Mná an Cheoil - 100 Years of Women in Traditional Irish Music

Event type: Talk

'100 years of women in Irish Traditional music' explores the women who have contributed to Irish Traditional music over the last century or so.

Focussing on instrumentalists, it will showcase both well-known and lesser-known musicians, while highlighting gaps in the list and in our knowledge, and examining some of the complex reasons behind these.

This talk will draw from archives and emphasise their role in expanding and correcting the narrative, it will feature recordings, and will finish with some live music from Niamh herself.

Niamh Ní Charra is a multi award-winner on both fiddle and concertina, and toured from 1998 to 2006 as a soloist with Riverdance, before returning to Ireland where she is now based. She subsequently formed her own band, has released five solo albums to public and critical acclaim, and continues to tour internationally.

Niamh is also a professional archivist and is currently project manager and project archivist for the Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) and Mary Robinson collections at the University of Galway. She is Chair of the Archives and Records Association, Ireland, co-host of the podcast series Archive Nation, and regularly gives presentations on her work in this field. She is a founding member of and archivist for the volunteer campaign group FairPlé established in 2018, which aims to achieve gender balance in production, performance, promotion and development of Irish traditional and folk music. Her work in both the music and archive professions was recently recognised when she was elected onto ITMA’s board.

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