New publication on Séamus Ennis
‘Mise an fear ceoil’: Séamus Ennis – Dialann Taistil 1942-1946 is the travel diary of Séamus Ennis from his time working with the Irish Folklore Commission collecting songs and music in counties Galway, Clare, Mayo, Donegal, Limerick and Cavan.
At the age of twenty-three Séamus Ennis was appointed as a collector with the Irish Folklore Commission. His position would involve travelling to different parts of the country to document the traditional Irish music and song that was still alive in the oral tradition there, i.e. music that had not been published in print or on record at that time and had therefore been transmitted from generation to generation orally. The job was demanding, and required a person with very specific skills: the ability to write down the notation and wording of tunes and songs; the ability to speak Irish; an understanding of the musical tradition; and also a personality that would facilitate meeting many people and gaining their trust in order that they might share their music.
Séamus Ennis had all of these qualities and he was also an accomplished musician and singer. He kept a diary of his time collecting music and this diary is now in the National Folklore Collection in UCD. Ríonach uí Ógáin has carried out extensive research into his work, and has now brought it into the public arena with this fascinating diary.
‘Mise an fear ceoil’ is a book packed with information, but as it is written in short diary entries this is absorbed almost unconsciously by the reader. It provides an enthralling account of the musical tradition of the time, of the people and communities Ennis visited, and of Ennis himself. The book will be published in February.
I have confirmed with <A HREF="http://www.cic.ie">CIC</A> that they will have this book available within two weeks. It is published only in Irish, which is why I suggest it is probably more attractive to the more fanatical of Ennis aficionados, who will spend countless nights hunched over their Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla trying to figure what its all about.
djm
Its not such a far-fetched idea. We have the technology. I'll bet the univeristy has an audio/visual dept capable of producing such, as well. Its just a matter of having the vision to get the information out there.