The hardest working artist in Ireland is finally getting his due….
Some of you might ask who Fiach Moriarty is. But for those who are acquainted to the Dublin music scene, Fiach has been known as the hardest working artist in Ireland. He has been in a lot of TV shows and live performances. Also one thing to note is that last year he came first in the annual Celtic Language Contest in Inverness Scotland. So how’s that for a 27-year -old used to be under- the- radar singer? The Irish Times calls his album So I a debut album of depth and courage, guile and wit. I stumbled upon him the first time in YouTube and that’s it. His charisma is undeniably powerful and there is so much positivity in his songs that you can’t help but be uplifted.
This is an interesting performance of a song sang in Gaelic, a love song called Sea Taim at minority language song contest Liet International 2009. Sea Taim is about a young lad who is down and out – and drunk – after his girlfriend left him.
YAOUANK 2010: Here’s a video featuring my pal Dom Duff from Brittany!
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Sacred Art
Courtney Davis inspires Celtic Spirituality
Have you visited his website lately? I think there’s a lot of things there for everyone. I just love the wonderful pieces he created. I have been a fan of Celtic art for years and when I stumble upon something as beautiful as this I like to tweet it out.
(This video is done by Snuffesnuitje who, like me is also trying to find a good translation. His effort is highly recommended).
Alan Stivell’s 1995 hit does it for all generations
Been listening to Alan Stivell’s 1995 album Brian Boru today. There are actually two versions of the title track. One is the album version (Longer with elaborated percussion arrangement) and the radio edit which has been used in compilations.
There is a lot of everything for everyone in this album. Pan Celtica sums up what he does, combining the brotherhood of the Celts, covering not only his native Breton language but Gaelic as well. Although some people might be new to the style (Breton music and language is considered ‘harder’ than its Irish and Scottish counterpart) this will prove to be a good listening experience. A balance between groovy alt rock tracks with jazzy ,folkie and calming numbers; his harp shines through.
I have been looking for a translation of the title track that is appropriate and I found one. This is done by a guy that goes with an online name mhwombat: Now, it’s actually done both in Gaeilge and then in Brezhoneg repeatedly. http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/topic27600.html
Brian Bórú
Alan Stivell
(Gaeilge) Maraíodh Brian Boru chun beatha na hÉireann Síochain in gCuige Uladh agus i mBaile ‘Cliath Aontacht an teaghlaigh, aontacht na dtuath Aontacht an domhain is na gCeilteach
Brian Boru will die for the life of Ireland
Peace in the province of Ulster and in Dublin
Family unity, tribal unity
Unity of the world and the Celts
(Brezhoneg) Diouzh nerzh ar c’hadou da nerzh an ehan Diouzh ‘bed doueek bennozh ar c’haroud
(Gaeilge) O neart an chatha go neart na síochana On bhith dhiaga beannacht an ghrá
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
Duirt siad gurbh é seo sochraide ar muintire Gur choir duine bheinn sollunta féin Bíodh nach raibh brónach
They said that this was a procession of people
That people would be solemn
Be, were not sorrowful ??? Can’t make sense of the Irish ???
(Brezhoneg) Marv Brian Boru ‘reiñ buhez ‘n Iwerzhon Dihan e Bro-Ulad ha ba kêr Dulenn Unded an tiegezh, unded an dud-mañ Unded ar Gelted hag an douar
Brian Boru will die for the life of Ireland
Peace in the province of Ulster and in Dublin
Family unity, tribal unity
Unity of the world and the Celts
(Gaeilge) Maraíodh Brian Boru chun beatha na hÉireann Síochain in gCuige Uladh agus i mBaile ‘Cliath Aontacht an teaghlaigh, aontacht na dtuath Aontacht an domhain is na gCeilteach
Brian Boru will die for the life of Ireland
Peace in the province of Ulster and in Dublin
Family unity, tribal unity
Unity of the world and the Celts
(Brezhoneg) Diouzh nerzh ar c’hadou da nerzh an ehan Diouzh ‘bed doueek bennozh ar c’haroud
(Gaeilge) O neart an chatha go neart na síochana On bhith dhiaga beannacht an ghrá
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
Tá muid ‘nos na haimsire Go h-airid an ghrían Agus thogh muid áit bhóg cois ashann
We are like the weather
Especially the sun
And we choose a soft place beside the river
Note: I suspect ashann = abhann
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Don’t forget to catch the music festival devoted to minority languages: Liet 2010. Here’s what I copied form the website:
The finalists of Liet International 2010
Faroese and Vepsian band in the final of Liet International 2010
In this pic: Fiach Moriarty
The selection jury of Liet International 2010 has selected the last five finalists of the 7th edition of European minority language song contest Liet International 2010, which will be held in Lorient, France on the 27th of November. The independent jury, which was composed of independant music experts from Brittany, Friesland and the Council of Europe, had a tough job. They listened to 46 songs in 21 different minority languages from all over Europe, from Galicia to Russia, from the Faroe Islands to Cyprus. Also the variety in styles was huge, ranging from folk to rock, rap, pop, tango and even folkopera.
Out of those 46 songs the jury has selected the following five artists for Liet International 2010 in Lorient, Breizh/Brittany, France:
1. Rachel Walker, Fada Bhuam, Scottish Gaelic
2. ORKA, Rumdardrongurin, Faroese
3. The Temporary, Cupan Toast, Irish
4. Mafia Gallega, Billarda Sempre, Galician
5. Jousnen Jarved, Verrez Tullei, Vepsian song from Russia
It will be the first time that Liet International will present songs in Faroese and Vepsian. Faroese is a minority language in Denmark, spoken by 48.000 people on the Faroe islands. The Liet Foundation is impressed by the quality of the music production in this small nation. The song of Eisvor Palsdottir was one of the nine songs Liet International received. All songs were of good quality and produced professionally. Vepsian is endangered Finn-Ugrian language spoken by only 4.000 people in Russian Karelia.
Five other bands/artists already qualified for Liet International earlier this year by winning a song contest in their part of Europe.
These five artists/bands are:
6. Xera, the winner of the Premiu al meyor cantar, Asturias 7. Pia Maria Holmgren, winner of the Sámi Grand Prix, Sámi from Sweden 8. Equal Souls, winner of Liet 2010, Fryslân 9. Stéphane Casalta, winner of Suns, Corsica 10. Resistence in Dub, winner of the public vote of Suns, Friûl, Italy
During the coming weeks the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (FIL) will select a Breton song and artist for Liet International 2010. As the host of the European minority language song contest it is their privilige to do this. This means that, apart from the Breton finalist, the line-up of Liet International 2010 is ready.
The seventh edition of Liet International is the first which will take place in France. Liet International was invited to Lorient, Brittany by de Region Breizh/Bretagne and the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (FIL). Since 2008 Liet International is organised under the patronage of the Council of Europe. Liet International is also supported by the the autonomous region of Asturias in Spain and by the province Friesland in the Netherlands.
Liet International was conceived and developed in Friesland, the Netherlands, by the Liet Foundation in 2002. Since then Liet International has become one of the larger events for the promotion of minority languages to a larger audience, attracting lots of media from all over Europe. The last edition of Liet International took place in Ljouwert/Leeuwarden, the Netherlands in 2009 and was won by Sámi rockband SomBy from the north of Finland.
Celtic Music Fan 