Celtic rays

Film:
december bride (1991)
Seo scannáin den chead scoth a stúirigh Thaddeus O’Sullivan, ag inse scéal cailín aimsire a éiríonn torrach ag obair do beirt dheartháir ar feirm i gCo an Dúin.
Tá an scannáin féin déanta go healaíonta agus feictear áilleacht thaobh tíre Co an Dúin.

A very intriguing film based in Co. Down at the begining of the 20th century, where a young servant girl becomes pregnant while working on a farm for two bachelor brothers, and conceals the father’s identity. 
The Co. Down scenery is shown off at its most ruggedly beautiful by the wonderful camera work.

Art:
táin series by louis le brocquy
Chuala mé scéal Táin Bó Chuailgne nuair a bhí mé ag éirigh aníos i nGaoth Dobhair agus is mór an tionchar a bhí ag an scéal orm mar pháiste óg.
Shíl mé gur thuig Louis le Brocquy údar an scéil go maith nuair a chonaic mé a chuid pictúir... phosaigh sé an tsean leis an nua.
Sin mar is mian liom mo chuid ceoil a bheith.... cé go seinm ceol tradisiúnta is don ré seo é chomh maith.
I’m just after reading Ciaran Carson’s wonderful translation of An Táin.
The epic story of An Táin Bó Cuailnge made a huge impact on me when I first heard it, as a child, from a local story teller. It had all the elements that spark a young person's imagination, including the battles, the gore and a battling Queen.
It was ancient yet timeless, barbarian yet regal!
Louis Le Brocquy’s series of bloc type illustrations to accompany Thomas Kinsella’s translation aptly depicted the essence of the tale.
It reminded me of ancient cave illustrations but also of contempory pop/modern European art, reflecting what I feel traditional Irish music means to me....taking the old music and making it of this age.

Short story:
teangabháil
Seo ceann dena gearrscéalta is deise agus is leochailaigh a léigh mé ariamh i dteanga ar bith, agus a chuaigh go mór i bhfeidhm orm.
Liam Ó Flaithearta’s amazing insight into the human mind and how the simple action of contact and touching can be so evocative... even when it happens between two people attracted to each other as they collect seaweed into creels on a wild windy day by the raging Atlantic! 
Mairéad's new album Imeall is out now. See interview in the next Hot Press.