Thomas Moore, the Bard of Ireland’s many lives are explored a TG4 documentary.
Date Posted: December 27, 2024
TG4 28th December 8.25pm
The many lives of Thomas Moore, the Bard of Ireland are explored in this 75 minute feature documentary.
YouTube clip: Thomas Moore- TG4
An Imagine Media Production with support from the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and TG4.
Radical, rogue, shapeshifter – Thomas Moore’s life remains a mystery some 250 years on. A writer, poet and lyricist best known for his Irish Melodies collection; his multi-faceted life was much more than the sum of these melodies. Incredibly famous and respected during his lifetime, Moore remains an enigma, complex, an outlier.
A new feature documentary, made by Imagine Media for TG4 – Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann explores Moore’s intriguing life and work. Although his fame has faded, his influence continues to fascinate and is to be found deep in the cultural fabric of Ireland and right across the world. As composer and musician Neil Martin said “He gave a lot to us with his poetry and his music. When we think of the grip, he had so strong and deep all over the world – you can’t say that about many people really.”
Moore’s story is full of contrasts – from his early years at Trinity College, Dublin as one of the few Catholics admitted, his life as an Irishman in England, his mixed-religion marriage, his friendships with London society while struggling financially himself. A close friend of both United Irishman Robert Emmet and English Romantic poet Lord Byron, even in Moore’s death there is a duality, he is buried in a churchyard in the pastoral English countryside, but his gravestone is a stark Celtic cross.
In this intriguing exploration of Moore’s many lives, experts and historians such as Ronan Kelly, Úna Hunt, Kevin Whelan, Dr Sarah McCleave and Dr Úna Ní Bhroiméil share their analysis of his work and the impact it still holds. According to historian Kevin Whelan, “There is no other superstar who has faded so much. Moore spoke to his century but he didn’t speak beyond it”, while for biographer Ronan Kelly, “there will always be a place for him and he will turn up again and again in surprising places.”
Contemporary interpretations of many of his best-known songs such as The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer, from a diverse range of musical artists including Duke Special, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Megan Nic Ruairí and Arborist are performed across the film.
Also examined in the film is the perennial interest that young performers have in engaging with Moore’s songs and melodies, particularly within the Féiseanna movement nationwide. Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann visits the Derry Feis and the Feis Ceoil in Dublin to attempt to understand this attraction.
Moore’s enduring legacy would not have been the same without his Irish Melodies collection and he may not have had the status he has as an Irish poet without them. They have been published the world over and continue to engage audiences from fireside to stage. Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann journeys through the fascinating life, legacy and music of one of Ireland’s most enigmatic poets and lyricists. Pianist Úna Hunt summed Thomas Moore up when she said “He was a man for all seasons!”
Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann – Scannán faisnéise ina bhfiosraítear saol agus saothar suimiúil Moore
28 Nollaig 8.25pm ar TG4
SCANNÁN FAISNÉISE LÁNFHADA 75 NÓIMÉAD
Saol ilghnéitheach Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann.
YouTube Thomas Moore- TG4
Léiriúchán de chuid Imagine Media le tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge agus ó TG4.
Duine radacach, rógaire, duine a bhí ábalta tabhairt faoi rud ar bith — is mistéir go fóill é saol Thomas Moore thart ar 250 bliain ina dhiaidh a linne. Scríbhneoir, file agus liriceoir ab ea é agus is fearr aithne air as a bhailiúchán d’fhoinn na hÉireann; ach bhí i bhfad níos mó i gceist lena shaol ilghnéitheach ná na foinn sin amháin. Bhí cáil iontach agus meas mór air lena linn, is dúcheist amach is amach é Moore, fear casta, duine ann féin.
Scannán faisnéise lánfhada nua, arna léiriú ag Imagine Media do TG4 is ea Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann ina bhfiosraítear saol agus saothar suimiúil Moore. Cé go bhfuil a cháil i léig, leanann a thionchar de bheith ag cur iontais orainn, tionchar atá le haimsiú i ndlúth agus in inneach chultúr na hÉireann agus fud fad an domhain. Is éard a dúirt an cumadóir ceoil agus ceoltóir Neil Martin, “Thug sé mórán dúinn ina chuid filíochta agus ceoil. Nuair a smaoiníonn muid ar an ghreim láidir domhain a bhí aige fud fad an domhain — ní féidir an méid sin a rá faoi chuid mhór daoine i ndáiríre.
Bhí a shaol lán de chodarsnachtaí — idir laethanta a óige agus é ag freastal ar Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, tráth nár tugadh cead do mhórán Caitliceach freastal ar an choláiste, an seal a chaith sé i Sasana mar fhear as Éirinn, a phósadh measctha, a chairdeas le huaisle shochaí Londain agus a chuid fadhbanna airgid. Bhí sé ina dhlúthchara ag an Éireannach Aontaithe Robert Emmet agus ag an bhfile rómánsach Sasanach Lord Byron, tá dhá ghné ar leith ag baint lena bhás fiú, tá sé curtha i gcré na cille i gceantar faoin tuath i Sasana, ach cros Cheilteach mhaorga os cionn na huaighe.
San fhiosrúchán shuimiúil seo ar an saol ilghnéitheach a chaith Moore, roinnfidh saineolaithe agus staraithe amhail Ronan Kelly, Úna Hunt, Kevin Whelan, an Dr Sarah McCleave agus an Dr Úna Ní Bhroiméil a n-anailís féin ar a shaothar agus ar an tionchar atá aige sin ar fad. Dar leis an staraí Kevin Whelan, “Níl aon sár-réalta eile ann a d’imigh i léig chomh mór is a d’imigh Moore. Chuaigh Moore i gcion ar an chéad inar mhair sé, ach ní dheachaigh níos faide ná sin.” Is éard a dúirt an beathaisnéisí Ronan Kelly, “beidh áit ann dó go deo agus tiocfaidh sé aníos arís is arís eile in áiteanna a chuirfidh iontas orainn.”
Casfaidh réimse éagsúil amhránaithe agus ceoltóirí leaganacha nua-aimseartha de chuid mhór de na hamhráin is cáiliúla dá chuid le linn an scannáin, amhráin amhail The Minstrel Boy agus The Last Rose of Summer, Duke Special, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Megan Nic Ruairí agus Arborist ina measc.
Scrúdaítear freisin sa scannán an tsuim shíoraí atá ag ceoltóirí óga dul i ngleic le ceol agus foinn Moore, go háirithe i ngluaiseacht na bhFeiseanna ar fud na tíre. Tugtar cuairt in Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann ar Fheis Dhoire agus ar an Fheis Cheoil i mBaile Átha Cliath ag iarraidh tuiscint a fháil ar an tóir atá ar a shaothar.
Ní bheadh oidhreacht bhuan Moore mar an gcéanna gan a bhailiúchán d’Fhoinn na hÉireann agus seans nach mbeadh an stádas a bhain sé amach ina fhile Éireannach aige gan iad. Foilsíodh iad fud fad an domhain, agus meallann siad lucht spéise fós, bíodh siad á rá le taobh an teallaigh nó ar an ardán. Rachfar ar aistear in Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann trí shaol, oidhreacht agus ceol iontach duine de na filí agus na liriceoirí is diamhaire as Éirinn. Is maith an achoimre a thug an pianódóir Úna Hunt ar Thomas Moore nuair a dúirt sí gurbh “fhear soininne agus doininne araon a bhí ann.”
