Donegal band Clannad will be among the legendary local acts to feature in a new programme on the story of Gael Linn, one of the most innovative Irish language organisations in the second half of the 20th century.
The newly commissioned programme Gael Linn ag 70 airs on TG4 this St. Stephens Day at 8pm, featuring music and conversation with an all star cast such as Moya Brennan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maighread & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and more.
The establishment of Gael Linn was both ambitious and aspirational. Founded by a determined group of university graduates, who believed that the economic failures in the Gaeltacht areas needed to be addressed for the language to survive and that new and contemporary methods were urgently required to ensure that the Irish language would have a viable role in a modern Ireland.
Rather than looking to the state to help achieve these aims, Gael Linn set about establishing their own resources to match their ambition.
In 1953 Gael Linn began a weekly programme on Raidió Éireann which gave them the unique ability to showcase its various entrepreneurial, educational and cultural initiatives.
More importantly perhaps, it also provided a national platform for the Irish language and traditional music and song for the very first time. Gael Linn soon established a record label to satisfy the growing demand for this music and so began a new era for Irish music where its significance to our sense of national identity was established.
This celebratory programme begins with a piece of newly composed poetry which tells the story of Gael Linn and which is presented by Ranafast musician Megan Nic Ruairí, a member of the talented group Bláth na hÓige, who most recently released a record on the Gael Linn label.
Gael Linn’s influence on the commercially published music of Donegal by the likes of Clannad, Aodh Ó Duibhennaigh, Skara Brae and Altan is discussed by Moya Brennan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Maighread & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill.
Gael Linn ag 70 was produced by Aniar for TG4.
Seán Ó Cualáin Executive Producer of Aniar says “Aniar was delighted to undertake this project on the story of Gael Linn and to highlight how they created the Irish language creative sector that we have today. Gael Linn proved that our traditions can be central to renewal but above all this programme illustrates the positive impact that one generation can have on future generations.”
Anna Ní Ghallachair, chairperson of the TG4 Board says “This beautiful programme features a multitude of musicians giving recognition to the vision and the movement which started out trying to preserve the language and traditional Irish music, a tradition which is now recognised as one of the great musical cultures of the world, with wealth, energy and endless possibilities.”
Watch Gael Linn at 70 – TG4 at 8pm on St. Stephens Day
