Cór Ban Chúil Aodha hits the high notes with new CD
LÁ Fhéile Bríde/St Brigid’s Day seems like an opportune time to release an album by Cór Ban Chúil Aodha, the womens’ choir set up to give an outlet to the tremendous pool of female singing talent in the Múscraí Gaeltacht.
The choir, founded by Peadar Ó Riada in 1985, will be launching its third album in the Ionad Cultúrtha in Baile Mhuirne on Saturday with a live performance of tracks including The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee, Táimse agus Máire, An Bínsín Luachra, Mná na hÉireann and the Banks of Sullane.
“It starts with a river, the Banks of My Own Lovely Lee, and finishes with another river, the Banks of Sullane,” said Peadar, who also directs Cór Chúil Aodha, the longer established all-male choir.
Tracks from the album were previewed recently on RTÉ Radio One’s Sunday-morning show presented by Miriam O’Callaghan, and the choir’s extraordinary rendition of the Cork anthem attracted a lot of audience reaction.
“There are both Irish songs and songs in English on the album,” said Peadar, noting that the English-language song tradition is as celebrated in the
Gaeltacht as the songs in the native language.
As director of both choirs, Peadar is in a unique position to give an overview of what characteristics they share – and what the differences are.
“There’s a different energy from the women,” he said. “And they look after me better!”
As for the men in Cór Chúil Aodha? “If the men are travelling to a gig, the first question is where will we be able to stop to watch such and such a match – hurling, football or rugby!
“The women want to know where can they stop for a bite to eat.”
When Cór Ban Chúil Aodha started in the 1980s, it quickly grew to more than 30 members strong, and they performed Eibhlín Dubh Ní Laoghaire’s epic love poem, Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire, set to music composed by Peadar.
In a series of concerts, Cór Ban and Cór Chúil Aodha performed in the National Concert Hall in Dublin, in Cork’s Opera House and in the Barbican in London. For a while, then, the interest died away before it was revived again in the mid 1990s, and it is now going strong – though always on the lookout for new members.
Cór Ban captain Eibhís Uí Thuama looks forward to their weekly get-together for rehearsals every Wednesday.
“There’s a great friendship after building up, and we look back over the work we’ve done and we’re proud of it,” she told The Corkman.
“Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire was an hour-long and Laoi na Laoithe (the choir’s second album) was 50 minutes long.
“We performed them together for the first time in 2010!
“In this album we wanted to record some songs that people would know and that we could perform at events.
“There are some great pieces on the album: I’m very fond of An Bínsín Luachra (the Bunch of Rushes),” she said.
“I think, too, we should go back to the Caoineadh so people who weren’t in the Cór Ban in the early years get an opportunity to learn it – it’s really a great piece of work,” she said.
There’s tremendous interest in Saturday’s performance in the Ionad Cultúrtha, and while the tickets are free, advance book is advisable by calling (026) 45733.
In the meantime Cór Ban Chúil Aodha are still open for new members. All you need to do is to call in on a Wednesday evening to Peadar Ó Riada’s house, or send an email to corban@peadaroriada.ie.