Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
(This article is produced by our Gaeltacht team. You can read the original Irish version of this piece here)
IF YOU’RE visiting a friend in the coming days, don’t be surprised when you ring the doorbell to receive an answer in Irish with a strong Connemara accent from a pleasant sounding youthful Irish voice.
That voice belongs to Isibéal Ní Cheallaigh, a young woman from Dublin, with roots in Connemara, who has been named as Ireland’s ‘Voice of the Nation’ for Amazon’s doorbell app, Ring.
Speaking to The Journal, Isibéal said her voice was used in a total of seven of the messages, six in English and one in Irish and she told the story of how she was chosen.
“I was out in Galway walking through the shopping centre and I noticed there were auditions going on and we both applied for it for the hell of it,” she said.
Some time later she received an email saying she was shortlisted and she did an online interview with Amazon and not too long after that she found out she had been selected.
“I called my mum and told her I had been chosen and my brother was with her at the time and he was laughing – you’re going to be a doorbell, it was hilarious.”
Isibéal’s talents extend far beyond the doorways of Ireland without a doubt. She qualified as a teacher in the same class as Laura Pakenham ‘Barbie of Gaeilge’ and later did a Masters in Media Practice.
She has also worked on the crew of the popular TG4 drama series, Ros na Rún, and is a singer as well
She hopes to work in the media and do some acting in the future, particularly voice acting. and this paid gig has opened the door for those possibilities.
Although she is from Dublin, her grandfather is from An Spidéal in Conamara and her speech has a strong Gaeltacht accent.
“I take it as a compliment that you said that,” she told The Journal.
According to RTÉ’s Carl Mullan, who chaired the judging panel, he and his colleagues were also impressed with Isibéal’s speaking voice.
“Isibéal’s dulcet tones really struck the judging panel as the perfect voice of our nation,” he said.
“Well done to Isibéal and to everyone who took part – you did our beautiful Irish accent proud!”
According to research carried out by Ring, the voice of actor Cillian Murphy is the voice most recognised by Irish people. Dave Ward, Ring’s managing director in the European Union, said that ‘Voice of the Nation’ aimed to celebrate the true voices in every community across the country and what gives them a unique identity.
Isibéal brings something truly special to Ring, not just a beautiful accent but our very first Irish language voice.
“I’m so excited for our customers to bring that warmth and charm to their front door.”
Isibéal’s voice will be heard from this week onwards on front doors powered by the ‘Ring’ app.
The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say