LAST UPDATE | 25 Jun

(Seo alt ónár bhfoireann Gaeltachta. Is féidir an bunleagan as Gaeilge a léamh anseo)

IRELAND HAD NO entry in the Eurovision this year, but RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Dónal Mac Ruairí decided to hold his own competition on his afternoon programme, An Cóisir Ceoil, to find the public’s favourite Irish-language song.

The results were announced this week, when the list of the top 40 songs, according to listeners, were broadcast.

Among those who featured prominently on this celebrated list were many stars from the world of Irish music, including the late Séamus Ó Beaglaoich and Steve Cooney with Bruach na Carraige Báine, Iarla Ó Lionáird and The Gloaming with Samhradh Samhradh, and Clannad with Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair among them.

But it was a Sean Nós traditional song from Connemara, Amhrán Mhuínse, sung by Nan Tom Teaimín de Búrca, that finished at the top of the list.

It is a mournful song that describes the poet’s longing for his native ground in Ceantar na nOileán in Connemara, and his wish to be buried there when he died.

The Top 10 was announced on a special edition of Dónal Mac Ruairí’s afternoon music programme, with one of the Mac Ruairí family’s own songs, Méilte Cheann Dubhrann, listed among the public’s 40 favourite songs.

Following an extended period of taking suggestions and counting votes from early May onwards, the list was announced in RTÉ’s Studio 1 yesterday alongside young singers from Bláth na hÓige and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Síle Denvir, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Áine Hensey, Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, Ciarán Ó Gealbháin and Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha made up the judging panel and their task was to rank the songs in order of merit.

RTÉ RnaG chief Gearóid Mac Donncha said the station had been broadcasting songs since it was founded in 1972, and he described them as the “soundtrack of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.”

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“In this truly special initiative, we want to draw attention to those songs and singers, to the richness we have as a community, to celebrate the talent among us and to commemorate those who are no longer with us but who have left their mark on the music and on the people,” said Mac Donncha.

This was the list of 40 favourite songs produced by the judges at the end of their deliberations.

1. Amhrán Mhúinse – Nan Tom Teaimín de Búrca
2. Bruach na Carraige Báine – Seamus Ó Beaglaoich agus Steve Cooney
3. Pócaí Folamh is Cloigeann Tinn – John Beag 
4. Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile – Darach Ó Catháin
5. Samhradh Samhradh – Iarla Ó Lionáird agus The Gloaming
6. An Cailín Álainn – Tomás Mac Eoin
7. Gleanntáin Glas Ghaoth Dobhair – Altan
8. An Dreoilín – Seán Monaghan
9. An Phailisín – Róisín Elsafty
10. Casadh an tSúgáin – The Bothy Band
11. Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair – Clannad
12. An Poc Ar Buille – Seán Ó Sé
13. Mo Ghiolla, M’Fhear – Peadar Ó Riada agus Cór Chúil Aodha
14. Seán Gabha – Piaras Ó Lorcáin agus Blath na hÓige
15. Tá mé ‘mo shuí – Skara Brae
16. Amhrán na nGael – Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich
17. Óró mo Bháidín – Lumiere
18. Sliabh na mBan – Nioclás Tóibín
19. Báta is Bóthar  – John Spillane
20. Trathnóna Beag Aréir – Albert Fry
21. Is fada mo chosa gan bhróga – Eithne Ní Uallacháin
22. Faoiseamh a gheobhada – Julie Fowlis agus Zoe Conway
23. Contae Mhaigh Eo – Johnny Mháirtín Learaí
24. Gréasaí Bróg – Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh 
25. Sí do Mhamó í – The Hot House Flowers
26. Bacach Shíol Aindí – Ye Vagabonds
27. Caisleán an tSléibhe – Seamus agus Caoimhe Ui Fhlatharta
28. Méilte Cheann Dubhrann – Clann Mhic Ruairí
29. Ceap do Shuaimhneas – IMLÉ
30. Conamara – Seán Éinniú
31. Íochtar an Domhain – Brian Terry Mac Donncha
32. Bríd Óg Ní Mháille – Máire agus Étain Ní Churraoin (An Chéad Ghlúin Eile)
33. Tóg É Go Bog É – Kila 
34. Bánshoilse – Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
35. Déanamh Gaineamh – Pádraig Jack
36. Ba Loinnoireach Grian an Tráthnóna – Connie Mhary Mhicí Ó Gallachóir
37. Bean Udaí Thall – Huartán
38. Murda Meaisín – Súil Amháin
39. Amhrán an Ghaeilgeora Mhóir – Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin
40. Siar go Conamara – Aerach.     

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme 

This article was originally written in the reporter’s native Irish and has been translated to English here. AI was used as part of the translation process before final edits.