‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’ is a new series starting on TG4 on the 27 October which explores the musical influences of six of the finest bands in traditional Irish music. Producer Méabh O’Hare, a fiddler from Belfast, focussed on six modern Irish music trad bands to discover how their own sound has been influenced by other musicians.

This series features some of the finest bands in the Irish music scene today such as The Bonny Men, Lumiere, We Banjo Three, Buille, Caladh Nua and Beoga, who have all gained a huge following in Ireland and overseas. As well as a live performance from each band, we will follow band members as they meet the musicians that have influenced them. Musicians such as Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Mickey Dunne, Gino Lupari, Na Casaidigh, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Neil Lyons, Bobby Gardiner, Tom Doorley, Mairtín O’Connor, Mel Mercier, Cathal Hayden and Gerry ‘Banjo’ O’Connor are among some of the renowned musicians taking part in the series.

Ar Thóir an Cheoil, explores the variation of styles and influences within traditional Irish music and looks at how different genres such as Jazz, classical, folk and blues have also impacted the bands’ musical sound.

“I have always been interested in traditional Irish music bands. When I was younger I would of listened to the likes of Altan, The Bothy Band, Flook and Dervish. I thought it would be interesting to look at Irish Music bands of this generation, and hear what their musical influences are” said Méabh O’Hare, the series Producer and Director.

“What is unique about this series is that the band members get to meet the musicians that have shaped their music individually, and in turn we get to see how that comes together to create a new sound in the band,” said Méabh.

Sonas Productions have produced a number of music  and arts documentaries for TG4 including Stair na mBannaí Céilí, a series that looked at the ceilí band phenomenon in Ireland and Buail Cos, a series which explored the history of Irish dance.

‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’ will broadcast on the 27th October at 22:00. The first programme of the series features the music of the exciting Dublin-based band ‘The Bonny Men’ and renowned musicians Liam Ó Maonlaí, Tom Doorley and Séamus Mac Mathúna.  If you miss the programme, you can catch up on the TG4 Player at any time up to a month after broadcast. Ar Thóir an Cheoil is funded by the ILBF for TG4.

For more information contact sonasproductions@btinternet.com or phone 04895608175

Sraith teilifíse nua a dhíríonn ar roinnt de na bannaí ceoil traidisiúnta is fearr sa tír agus ar na ceoltóirí a ndeachaigh i bhfeidhm orthu.

Cuirfear tús le sraith nua cláracha faoi bhannaí ceoil traidisiúnta ‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’, ar TG4 ar an 27 Deireadh Fómhair. Is í Méabh O’Hare, fidléir as Béal Feirste, léiritheoir na sraithe, a dhíríonn ar bhannaí traidisiúnta iomráiteacha agus ar na ceoltóirí a d’imir tionchar ar a gcuid ceoil.

Le linn na sraithe cloistear roinnt de na bannaí is mó tóir i saol an cheoil thraidisúnta faoi láthair ar nós The Bonny Men, Lumiere, We Banjo Three, Buille, Caladh Nua agus Beoga, bannaí a bhfuil leanúint mhór acu anseo in Éirinn agus thar lear.

Díríonn gach clár ar bhanna ceoil ar leith. Cloistear an buíon ceoil ar ardán agus leantar baill an bhanna ar thuras ceoil agus iad ag  bualadh leis na ceoltóirí a ndeachaigh i bhfeidhm orthu. I measc na gceoltóirí a bheidh le cloisteáil ar an chlár, tá Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, Mickey Dunne, Gino Lupari, Na Casaidigh, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Neil Lyons, Bobby Gardiner, Tom Doorley, Mairtín O’Connor, Mel Mercier, Cathal Hayden and Gerry O’Connor.

Léiritear eagsúltacht ceoil sa tsraith ‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’ agus faightear léargas ar Jazz, ceol tíre, ceol claisiceacha agus blues,  seanraí eagsúla atá ag dul i bhfeidhm ar cheol na mbannaí agus ar cheol traidisiúnta trí chéile.

“Bhí spéis a riamh agam i mbannaí ceoil. Nuair a bhí mé ag fás aníos, bheinn ag éisteacht lena leithéidí Altan, The Bothy Band, Flook agus Dervish. Shíl mé go mbeadh sé suimiúil díriú ar bhannaí ceoil de chuid na linne seo agus cloisteáil faoi na ceoltóirí ar éist siad leo agus iad ag fás aníos,” arsa Méabh O’Hare, stiúrthóir agus léiritheoir na sraithe.

“Sraith ar leith atá ann ina mbuaileann ceoltóirí le ceoltóirí eile a d’imir tionchar orthu ar bhonn pearsanta agus ar fhuaim an bhanna trí chéile”, arsa Méabh O’Hare.

Tá roinnt sraitheanna faisnéise dírithe ar ceol agus ealaíon déanta ag Sonas cheana féin do TG4, Stair na mBannaí Céilí, a léirigh stair na bannaí céilithe in Éirinn agus Buail Cosl, a d’inis scéal an damhsa Gaelaigh in Éirinn.

Craolfar ‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’ ar an 27 Deireadh Fómhair ag a 22:00. Díríonn clár a haon sa tsraith nua ‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’ ar ‘The Bonney Men’, banna ceoil óg as Baile Átha Cliath a chasann ceol traidisiúnta bríomhar. Buaileann baill den ghrúpa le hiarscoláirí Choláiste Eoin Iosagáin, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Tom Doorley agus Séamus Mac Mathúna. Má chailleann tú clár is féidir coimhéad siar air trí ‘TG4 Player’ ar feadh míosa tar éis an craoladh.  Tá ‘Ar Thóir an Cheoil’ maonaithe ag an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge do TG4.

Éisithe ag Sonas Productions. Le tuilleadh eolais gabh i dteagmháil le sonasproductions@btinternet.com nó glaoigh ar 04895608175.