Imelda May: Amhráin na nGael - ag teacht go luath go RTÉ One agus RTÉ Player

Sa tsraith nua sé chuid seo, téann Imelda May ar thuras mothúchánach agus fiosrach timpeall Ghaeltachtaí na hÉireann agus í ag tabhairt aghaidh ar a caidreamh leis an nGaeilge trí amhráin ar an sean-nós. Ag leanúint lorg na mbailitheoirí móra ceoil, cuireann sí a croí agus a hanam isteach ina sprioc chun gach aon fhocal de na hamhráin seo a thuiscint. An dtiocfaidh sí ar amhráin a spreagfaidh í ó thaobh mothúcháin de, agus an ndéanfaidh sí ceangal leis an stíl traidisiúnta amhránaíochta seo?

Le linn na sraithe, déanann Imelda iniúchadh ar chartlanna na mbailitheoirí mór le rá a tháinig roimpi, ó Ristéard De Hindeberg go Elizabeth "Bess" Cronin. Ar a turas, buaileann sí le Lillis Ó Laoire, Ollamh le Gaeilge agus amhránaí sean-nóis, chomh maith le ceoltóirí Liam Ó Maonlaí agus Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta.

Buaileann sí le hamhránaithe iontacha ban a mhúineann amhráin sean-nóis di, chomh maith le hamhránaithe áitiúla ó na Gaeltachtaí a chaomhnaigh an traidisiúin seo ó ghlúin go glúin. Cuireann Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Ann Mulqueen, Caitlín Ní Chualáin agus Maighréad & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill fáilte chroíúil roimh Imelda agus cabhraíonn siad léi lena sprioc - líofacht san amhránaíocht sean-nóis, nó ar a laghad tuiscint ar ealaín dhomhain an traidisiúin luachmhair seo.

Musclaítear bród, muintearas agus féiniúlacht úr, agus Imelda ag canadh óna croí amach, agus tugtar aitheantas ceart do shaothair na mbailitheoirí iomráiteacha seo.

“Ba thuras pearsanta foghlama dom a bheith ag déanamh mo shraith faisnéise nua, Amhráin na nGael. Thaistil mé ar fud Ghaeltachtaí na hÉireann sa tóir ar slí chun filleadh ar ár dteanga dhúchais, í a cuireadh uainn agus a coinníodh uainn le fada an lá. Thuig mé go bhfuil draíocht éigin sa cheol - eochair mhisteach a osclaíonn an cosán chun cinn. Bhuail mé le cineáltas, eagna agus teasa croí ar fud na tíre ó chuid de na hamhránaithe, na filí agus na scoláirí is cumasaí in Éirinn. Tá súil agam gur éirigh liom an gaol sin, a bhíonn chomh casta agus chomh ciúin sin uaireanta eadrainn féin agus ár dteanga, a chur in iúl. Táim ag súil go dtiocfaidh sibh liom ar mo thuras álainn agus go laghdóimid le chéile an deighilt bheag idir iad siúd atá líofa agus muidne atá ag iarraidh a bheith. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh an oiread taitnimh as an sraith seo is a bhain mise as í a dhéanamh” - Imelda May

Léiriú í an tsraith seo ag Red Shoe Production do RTÉ

Imelda May: Amhráin na nGael – RTÉ a hAon – tús na sraithe 17ú Deireadh Fómhair 2025 In a new six-part series, Imelda May embarks on an exploratory and emotional journey across Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions as she challenges her relationship with the Irish language through songs and sean-nós singing. Following in the footsteps of the great music collectors, she digs deep in her attempt to understand each and every word from these songs that she takes on. Will she find songs that resonate with her emotionally, and will she connect with this traditional style of singing?

Throughout the series, Imelda explores the archives of some of the incredible music collectors that went before her, from Risteard De Hindeberg to Elizabeth "Bess" Cronin. Along the way, she is joined by expert sean-nós singer and ethnomusicologist Lillis O’Laoire, as well as fellow musicians Liam Ó Maonlaí and Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta.

She also spends time with some incredible female singers who teach her some sean-nós songs, as well as local singers from the Gaeltacht regions who have carried these traditions across generations. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Ann Mulqueen, Caitlín Ní Chualáin and Maighréad & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill open their hearts to listen and help Imelda achieve a lifelong goal of fluency in Irish sean-nós or at least understanding the deep art of performing this cherished tradition.

A new sense of pride, belonging and identity is reawakened, as Imelda performs deep from the heart, and the work of these great collectors is rightly brought centre stage.

“Making my new documentary series Amhráin na nGael was such a personal learning journey for me. I travelled the length of Ireland's precious Gaeltacht areas in search of a way back into our beloved mother tongue after it was forced and kept out of many of us. I discovered song seems to be a magical key to unlocking the path forward and I was met with such kindness, wisdom and warmth along the way by some of Ireland’s finest singers, poets and scholars. I hope I reflected the often unspoken and sometimes complex relationship many of us have with our language and I hope you come with me on this gorgeous discovery and maybe narrow the divide a little between those who are fluent as Gaeilge and those of us who’d love to be. I hope you love watching this series as much as I’ve enjoyed making it” - Imelda May

Imelda May: Amhráin na nGael is a Red Shoe Production for RTÉ.

Imelda May: Amhráin na nGael - RTÉ One, beginning Friday 17th October 2025