Conor Ó Gallachóir, from Gortahork Co.Donegal, got 2nd place in the 15-18 Seán-Nós Singing competition and went on to take the 2nd prize in the 15-18 Public Speaking competition at the recent Oireachtas Festival in Kilarney, Co.Kerry.
The annual Oireachtas Festival is a mecca for lovers and performers of the traditional arts and this year’s competitions again received a huge number of entrants aged from 6 years to 68. The range of competitions included storytelling, sean-nós dancing and singing, and the famous Lúibíní competition in which two people perform a rhyming story through song.
The highlights of this years festival included the newly composed piece by Peadar Ó Riada, entitled I gCuimhne Laochra (Remembering Heroes), that was commissioned by An tOireachtas as part of their 1916 commemorations.
A central theme in this years festival was the future of Irish language drama. This years programme featured an exciting and innovative line up of radio plays as well as a forum on the future of Irish language Drama.
Donegal was well represented this year as Clíodhna Ní Ghallachóir, from Gortahork, a student at Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, won the first prize in the 15-18 Public Speaking competition.
“The creation and performance of Irish Language Drama is a very important aspect of Irish culture” says Liam Ó Maolaodha, Director of An tOireachtas.
“In this Centenary year when we think of the effect that play writes such as Lady Gregory, Yeats and O Casey had on this country, it is vital that we keep this dramatic torch burning brightly, as a way of exploring, expressing and entertaining ourselves.”
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