On the town: Great sean-nós artists, recorded in the late 1950s, were revealed in all their glory this week having been remastered by Harry Bradshaw and now available on two CDs, called Seoltaí Séidte.
Nicholas Carolan, of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, who has written a book to accompany the two-CD set, said technology today "allows us to hear a better quality of sound, which they could capture on tape but not reproduce at the time". His favourite was Áine Ní Ghallchobhair, the singer "who has that Donegal rhythm that is not to be heard any more".
Ní Ghallchobhair died in 1994 but her daughter, Máire Glackin, came to the National Library in Dublin this week for the launch. She recalled her mother being told "to sing the songs as it felt natural to sing them, learning and interpreting them rather than imitating them". And a key part of the style was "to communicate the story; being clear about the words was important", she said.
Dr T.K. Whitaker, who launched Seoltaí Séidte, which is based on these historic Gael Linn recordings, said his two favourite artists were Seosamh Ó hÉanaí "who had a lovely voice" and Aodh Ó Duibheannaigh, from Rann na Feirste, "who used to sing in the 1930s when I used to go there", he recalled.
Macdara Mac Donncha, son of the great Carna singer, the late Seán 'ac Dhonncha, was also there.
Two of the artists who are still performing,flute player Vincent Broderick and accordian player Joe Burke, were also there, as was the sean-nós singer Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin.
Then Dr Whitaker brought proceedings to a crescendo when he sang Mo Ghamhna Geala (My Bright Calves): 'Siad mo ghrá mo chuid gamhna, 'siad mo chrá, mo chuid gamhna - they are my loves, they are my torment, my bright calves.