Clár Amhrán Mhaigh Cuilinn

Ciarán Ó Con Cheanainn

The rich repository of song in Irish in the National Folklore Collection is represented in this publication of song from the barony of Maigh Cuilinn, Co. Galway.

The book introduces the reader to over four hundred and fifty titles, excluding variants and versions of songs. The songs were collected for the most part by full-time, part-time and other collectors with the Irish Folklore Commission, the forerunner to the National Folklore Collection, UCD. Among the collectors some well-known names in folklore collecting appear including Ciarán Bairéad, Proinsias de Búrca, Séamus Ennis, Calum Mac Gill-Eathain and Brian Mac Lochlainn. The author has compiled a catalogue of songs in the manuscript material of the National Folklore Collection. The songs embrace all aspects of life - love, sorrow, praise, religion, politics and the comic. Indices include titles, first lines, proper names, singers, collectors, authors and locations in relation to the songs, the singers and the collectors.

--------------------------------------

Tugtar léargas ar chuid den stór saibhir amhránaíochta i nGaeilge atá i gCnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann sa bhfoilseachán seo maidir le barúntacht Mhaigh Cuilinn. Sa leabhar, cuirtear os cionn ceithre chéad teideal amhrán os comhair an léitheora agus sin gan leaganacha na n-amhrán a chur san áireamh. Den chuid is mó, ba iad bailitheoirí lánaimseartha, páirtaimseartha agus bailitheoirí eile de chuid Choimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann, a dtáinig Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann mar chomharba air, a bhailigh an t-ábhar. Orthu sin, tá ainmneacha a bhfuil cáil orthu maidir le bailiú an bhéaloidis. Ina measc tá Ciarán Bairéad, Proinsias de Búrca, Séamus Mac Aonghusa, Calum Mac Gill-Eathain agus Brian Mac Lochlainn. Tá clár de na hamhráin as lámhscríbhinní Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann curtha le chéile ag an údar. Díríonn na hamhráin ar gach uile ghné de chúrsaí an tsaoil – an grá, an brón, an moladh, an creideamh,an polaitíocht agus an greann. Sna hinnéacsanna áirítear teidil, céadlínte, ainmneacha dílse, amhránaithe, bailitheoirí, údair agus logainmneacha a bhfuil baint acu leis na hamhráin.

Ciarán Ó Con Cheanainn (1981–2009) was from Sáile Chuanna, An Spidéal, Co. Galway. He was a singer, scholar and a teacher. His singing style was greatly influenced by Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin and Sarah Ghriallais. In 2008 he was the youngest participant to win Corn Uí Riada at the Oireachtas singing competition. He completed an MLitt degree at University College Dublin on the songs of his native district. The book Clár Amhrán Mhaigh Cuilinn is based on this work. At the time of his death, he was working towards a doctoral degree in Modern Irish at UCD.