Twitter link | @AranSongs |
Facebook link | |
Bio | Deirdre Ní Chonghaile is a writer, musician, broadcaster, and curator from the Aran Islands. Working bilingually across multiple disciplines, she is drawn to voices, contemporary and historical, especially those that have been marginalized, and to what they have to say or sing. She read Music at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, and has worked at the University of Notre Dame, the Library of Congress, and NUI Galway. Her 2021 book Collecting Music in the Aran Islands: A Century of History and Practice, published by the University of Wisconsin Press, has been described as “one of the most important and fascinating books about Irish traditional music in recent memory.” It won the Michael J. Durkan Prize 2021 for Books on Language and Culture from the American Conference for Irish Studies. Deirdre is preparing an anthology of over fifty traditional songs composed in the Aran Islands from the nineteenth century to the present day. |
Areas of expertise |
Digital humanities: resource development, strategy, funding; archival assets management; community partnership & engagement; broadcasting. C19-20th cultural & social history of: West of Ireland, Aran Islands, Irish traditional music, dance, folklore, performance, Irish language, An Ghaeltacht, manuscript/sound/photographic/film archival collections.
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Keywords | sean-nós; sean nós; song; traditional song; traditional music; music; ethnomusicology; folklore; Irish language; Gaeilge; Irish; islands; small islands; Gaeltacht; diaspora; Irish diaspora; maritime history; digital humanities; social history; America; United States; cultural history; cultural practice; cultural practices; West of Ireland; Synge; John Millington Synge; |
Nickname | Deirdre Ní Chonghaile |
Membership Type | Professional Historian |
Education | PhD: University College Cork (Music; ‘ag teacht le cuan’: Irish traditional music and the Aran Islands); external examiner Prof. Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, Concordia University, 2011 MA Oxon: University of Oxford 2004 BA Oxon: University of Oxford (Music), 2000
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Employment | Freelance curator |
Awards | 2019 TV Programme of the Year, Gradaim an Oireachtais 2019, for Lomax in Éirinn (Aisling Productions, 2018) |
Books | Collecting Music in the Aran Islands: A Century of History and Practice (University of Wisconsin Press, 2021) |
Book Chapters | “Greim an fhir bháite.” Archipelago: A Reader, eds. Nicholas Allen & Fiona Stafford, 21-30. Dublin: Lilliput Press, 2021. “‘Sagart gan iomrádh’: An tAthair Domhnall Ó Morchadha (1858-1935) agus amhráin Philadelphia” in Litríocht na Gaeilge ar fud an Domhain, eds Máirín Nic Eoin, Ríona Nic Congáil, Pádraig Ó Liatháin, Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail, & Regina Uí Chollatáin, 191-214. Baile Átha Cliath: LeabhairComhar, 2015. “An tráth seo thiar níor chualas’: ciúnas, coimhthíos, agus imeallú cheol Árann.” In Mo Ghnósa Leas an Dáin: In Omós do Mháirtín Ó Direáin, eds. Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail & Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith, 151-172. An Daingean: An Sagart, 2014. “Broadcasting Bailiúchán Bhairbre: Recordings and Radio, Ethnomusicology and Impact.” In Ancestral Imprints: Histories of Irish Traditional Music and Dance, ed. Thérèse Smith, 118-127. Cork: Cork University Press, 2012. “Séamus Ennis, W.R. Rodgers and Sidney Robertson Cowell on the traditional music of the Aran Islands.” In Anáil an Bhéil Bheo: Orality and Modern Irish Culture, eds. Nessa Cronin, Seán Crosson & John Eastlake, 67-86. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009. |
Peer Reviewed Journals | “Urraim agus uafás ionchollaithe: Ómós do John Millington Synge le Máirtín Ó Direáin.” ComharTaighde 5 (Internet), https://comhartaighde.ie/eagrain/5/nichonghaile/ (November 2019). “‘listening to this rude and beautiful poetry’: John Millington Synge mar Bhailitheoir Amhrán in Árainn.” Béaloideas 84 (2016): 84-103. “‘listening to this rude and beautiful poetry’: John Millington Synge as Song Collector in the Aran Islands.” Irish University Review 46.2 (2016): 243–259. “Róisín Dubh: mar a chruthaigh Seán Ó Riada aintiún an Éirí Amach.” ComharTaighde 1 (Internet), https://comhartaighde.ie/eagrain/1/nichonghaile/ [November 2015]. “‘listening for landfall’: how silence and fear marginalized the music of the Aran Islands.” Études Irlandaises 39, no.1 (2014): 41-55. “In Search of America: Sidney Robertson Cowell in Ireland in 1955-56.” Journal of American Folklore, 126, no.500 (Spring 2013): 174–200. “Broadcasting Bailiúchán Bhairbre: Recordings and Radio, Ethnomusicology and Impact.” Ethnomusicology Forum 20, no.2 (2011): 263-269. “Ní neart go cur le chéile: lámhscríbhínní ceoil a chruthaigh Petrie agus Ó Comhraí in Árainn in 1857.” In Léachtaí Cholm Cille XL: Foinn agus Focail, ed. Ruairí Ó hUiginn, 86-108. Maigh Nuad: An Sagart, 2010. “An Teach Ósta: Tinteán an Cheoil Thraidisiúnta?” In Bliainiris 7, eds. Ruairí Ó hUiginn and Liam Mac Cóil, 72-84. Ráth Chairn: Carbad, 2007. |
Other Journals | “Greim an fhir bháite.” Feasta 73, no.10 (Deireadh Fómhair 2020): 6-11. “Greim an fhir bháite.” Archipelago 12 (Summer 2019): 25-34. Oxford: Clutag Press. “Aran Island Pipers.” Journal of Music in Ireland 8, no.1 (Jan/Feb 2008): 18. “A passion for music: Dublin City Strings School.” Journal of Music in Ireland 3, no.6 (2003). |
Electronic Publications | Sidney Robertson Cowell records in the Aran Islands and Conamara, 1955-56, Irish Traditional Music Archive, 2021, https://www.itma.ie/blog/sidney-robertson-cowell.
Catalogue of the Sidney Robertson Cowell Ireland Recordings 1955-6. Digital catalogue in .csv and SKOS formats, Irish Traditional Music Archive, 2021, https://www.itma.ie/blog/sidney-robertson-cowell. |
Reviews | “Review: Seoladh Albam Roscanna ón nGrúpa Cuar.” In Spéis: Bulletin of the International Council for Traditional Music, Ireland, eds. Jack Talty & Éamonn Costello, 35-37, http://www.ictm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Speis-Winter-2017.pdf (2017). Léirmheas: “Between Two Shores / Idir Dhá Chladach: Writing the Aran Islands, 1890-1980” le Mairéad Conneely (Reimagining Ireland Eag.32, Oxford: Peter Lang, 2011). Comhar (Márta 2012): 26-9. Review of “Between Two Shores / Idir Dhá Chladach: Writing the Aran Islands, 1890-1980” by Mairéad Conneely. Canadian Journal of Irish Studies 37, nos. 1&2 (2011): 259-261. Review of “Tomás Ó Canainn Seán Ó Riada – His Life and Work.” Béascna 3 (2006): 126-129. Review: “Clasaiceach agus Gaelach: Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire le Peadar Ó Riada.” Journal of Music in Ireland 5, no.4 (July/August 2005): 23-24. |
Other | Conference Proceedings “Ceoltóireacht Oileánda: Scéal Thrí Oileán Árann.” In Ceiliúradh an Bhlascaoid 11 Cuisle Ceoil na nOileán, eds. Dáithí & Mícheál de Mórdha, 69-81. Dublin: Coiscéim, 2008. |
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