Gael Linn (, "

Gael The Gaels ( ; ga, Na Gaeil ; gd, Na Gàidheil ; gv, Ny Gaeil ) are an ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man in the British Isles. They are associated with the Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic languag ...

-with-us") is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

and

non-governmental A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...

organisation focused on the promotion of the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

and the

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

s. The organisation's funding includes government and lottery sources.

History

Gael Linn was founded in May 1953, following a meeting in Cork, with the goal to foster interest in the Irish language and promote artistic events. Since the early years of its foundation, the organisation has also run language courses. In the mid-1950s, Gael Linn supported the production of short films and news reels which were distributed to cinemas. In 1955, Gael Linn established the Irish-language Damer Theatre on

St Stephen's Green St Stephen's Green () is a garden square and public park located in the city centre of Dublin, Ireland. The current landscape of the park was designed by William Sheppard. It was officially re-opened to the public on Tuesday, 27 July 1880 by ...

which it operated until 1976. In 1959, Gael Linn produced the feature length documentary film ''Mise Éire'', which included an acclaimed score by composer

Seán Ó Riada Seán Ó Riada (; born John Reidy; 1 August 1931 – 3 October 1971), was an Irish composer and arranger of Irish traditional music. Through his incorporation of modern and traditional techniques he became the single most influential figur ...

Record label

Gael Linn Records is a record label which was founded in the 1950s and is run by Gael Linn. According to the organisation's web site, the "Gael Linn record label was established in 1956 to provide an outlet for recordings of sean-nós singing and traditional music". Gael Linn has released records by a number of

traditional Irish music Irish traditional music (also known as Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is a genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. In ''A History of Irish Music'' (1905), W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Ireland, there we ...

ians. In the early 1970s, the label released

Skara Brae Skara Brae is a stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. Consisting of ten clustered houses, made of flagstones, in earthen dams ...

's self-titled debut album, and the single from that album also contained

Clannad Clannad () is an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal by siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Moya Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history, including ...

tracks from their own début album on the other side. Clannad was one of the label's most popular acts, until the band signed with

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

in 1982. The former members of Skara Brae have all released solo/duet albums under Gael Linn. These artists include Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill,

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer, keyboard player, and composer, considered one of the most influential female vocalists in the history of Irish music. She is famed for her work with traditional Irish groups such as Skara ...

and

Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (; 7 October 1951 – 7 July 2006) was an Irish singer, guitarist, composer, and producer who was a major influence on Irish traditional music in the second half of the twentieth century. He is remembered for his innovativ ...

, as well as Altan's Daithí Sproule. Gael Linn Records have issued recordings by Michael Coleman, Seán Ryan, and Ceoltóirí Chualann. The label's roster has also included Andy Irvine,

Paul Brady Paul Joseph Brady (born 19 May 1947) is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician from Strabane, Northern Ireland. His work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age. Initially popular for playing ...

, The Bothy Band,

De Dannan De Dannan (originally ''Dé Danann'') is an Irish folk music group. It was formed 1975 by Frankie Gavin (fiddle), Alec Finn (guitar, bouzouki), Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh (bodhrán) and Charlie Piggott (banjo) as a result of sessions in Hughes's ...

, Dolores Keane, Nóirín Ní Riain,

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin Pádraigín Máire Ní Uallacháin () is an Irish singer-songwriter, academic, and former newsreader

, and Gerry O'Connor. Several of the label's recordings have been licensed to be reissued on the Green Linnet label.

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Irish language organisations Folk record labels Irish independent record labels Record labels established in 1963 Organizations established in 1953 1953 establishments in Ireland Seanad nominating bodies