portrayed and preserved through the sean-nós songs.”
She encourages anyone interested in sean-nós singing to participate in local events like ‘an oíche airneáil’ or ‘ciorcal amhránaíochta’, especially during ‘Oíche Chultúir’ later this month.
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