Gathering musical treasures
The Gaeltacht-based Ceoltóirí Óga Chois Fharraige are currently in the midst of what is to become a valuable project on a local and national level; they are compiling a treasure trove – or Taisce – of cultural gems from their heritage-rich own locality.
They aim to gather as much information as they can on local performers, past and present: the musicians, singers, dancers, writers and storytellers who live in the locality of Chois Fharraige, the area which begins in Na Forbacha and ends in Ros a’ Mhíl.
The collection will be made available on a website, where it will be accessible to the local community and those interested in Irish culture.
“The taisce, is of course, the performers, those who have passed away and those who are still with us,” explained project coordinator Odí Ní Chéilleachair.
“Collectively they are the ambassadors who put Coos Fharraige on the map and who were, and still are, the beating heart of Cois Fharraige’s vibrant cultural landscape.
“They and their relatives are generous in the extreme with their knowledge and time and have expressed a great enthusiasm for the project,” they added.
The young musicians and their families are currently interviewing, writing articles, collecting pictures, listening to archival material and organising recordings with the assistance of mentors – Róisín Elsafty, Caitlín Ní Chualáin, Luisne and Aisling Ní Neachtain and Fearghas Mac Lochlainn – who are themselves arts practitioners and experts in the music, song and literary tradition of Chois Fharraige.
“This is a family-oriented project and while Ceoltóirí Óga Chois Fharraige have commenced the work, it is open to everyone and we would welcome anyone willing to write an article or provide pictures or share local expertise,” added Odí Ní Chéilleachair.