Eithne Ni Uallachain

Subject: Folklore: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: michaelr
Date: 28 Apr 15 - 07:44 PM

Just came across this on TradConnect, a pretty cool site. I wonder a. can anyone here tell me about this lady, and b. how to pronounce her name.

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 03:08 AM

The video links you to the website dedicated to her, with biographical information and more.

A wonderful singer and fluteplayer.

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: Thompson
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 04:06 AM

Depends where she's from; mostly Eithne is pronounced ETHnuh, but some westerners pronounce it AYannuh (AY to rhyme with 'hay'). Ní Úallacháin is NEE OOLuhhawn, more or less.
Best thing for exact pronunciation would be to zip down through YouTube to find an Irish person introducing the singer. No hardship!

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: Thompson
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 04:08 AM

And here she is doing a beautiful version of Samhradh, Samhradh, the song with which Irish children greeted Queen Elizabeth of England's representative in the 16th century.

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 05:16 AM

her mother Padraigin is an awesome singer, researcher, and authority on the Oriel tradition of Northern Ireland music!

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: Vic Smith
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 05:35 AM

Very long. comprehensive article on her life in the February 2015 Living Tradition. You can read the article on line by clicking here.

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: Vic Smith
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 05:44 AM

Her sister was Pádraigin Ní Uallacháin which means that her brother-in-law was Len Graham. Three of Ireland's finest singers in one family.

A photo of Pádraigín & Len

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: GUEST, Fred McCormick
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 06:36 AM

A truly delightful person and - I know this is cliched - but someone whose very prescence seemed to brighten up everyone she met. I knew her extremely well, having been at university with her, and we shared many a singing and music session, both at uni. and in subsequent years

The first I knew of her death was when I read about it in Froots. That shook me considerably, but not half as much as when I rang a mutual friend to find out if it the Froots report was true. It turned out that Eithne, unbeknown to practically everyone, suffered from acute depression, and that in the end it drove her to commit suicide.

I suffer from occasional bouts of depression, so I have some small idea of what she must have gone through. But for the life of me, I still can't reconcile her condition with the bright, cheerful ougoing person who I knew as Eithne.

Unfortunately, depression is still one of those things we still don't talk about and we should. We need to get the fact that it is a medical condition - no less treatable than any other disease - right out in the open.

If you see anyone rattling a collection tin for MIND, or any other mental health charity, please make sure you shove a few bob in.

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 01:55 PM

And her son is Donal O'Connor who is part of the excellent At First Light, along with John McSherry, Francis McIlduff, Ciara McCrickard and others.

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 03:21 PM

Thanks all for the info!

Subject: RE: Eithne Ni Uallachain
From: GUEST
Date: 01 May 19 - 03:30 PM

Chronic, by acute.