First of all, housekeeping, as Béarla just in case: I do not intend to put a pay wall on this newsletter, and I’d actually rather people didn’t pay for it (for the time being, anyway). I am kind of mortified about the automated e-mails from Substack offering paid subscriptions, so apologies to anyone who opened those. In the future I’d love to add audio and video content, and may include an optional paid tier, but for now I’d like this content to be available freely. I really appreciate that some of you were willing to pay for this, but reading and sharing is all the support it needs for now. I have refunded anyone who subscribed to direct debit, and I do really appreciate you!
If you do want to send a fiver in the direction of something worthy, I’d recommend Women’s Aid, Blood Bikes, Lough Grainy Nature Sanctuary or just buying your music on Bandcamp Fridays.
Singil na Seachtaine: Sink or Swim - Lydia Ford
Taineoidh sé leat más maith leat: Muna, The Japanese House, Sorcha Richardson
Ceoltóir Éireannach atá ag saothrú go dian dícheallach, agus go measartha ciúin le roinnt blianta anuas. Athrú stíle go pointe atá sa traic seo a dhéanann cur síos ar an cinneadh ar gá déanamh le tú fhéin a tharraing as cruatán.
Clár speisialta ANOCHT 9pm ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Cuirim seinnliosta le chéile chuile bhliain do IWD agus tá ceann na bliana seo ar fáil thíos, nó dá mbeifeá ag iarraidh éisteacht leis i mo theannta, beidh mé á chur i láthair ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta anocht ag 9-10pm. Tune in anseo nó 92-94fm.
I compile a playlist for International Women’s Day each year and this year’s installation is below, or you can listen to it along with me if you’d like - I’ll be playing it (or as much of it as possible!) on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta tonight from 9-10pm. Tune in here or 92-94fm.
Imeachtaí ar an tsúil
17 Márta: Annie Mac’s Before Midnight, Vicar Street
Tá an ócáid seo díolta amach ach is féidir - agus is fiú - d’ainm a chur ar liosta feithimh. Rinne mé an rud céanna don seó i Londain agus d’éirigh liom ticéad a fháil maidin an ghig - agus bhí sí deadly!
21 Lúnasa: First Aid Kit (and Nick Mulvey), Collins Barracks
Gig le Wider Than Pictures, and a bit of a fangirly moment, I just love FAK!! They’re like Dolly meets Abba with an edge. The harmonies! The flares! The country tunes! Collins Barracks is also a gorgeous venue, would recommend to a friend.
Albam ar na bacáin: Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd - Lana del Rey (24 Márta) - but I’m recommending a revisit to Blue Bannisters and Norman F*cking Rockwell!.
Scríobhfaidh mé aiste ar Lana lá éicínt, nó b’fhéidir gur mír é seo do Splanc ar Newstalk: The pop star that shouldn’t be. Albam i ndiaidh albaim eisíonn sí amhráin nach bhfeilleann don raidió ná don stad ag a bhfuil popcheol an lae, agus sáraíonn sí í fhéin le chuile cheann acu, dar liom.
I relistened to Blue Bannisters the other day. It came and went without much ado (possibly because of her escapades on Instagram around that time), but the first half of the vinyl plays like a greatest hits album. The melodies are divine - Arcadia in particular is stunning. Norman Rockwell! is one of the best written albums of the last decade. I can’t put my finger on why or how she can be so successful, but somehow still feel overlooked overall.
Ceapaim nach dtuigeann criticeoirí ach oiread go bhfuil Lana ag spochadh asainn, agus bhí i gcónaí. Léirítear é in A&W (American Whore) - part 1 she’s dishing social commentary and in part 2 taunting with “you’re mom called, I told her you’re fukcing up big time!” It’s like Ultraviolence meets Chemtrails.
Go dtí seo, agus trí thaisme dáiríre, níor luaigh mé ach mná ar an nuachtlitir.. ach ní fhéadfainn gan an t-amhrán deireanach seo a lua. Seachtain na Gaeilge sona daoibh, is dócha:
Agus mar fhocal scoir, agus Seachtain na Gaeilge linn, iarradh orm cuid de phodchraoltaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge le Energia a chur i láthair agus bhain mé an-sult go deo as!
Most of the episodes are bilingual or easy enough to follow, and it was so nice to interview and chat with people, I hadn’t in a while! Some are geared towards learners and others are just chats about the ways Irish can open doors or provide things like community, purpose.. or Oscar awards. The first ep (with Aisling Ní Dhonnabháin, Oifigeach Oideachais for Conradh na Gaeilge and all-round delight) is here and all are on Spotify, Apple, wherever you listen…
Tá súil agam go mbeidh deis agaibh scíth a ligean agus rud éicínt deas a dhéanamh do Lá na mBan, nó go mbeidh deis mhachnaimh ann ar a laghad le cuimhniú ar na mná iontacha inár dtimpeall, na buanna beaga atá bainte amach, agus cé nach bhfuil an saol curtha i gceart ar fad, go bhfuil dul chun cinn déanta agus á dhéanamh.
Go raibh maith agaibh as a bheith linn anseo! Beidh surprise beag sa gcéad eagrán eile, so tell your friends!
Is breá liom sibh!
Emma x