The Bothy Band, Ireland’s foremost traditional music band reunite for a special documentary
Date Posted: March 26, 2024
TG4, EASTER SUNDAY 9.30pm.
YouTube clip https://youtu.be/8o7Gd1RK9xk
“Once again, TG4 have pulled off a major coup with their docu/concert of Ireland’s ‘forefathers’ of Irish Traditional Music.”
For those of a certain age, The Bothy Band is synonymous with the ‘birth’ of trad and folk music worldwide. That generation of all things Celtic will relish the prospect of once again seeing and hearing this unique group of musical talent when they perform together for the first time in almost forty years on Easter Sunday, 31st March, on TG4 at 9.30 pm. This programme was produced by Big Mountain Productions with the support of Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
Formed in 1975, The Bothy Band travelled extensively to many countries in their short three-year existence, leaving a musical legacy which still resonates and influences many [if not all] of the present day traditional and folk musicians not only in Ireland but throughout the world.
Follow surviving members Matt Molloy, Dónal Lunny, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Kevin Burke, Paddy Glackin and Paddy Keenan in their coming together for the first time since 1978 to rehearse and reflect on the music they made together, the impact it had on each of their lives, and those of former members. This one-off, never to be repeated performance-led spectacular concert, shot in Dublin’s inner city where the band first performed, will be layered with interviews, behind-the-scenes rehearsals and never before seen personal archives from friends, family and fans as the story is told of one of Ireland’s foremost traditional music bands.
This observational documentary will elicit new information and insight from band members, personal stories of their own music and cultural influences, what brought them together and continues through the rise, demise, and fall- out as the band went its’ different, spectacularly successful ways and how they now reunite for a special performance and poignant opportunity to reflect.
An BOTHY BAND
TG4, DOMHNACH CÁSCA 9.30.I.N.
Clíb YouTube https://youtu.be/8o7Gd1RK9xk
“Arís eile, tá beart faoi leith déanta ag TG4 leis an gclár faisnéise/ceolchoirm le laochra bunaithe bhannaí an cheoil traidisiúnta”
Tá glúin áirithe arb iad The Bothy Band a shamhlaíonn siad le ‘borradh’ an cheoil thraidisiúnta agus an cheoil tíre ar fud an domhain agus beidh an-fhonn ar dhaoine den ghlúin sin an deis a thapú an grúpa faoi leith seo a fheiceáil arís agus a chloisteáil nuair a sheinneann siad le chéile den chéad uair le beagnach daichead bliain ar TG4 ag 9.30 i.n. Domhnach Cásca, an 31 Márta. Is Big Mountain Productions a léirigh an chlár seo le tacaíocht ón Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge.
Sa bhliain 1975 a bunaíodh The Bothy Band agus is fada fairsing a bhí siúlta acu ar fud thíortha an domhain i rith ré ghairid 3 bliana le chéile. D’fhág siad oidhreacht ceoil a mbíonn a mhacalla le cloisteáil go fóill agus ar tháinig cuid mhór (murab iad uilig) de lucht cheol traidisiúnta agus cheol tíre na linne seo faoina anáil, ní hamháin in Éirinn ach ar fud an domhain.
Leantar a maireann beo de cheoltóirí an bhanna, Matt Molloy, Dónal Lunny, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Kevin Burke, Paddy Glackin agus Paddy Keenan, agus iad ag teacht le chéile den chéad uair ón mbliain 1978, ag cleachtaidh agus ag smaoineamh ar an gceol a sheinn siad le chéile agus ar an tionchar a bhí aige sin ar shaol an uile dhuine acu agus ar shaol bhaill eile den bhanna nach maireann. In éineacht leis an gceolchoirm spleodrach seo nach dtarlóidh a leithéid arís, é á thaifeadadh i lár chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath mar ar thosaigh an banna ag seinm ar dtús, feicfear sleachta as agallaimh, sraitheanna den chleachtadh roimh ré ar chúl an stáitse agus seanábhar cartlainne pearsanta le cairde, gaolta agus daoine den lucht leanúna de réir mar a ríomhtar scéal ceann de na bannaí is iomráití a sheinn an ceol traidisiúnta agus an toradh céatach a bhí ar a gcuid saothair sa tír seo agus thar lear.
Gheofar eolas nua agus ábhar léargais ó cheoltóirí an bhanna, cloisfear tuairisc phearsanta faoina gcuid ceoil féin agus na gnéithe den chultúr a chuaigh i bhfeidhm orthu, na nithe a thug le chéile iad agus a mhaireann, bíodh gur tharla borradh tréan agus deireadh – más deireadh atá le tabhairt ar an rath iontach a bhí orthu uilig i mbun a gcuid ceoil, tar éis dóibh dul a mbealaí féin – go dtí go dtagann siad le chéile arís anois don cheolchoirm speisialta seo agus an deis iontach a gcuid machnaimh a dhéanamh in éineacht.
