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ITMA intern Catriona Gribben sitting with an accordion

The Donegal Song Tradition: Delving Deeper

In October 2019, Catriona Gribben from Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal, joined ITMA as an Intern from Queen's University Belfast (QUB). Her ambition to learn more about field recording and archiving took a much more local twist than she first anticipated.

An Crann Óg, 10th Anniversary Concert 2018
Youth Session in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair
Caitlín Joe Jack U Dhuibhir, An Chrannóg
Catríona Gribben working on the Gráinne Yeats Collection at ITMA

Catriona Gribben, Camera 2 at recording of Tin ware lass ; Silver slipper ; On your toes / composed by Dinny McLaughlin / Ella McGrory, fiddle ; Roisin McGrory, fiddle

Catriona Gribben and Brían Ó Domhnaill, ITMA, January 2020
Brían Ó Domhnaill Collection Folder 1

“The value and richness of the folder soon became very clear. It is packed full of handwritten versions of songs with some words written down phonetically allowing the richness of the Gweedore / Rosses dialect to shine through.”

Catriona Gribben
Example of printed and manuscript song in Brían Ó Domnhaill Collection

“Versaí brise le amhráin, sin rud iontach go deo suimúil... Extra verses to songs, now that’s something that is very interesting...”

Brían Ó Domhnaill, interview with Catriona Gribben, 2020

Bádaí na Scádan, song / Caitríona Gribben, singing in Irish

“There are loads and loads of songs in this collection that I know the likes of you and others your age wouldn’t know, and until the young ones come looking for these songs or until you put it in their hands, it might not get passed on to the next generation...”

Brían Ó Domhnaill, January 2020

Tom glas coilleadh, song / Brían Ó Domhnaill, singing in Irish