Musical Heritage: Local man will appear in new TV series
Aidan Connolly from Templeogue will feature in the first episode of the new TG4 series exploring Ireland’s musical heritage.
Leading Irish traditional musicians and singers draw from inspiring archival materials to uncover the stories of some exceptional traditional musicians, singers, collectors, and regions in the brand-new series ‘Taoscadh ón Tobar’, coming to TG4 and TG4.ie.
The Irish Traditional Music Archive’s (ITMA) flagship artistic series ‘Drawing from the Well’ launched in 2020 with the aim of connecting Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, singers, and dancers with ITMA’s rich archival material to inspire new works of art.
In partnership with TG4, ITMA now bring this concept to the small screen in ‘Taoscadh ón Tobar’ as five new artists uncover the stories of significant musicians, singers, collectors, and regions.
Through performances, interviews, and research, they draw from the deep “well” of traditional music.
In Episode 1, Italian-born fiddle player Andrea Palandri (from Venice, Italy, now living in Baile na bhFionnúrach, Baile na nGall, Co. Kerry), traces the life and music of Sliabh Luachra fiddle master and teacher Pádraig O’Keeffe.
He meets musicians and researchers, including Matt Cranitch (Ballincollig, Co. Cork) and Peter Browne (Blackrock, Dublin), who have followed Pádraig’s life and uncovered previously unheard recordings.
Clodhna, Eoin, and Cormac Begley (Cuas, Baile na nGall, Tralee, Co. Kerry), Nicky McAullife (Castleisland, Co. Kerry), and Aidan Connolly (Templeogue, Dublin) join Andrea to perform O’Keeffe-related music throughout his journey.
In Episode 3, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin uncovers the story of fellow Dublin fiddle player Bridget Kenny, dubbed “The Queen of Irish Fiddlers” by Captain Francis O’Neill.
She pays homage to Mrs. Kenny, busking on a crowded Thomas Street, just around the corner from where she once lived.
‘Taoscadh ón Tobar’ will be broadcast on Sunday nights beginning May 12 on TG4 & TG4.ie.