Musicians find soul in the songs

Acclaimed sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird is to host a new music series on TG4 featuring a number of high-profile Irish musicians.

Anam an Amhráin, a four-part series that begins on Sunday, December 20th, sees the former Afro Celt Sound System man take us on a "nostalgic musical journey" around Ireland in an effort to revitalise a love of time-honoured Irish music.

Each episode will feature contributions from crossover trad-folk artists such as Damien Dempsey, Paul Brady and Declan O’Rourke, as well as more traditional musicians, including Seamus Begley, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Altan’s Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh.

Each artist will perform a version of a traditional song rearranged by Ó Lionáird, which in turn will be accompanied by specially created animations that depict the story of each song.

Speaking to The Ticket, Ó Lionáird said he was delighted to be involved with the project. "It's a great artistic challenge to address these classic songs,"he said. "It was a particular privilege to visit the Gaeltacht and be given such close access to the bedrock of this music with the singers there."

Damien Dempsey was equally enthusiastic, professing a deep love of the Irish language. “I was honoured to be a part of this project and it will hopefully bring amazing Irish songs to many new young ears,”he said.