Eoghan Ó Curraighín has won ten All-Ireland titles in two competitions
A talented storyteller with an extraordinary command of the Irish language has won 6 All-Ireland titles in Storytelling and 4 in the Dreas Cainte at Oireachtas na Gaeilge since he first began competing in 1989.
Storytelling is a talent that Eoghan Ó Curraighín has in abundance, born into a family that boasts a rich tapestry of storytelling on both sides and having a keen interest in the craft has secured the Teileann man six All-Ireland titles.
Having a fluid and seamless command of the Irish language - a style of storytelling that is similar to generations who walked before him and an abundance of stories that has been passed onto him from generation to generation has secured Eoghan’s position as being one of the most talented storytellers in the country.
Eoghan is married to Máire and lives at the foot of Slieve League - an area that is also affiliated with the Irish language and folklore.
“I competed for the very first time in the storytelling competition at Oireachtas na Gaeilge when it came to Glencolmcille in 1989,” he recalls.
That time, Eoghan stood among his own people, those who told stories they had learnt from sitting around the hearth and from people who would visit homes at night in a tradition that is disappearing.
Despite his triumph, Eoghan is saddened that many of those who stood by his side in the craft of storytelling has passed away.
Eoghan was a young boy of ten years of age when he first competed at a local feis alongside his sister, Mary Catherine, whom he says is an excellent story teller.
Eoghan came from a family which enjoyed storytelling and immersed themselves in the tradition on both his mother and father’s side.
His stories are rooted in folklore, stories from the era of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the old kings of Ireland - stories that are immersed in mysticism and magic. Some of the stories on his mother’s side is 10,000 words long.
His mother and father both had different areas of storytelling they were interested in - his mother’s side were mostly ghost stories.
Eoghan also won comórtas an dreas cainte this year for the fourth time - another competition which is hotly contested by Irish speakers who have a strong command of the Irish language.
The storytelling competition has changed over the years and Eoghan says that you must arrive to the competition, at present, armed with three stories and three hours before you go on stage to compete you are informed of which story the adjudication panel would like to hear.
For many this is a daunting part of the competition but Eoghan doesn’t mind in the slightest, taking it in his stride, he says he is happy to recite any story the judging panel are keen to hear.
Eoghan was born with strong skills that are exceptionally beneficial to him for contesting in the competition.
“I have a very good memory - I may have heard a story yesterday and I would be able to tell it to you today.
“And if I go wrong, I can easily find my way back to the story,” he says.
Eoghan took the storytelling cup at Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 1995, 2004, 2006, 2011 and again this year.
Eoghan has not participated in the competition each and every year and on the rare occasion he may not won.
Living at the foot of Sleive League, Eoghain and his wife Máire raised their four children.
Their cherished son, Eoghan, passed away at the tender age of 8 from illness.
His other childen Shane, Loretto, Aisling and Mairtin are all doing well.
Eoghan recalls when he was young and started to work - a time he says when money meant more and stayed longer in your pocket.
When he received his first pay packet, in 1962, he was told that there was a tradition known as an póta dubh whereby he had to buy drinks for the crew he was working with.
Eoghan duly did it and was sent home to give the rest of his money to his parents.
“I had change from one pound going home,” he says.
Being born in a seafaring area, Eoghan remembers when the bay was swimming with boats that were mostly salmon fishing.
Men made more than six times what they paid for their boat during one season, he said.
Hundreds of salmon were brought to piers in the area - an industry that ensure a livelihood for those living in nearby communities.
He is sad to see the ebbing tide in the fishing industry and feels that Government policy ove the years is to blame.
He also sees the work that was carried out in fields and in agriculture lessening - a tradition that he and his wife were raised with.
Eoghan fears that with local indigenous trades disappearing around him their words and language go with them.