Neil Martin: Bóthar an Cheoil On BBC Two NI
Date Posted: March 7, 2025
Neil Martin: Bóthar an Cheoil
9 Márta 2025, BBC TWO NI, 10i.n.
Seinneadh ceol Neil Martin, an cumadóir Feirsteach, ar fud an domhain: idir Ground Zero agus Droichead Mostar, idir Halla Ríoga Albert agus an Stáisiún Spáis Idirnáisiúnta. Le cois a bheith ina léiritheoir, cóiritheoir agus ceoltóir, is ealaíontóir é a shantaíonn an comhoibriú le ceoltóirí, le cumadóirí, agus le smaointeoirí as gach cúlra.
Is é Below The Radar TV a léirigh Neil Martin: Bóthar an Cheoil ar son BBC Thuaisceart Éireann agus TG4 agus fuarthas tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann.
San fhadscannán seo leanfaimid Neil le linn dó a bheith ag ullmhú do cheolchoirm i Leitir Ceanainn agus an West Ocean String Quartet ag ceiliúradh 25 bliain ar an fhód. Anuas air sin, beimid ina chuideachta in am an donais agus an tsonais agus físeanna nua le fíorú aige.
Tá clú agus cáil ar an cheathairéad as an stíl thrialach a chleachtann siad, stíl a shníomhann an ceol traidisiúnta agus an ceol clasaiceach le chéile; ina gcuideachta ar an ardán i Leitir Ceanainn beidh an t-aisteoir Stephen Rea agus na hamhránaithe Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill agus Jack Warnock.
‘Ceoltóir gan smacht gan stiúir’ a thugann Neil air féin. Cé nach bhfuil sé coimhthíoch aige a bheith i mbéal an phobail, bhí rud ar leith ag baint leis an tionscadal áirithe seo – agus é i bhfad níos pearsanta aige – “Is mór an onóir dom gur fúmsa a rinneadh an scannán seo – is amhlaidh a théann sé go croí ionam – agus tá mé faoi chomaoin ag na cruthaitheoirí uilig agus ag na daoine ar fad a chuir leis an scannán. Cuireann sé i gcuimhne dom arís eile go raibh an t-ádh dearg orm – agus, leoga, tá sin orm go fóill – go raibh deis agam a bheith ag obair leis an oiread sin sárealaíontóirí feadh mo ghairme. Ní thiocfadh liom teacht gan an spreagadh agus an tacaíocht a thug siad féin agus mo mhuintir dom.”
Seo mar a labhair an stiúrthóir Damian McCann: “Ba mhór an onóir dom a bheith i gcuideachta duine de na ceoltóirí Éireannacha is bisiúla ar fad agus é i mbun ceardaíochta ar feadh bliana. Tá meas agam ar Neil Martin mar ealaíontóir le fada fada an lá agus buaic mhór i mo ghairm é go raibh mé ábalta a bheith i lár an aicsin agus é saothrú a chur chuige ealaíne. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an lucht féachana ábalta an oiread céanna a fhoghlaim ó chonair chruthaitheachta Neil agus a d’fhoghlaim mé féin.”
San fhadscannán macánta seo, cluinfimid óna bhean chéile Siobhan, óna cheathrar clainne, ó bhaill eile den bhanna agus óna dhlúthchairde agus beidh Neil féin ag machnamh ar na heachtraí móra a mhúnlaigh a shaol agus é ag tabhairt faoi ré úr ina ghairm cheoil.
Neil Martin: Bóthar an Cheoil
9 March 2025 BBC TWO NI
The work of Belfast born composer Neil Martin has been performed across the globe, from Ground Zero to Mostar Bridge and from the Royal Albert Hall to the International Space Station. Producer, arranger and musician, Neil is an artist who thrives on collaboration with performers, writers, and thinkers from all walks of life.
Neil Martin: Bóthar an Cheoil is a Below the Radar TV production for BBC Northern Ireland and TG4, with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
This feature length film follows Neil as he prepares for a concert in Letterkenny to celebrate 25 years with the West Ocean String Quartet while experiencing grief, celebration and new ambitions along the way.
The Quartet’s experimental style, which blends traditional and classical music, has earned them much acclaim, and they are joined on stage in Letterkenny by actor Stephen Rea, and singers Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill and Jack Warnock.
Neil describes himself as an ‘undisciplined musician’. Although he is no stranger to the spotlight, this project was something different and more personal for him – “I’m both honoured and humbled to be the subject of this film, and deeply grateful to all the creators and contributors. It reasserts to me just how fortunate I have been – and continue to be – to collaborate with so many great artists along the way. Their encouragement and support, alongside that of my family, is key to it all.”
Director Damian McCann said: “It was an honour to follow one of Ireland’s most prolific musicians across a year’s worth of work. Neil Martin is an artist I’ve long admired and to be able to witness his artistic process at close quarters has been a career highlight. I hope audiences learn as much from Neil’s creative journey as I have.”
With contributions from his wife Siobhan, four children, bandmates and close friends, this revealing film follows Neil reflecting on the significant moments that have shaped his life, as he embarks on a new chapter in his musical career.
