Three years ago, Dublin-based filmmaker Bob Gallagher, described as a ‘good soldier of cinema’ by Werner Herzog, contacted the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle (ITSC). Bob, also a singer with Inishowen connections, was interested in learning more about songs and singers from the Co. Donegal peninsula. This month, his new documentary, a fitting tribute to the singers and songs of Inishowen, receives its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh on Saturday, 15th July.
The Singer’s Circle traces its history back to the 1980s; there was a recognition of an oral tradition on the peninsula that had withstood, to quote from their website (https://inishowensinging.ie), “…the erosion caused by radio, television and recorded music”. This tradition “…embodies the history, music, language, social habits and humour of past generations – the intangible cultural heritage of the Inishowen Peninsula.” There was a fear that the unaccompanied song tradition was endangered, especially among older singers.
Spurred on by the actions of Dr Tom Munnelly of the National Folklore Collection based in University College Dublin, the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle was formed in 1988 by local Buncrana school teacher originally from Gaoth Dobhair, Jimmy McBride. They held their first seminar in 1990, the opening lecture for which was presented annually by Tom Munnelly until his death in 2007.
During the lockdown, Bob Gallagher created a number of short films for the 2021 festival, which was forced to revert to streaming online. To quote them, it was from this point that the “ITSC stepped into the world of filmmaking guided by Bob’s unique vision.”
The documentary born out of his vision will receive its world premiere this month at the 35th Galway Film Fleadh on Saturday, 15th July, at 15:30 (Pálás Screen 1).
The 60-minute documentary features Ian Lynch (Lankum), Ye Vagabonds and The Henry Girls arranging and singing six songs from Clonmany and Buncrana singers: Roseanne McGonigle, Dan McGonigle, Mary Ann Canny, Corney McDaid, and a visitor to Inishowen, Ardara singer Packie Manus Byrne. The recordings are framed within Inishowen’s stunning landscape, interwoven with atmospheric archival recordings of the original singers and interviews with contemporary members of the Inishowen song community.
It’s a Fine Thing to Sing Film Trailer
The ITSC said: The film is a fitting and important tribute to the singers and songs of Inishowen, the incredible vision of Jimmy McBride in founding the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle and to the enduring power of the Inishowen song tradition.
It has been our pleasure to work with Bob’s wonderful crew of cinematographers, editors, sound engineers, and post-production professionals. We are especially delighted that local sound engineer Neil McGrory, and cinematographer Liam Hirrell were part of the team. Funding for the film was provided by ITSC, the Arts Council of Ireland, Donegal County Council, and the generous support of Homebird Productions and Wonderbread Films.
The threads of such efforts have the potential to be far-reaching, maybe even beyond Jimmy McBride’s first dreams.
The film will be followed by a discussion with the director and members of the ITSC.
Tickets priced at €10 (plus fees) are available here: → Tickets
Afternote: Despite being in a digital age, the oral tradition carries on…when we interviewed the brother-duo Ye Vagabonds last year about their Nine Waves album, Diarmuid MacGloinn told us how it was through ITSC’s festival that he heard a version (the most complete one) of Her Mantle So Green:
“So, our version was an extensively researched composite of that song. I’m sure anyone who’s really interested in old folk songs will have come across a song like it before, this motif of the man arriving back from war, who either disguises himself or is unrecognisable. He proposes, and then the girl in question replies, “no, she’s waiting for her man across the sea”, and in doing so, proves her loyalty. Then, of course, he says, “Ah, it’s me, let’s get married”.
“I’d never really heard a version that truly caught my ear before. Margaret Barry has a great but very incomplete version of the story, and the story, for me, is key. Then I heard this version by Jim O’Neill from Markethill, Co Armagh. His recording was very different, with a great melody, delivery and a much more complete story. But still, there were elements missing. I had started singing it, changing the melody over time, making it more minor. Then I heard a good friend of ours singing it at the Inishowen Circle Singers Festival who had a complete version of the story. I was intrigued and wanted to see if I could get a complete set of the lyrics, so I went researching in the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and I found a good few manuscripts. Then between all those different sources, I put together the version that we play on the album.”
Links
Bob Gallagher:
→ bobfilmsthings.com
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→ Twitter
Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle (ITSC):
→ inishowensinging.ie
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