Fáilte go Tionscadal na nAmhrán Ealaíne Gaeilge. Is í an Ghaeilge an teanga dhúchais scríofa is sine (.i. cé is moite den Ghréigis) a taifeadadh in iarthar na hEorpa. Tá ceann de mhórlitríochtaí na hEorpa cruthaithe ag fad saoil an traidisiúin áirithe seo. In ainneoin na díobhála a deineadh ar an teanga mar chuid de chóilíniú na hÉireann, is míorúilt í go bhfuil an teanga tagtha slán inniu. Léiriú ar chultúr na hÉireann í an Ghaeilge – teanga thar a bheith fileata agus ceolmhar – atá an-fheiliúnach go deo do sheánra an amhráin ealaíne. I gceol clasaiceach na tíre seo, áfach, tá líon an-bheag d’amhráin ealaíne ar fáil sa teanga seo. Sa bhliain 2018 – Bliain na Gaeilge – agus í ag iarraidh cur go suntasach le canóin na n-amhrán ealaíne Gaeilge agus caidreamh a spreagadh idir chumadóirí clasaiceacha agus filí Gaeilge, chinn Dáirine Ní Mheadhra caoga amhrán ealaíne a choimisiúnú, chun go gcuirfí téascanna Gaeilge amháin faoi bhráid chumadóirí Éireannacha agus idirnáisiúnta. Tá taifead á dhéanamh ar an gcaoga amhrán agus, faoi mhí na Samhna beidh taifid de na hamhráin maraon le scóir cheoil (le treoracha fuaimnithe) ar fáil le híoslódáil saor in aisce ó shuíomh idirlín ar leith, óstaithe go flaithiúil ag an Contemporary Music Centre in Éirinn. Tabharfaidh sé seo deis d’amhránaí ar bith, aon áit ar domhan, amhrán ealaíne a chanadh i nGaeilge. Chuir Comhairle Ealaín na hÉireann maoiniú ar fáil don tionscadal seo.

Cuirfear an caoga amhrán faoi bhráid an phobail don chéad uair ag sraith de thrí cheolchoirm i Seomra Ceadail Kevin Barry sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta. Gach seans gurb í seo an chéad sraith de cheadail amhráin ealaíne Ghaeilge ó bunaíodh an Stát.

Irish is the oldest vernacular written language (i.e. non-Greek) in western Europe. Despite the attempted obliteration of the Irish language during colonization, the language has somehow survived. This longevity of tradition has created one of the great European literatures. As an expression of culture, the Irish language is immensely poetic and musical and ideally suited to the art song genre. However, before 2018 the number of Irish language art songs was regrettably very small.

2018 was Bliain na Gaeilge or the Year of Irish. In an attempt to make a significant contribution to the canon of Irish language art song and to encourage interaction between classical composers and Irish language poets, Dáirine Ní Mheadhra commissioned fifty new art songs. They are set exclusively to Irish language texts, from Irish and International composers. All fifty songs have been recorded. Since November 2019 they are available to listen to and can be downloaded for free here.

A pronunciation guide is also available. The dedicated website is generously hosted by the Irish Contemporary Music Centre. This allows any singer worldwide the possibility of singing an art song in Irish. This project is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland.



This three-concert series takes place in the Kevin Barry Recital Room at the National Concert Hall. It is the first public presentation of all fifty songs. It is also, most likely, the first Irish language art song recital series in the history of the Irish state.