Music and entertainment show filmed in St Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare
Ardóidh mé mo Sheol - Lá Le Bríde 2023 is a music and entertainment show that will celebrate Brigid and the women of Ireland. It will be broadcast on Sunday, February 5 at 9.30pm.
Brigid’s sheltering famous cloak gathered women of all traditions and Ardóidh mé mo Sheol seeks to emulate this. It will also shine a light on the celebrations of Imbolg, which marks the arrival of longer, warmer days and an emergence from the darkness of winter. Across seventy-five minutes Brigid’s life, myths, traditions and influences will be celebrated by an ensemble cast of diverse Irish people, musicians, singers, poets, mythologists and academics.
Presenters Síle Ní Bhraonáin and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin guide us through a musical celebration of Brigid, both goddess & saint on this first bank holiday weekend in her honour.
Filmed in front of a live audience in the majestic surroundings of St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare Town, on the very grounds that Brigid is said to have established a church and monastery in 480 A.D, there’ll be music from T with the Maggies, Tara Erraught, John Francis Flynn & Paddy Keenan playing together for the first time, Ceol na mBan, The Nás na Rí Singers, Precious Abimbola and many more.
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin – Dublin & Conamara
Eoghan is a sean-nós singer and he has recorded and performed with various bands including Skipper's Alley, Aon Teanga, Un Chengey and Jiggy. His album with fiddle & viola player Ultan O'Brien won Best Folk Album at the RTÉ Folk Awards in 2021. His debut solo album released in November 2022
Síle Ní Bhraonáin – Galway & Spain
A native of Indreabhan, Conamara, Síle was a stalwart of the TG4 presenting team with her own programme Síle & as presenter of Féilte and Gradam Ceoil. Life and love drew her to Spain but she’s come back home to Ireland to present Ardóidh mé mo sheol.
Musical Guests
Siubhán O’Connor
A powerful start to the show with Siubhán singing Gabhaim Molta Bhrighde along with Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin. Her mother Eithne Ní Uallacháin had made her mark on this song & now Siubhán picks up the mantle.
Paddy Keenan
A founding member of the Bothy Band, Paddy Keenan is an internationally renowned uilleann piper and former Gradam Ceoil TG4 recipient. Born in Trim into a musical family, both his father & grandfather before him played the pipes. Paddy will play solo then be joined for a duet by John Francis Flynn. This is the first time the two have played together in front of a live audience.
John Francis Flynn
Winner of numerous musical awards for his debut album ‘I would not live always’ John is one of Ireland’s most celebrated young folk artists. Singer, guitarist, flautist and practitioner of the double tin whistle. John is also a member of traditional group Skipper’s Alley.
T with the Maggies
What can you say about this Irish traditional supergroup from Donegal. We are delighted to have Moya Brennan, Mairéad Ni Dhomhnaill and Tríona Ni Dhomhnaill, join us for a chat and for two outstanding performances.
Tara Erraught – Co Louth
Described by the Irish Independent as “high wattage charisma” and called “a beautifully formed mezzo-soprano voice” by The New York Times; Tara Erraught is currently one of the most sought-after international opera singers, whose varied repertoire ranges from Baroque to Mozart, the Belcanto repertoire, Romanticism to contemporary music. Born in Dundalk, Ireland, Tara Erraught graduated from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.
Nás na Rí Singers
Only up the road from St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare, the choir known as the Nás na Rí Singers gather to perform She walks in Beauty. They are a mixed-voice choir of nearly 70 members, based in Naas, Co. Kildare.
Precious Abimbola
19-year-old Precious Abimbola lives in Cork. Precious is currently in second year at MTU Cork School of Music doing a degree in Musical Theatre. Precious picked Bríd as her confirmation name when she was in 6th class as she felt a connection to Brigid as a young person growing up in Ireland.