Blas Ceoil, BBC Radio Ulster’s weekly bi-lingual contemporary folk music programme celebrates its 10th birthday tonight with a special concert recorded in the Glassworks, Derry.
Tonight (Friday February 1 at 7pm), performers Liam Ó Maonlaí, Gráinne Holland, The Rapparees, Paul Tully, Emma Langford, Eimhéar Mulholland and Jack Warnock, join presenter Lynette Fay for a birthday Blas Ceoil, packed with music and craic.
The award-winning programme originally began as a 10-part series for radio, television and online. Up to 40 venues and pubs with a reputation for good music hosted the programmes, and each featured artists from the local area with a diverse range of music styles – pop and rock mixed in with traditional, bluegrass and jazz.
That original musical ethos of the programme – home-grown and diverse from established and emerging talent – continues today with Blas Ceoil firmly at home on BBC Radio Ulster and online, every Friday evening at 7pm.
Producer and presenter Lynette Fay says: “It’s hard to believe that Blas Ceoil has been kick-starting the weekend on BBC Radio Ulster for 10 years now.
“The programme is presented bilingually in English and Irish and is a wonderful way for those interested in, or curious about the language to dip their toe into this world.
“Musically, the programme is made up of 80 per cent Irish artists and the eclectic playlist has become part of people’s weekend routine, whether they speak Irish or not.”
Blas Ceoil has been nominated for many awards over its 10-year-run, and has won a PPI radio award and a Celtic Media award for best live music programme.
As well as studio sessions, the programme has also become known for its outside broadcasts which have proven to be a huge hit with the listening audience.
Adds Lynette: “I have broadcast from Minaleck in Donegal, Belleek, Belfast, Carntogher, Castlewellan, Newry, The Brantry, to name but a few. We have also broadcast live from Kerry, Dublin and Glasgow.
“One of the highlights of the outside broadcasts was in June 2018, when I presented the show live from The Hill of the O’Neill in my hometown of Dungannon. The crowd that turned out for that show was unbelievable.
“Live music performance has been at the heart of the show all these years. The programme has undoubtedly given a platform to up and coming local musicians, particularly of the folk music genre.
“Many have received their first radio play on the programme. Blas Ceoil now has many friends and familiar voices who call in to the studios anytime they’re in town.”
Commissioning Executive of BBC Gaeilge, Karen Kirby was the original series producer of the programme.
She recalls: “The immediate success of Blas Ceoil was due to the fact that we visited family-owned pubs and venues that were doing their bit and working hard to encourage local music in their area.
“The programme provided a bigger window for those local musicians to be seen and heard.
“It was like going to a different music session every week. The mix of styles was a key ingredient from the beginning too… something for the trad enthusiasts, something for pop or rock aficionados and some special moments of nostalgia too.
“We reformed Déanta for a programme in Co Antrim, and The Adventures got together specially for a programme too. We also heard from Horslips, Frankie Gavin and Cara Dillon.Many musicians made their broadcasting debut with us.
“When I got Johnny McDaid, now of Snow Patrol, then of Vega 4 to come home to Derry to sing in the local pub, that was a bit special. He hadn’t done that for many, many years and remembered busking nearby when he was just getting started.”
Adds Karen: “We heard some great, personal stories about the musicians’ lives with music, and their live performances never disappointed.
“From day one of Blas Ceoil the quality of the music and musicianship hasn’t changed. The programme has had a wonderful 10 years and hopefully will keep on playing for 10 more.”
Blas Ceoil @ 10, BBC Radio Ulster, Friday February 1, at 7pm.
Programme Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00028km