Programme Four on December 11th
Bridie Gallagher ‘the Girl from Donegal’, ballad singer, the first all Ireland star, influenced generations of country singers who followed.
December 11th at 7.30pm on RTÉ ONE
Fil performs “The Homes of Donegal” with guitarist Steve Cooney and “The Castle of Dromore” with Finbar Furey and remembers the wonderful life of BRIDIE GALLAGHER “the Girl from Donegal”.
Including an interview with Bridie herself, and with contributors Daniel O’Donnell, Hugo Duncan, David Hammond, Bridie’s son Jim Livingstone and others.
Bridie Gallagher was born in 1924 in Creeslough in the North of Donegal and began her singing career singing at local dances and concerts before moving to Belfast at the age of 14 where she continued to sing in shows and concerts.
Her first single record “A Mother’s Love’s A Blessing” was released in 1956, becoming an immediate success in Ireland and Britain and leading to her first LP – “The Girl from Donegal” – which quickly became the name that Bridie would be known by for the rest of her life. This included her most famous recording, “The Boys from the Co. Armagh”.
Bridie has sold millions of records in a career that spanned the entire second half of the 20th century and has influenced generations of country and Irish stars including Daniel O’Donnell. Bridie retired from performing in 2000 and still lives in Belfast.
SERIES BACKGROUND
Songbirds will take an in-depth look at the world famous Irish ladies of song who were recording in and around the 1950’s. Fil Campbell presents the series and together with some of today’s leading folk artists will rework some of the timeless gems of Irish music.
Delia Murphy was without doubt the single most influential singer to have recorded traditional songs in Ireland. Hers was the first voice heard on national radio singing the songs that everybody grew up with. In the late 1930’s, all through the war years, and for many years afterwards, she had the nation singing along with her in songs like The Spinning Wheel, The Connemara Cradle Song and If I Were A Blackbird. Delia influenced generations of singers that followed her including Co. Fermanagh singer, Fil Campbell, who presents the programmes.
In this 6 part series of documentaries, Fil welcomes renowned Irish folklorists, singers and musicians to reconstruct the biographies of the first world famous Irish ladies of song who were recording in and around the 1950s and to rework some of the favourite songs. Fil is honouring Delia and the other singers from whom she learned her songs first as a toddler, later at school and later still in her career as a travelling musician and songwriter.
Upcoming programmes will feature…….
Delia Murphy from Mayo – singer of come all ye’s, first Irish folk singer ever recorded – married to first Irish ambassador to the UK, the Vatican, Australia, and Canada
Previous programmes featured….
Ruby Murray from Belfast who sang pop songs and ballads, she had 5 songs in the Top 20 in the same week 50 years ago in 1955, a record never equalled.
Margaret Barry from Cork, traveller, banjo player, street singer and collector of traditional songs – revered as one of the greatest traditional singers ever along with Bessie Smith.
Mary O’Hara From Sligo – Harpist, soprano, singer of art songs in Gaelic and English. After spending part of her life as a nun she became a well-known radio and television star.
Guest Musicians: John Sheehan, Steve Cooney, Laoise Kelly, Finbar Furey, Sean Keane, Tommy Sands
Session Musicians: James Blennerhassett, Seamus Brett, Brendan Emmett, John Fitzpatrick, Tom McFarland, Rod McVey, Brendan Monaghan, Gerry O’Connor, and Steve Wickham.
PRESS CONTACT: Dympna Clerkin 01-2083298