Gael Linn () is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

and

non-governmental A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...

organisation focused on the promotion of the

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

and the

art Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

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.

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 Music genre, genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. In ''A History of Irish Music'' (1905), W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Irela ...

ians. In the early 1970s, the label released

Skara Brae Skara Brae is a stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill in the parish of Sandwick, Orkney, Sandwick, on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. It consiste ...

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

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

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 owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...

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 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 innovat ...

, 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, The Bothy Band, De Dannan, Dolores Keane, Nóirín Ní Riain, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, and Gerry O'Connor. Several of the label's recordings have been licensed to be reissued on the Green Linnet label.

Slógadh

Gael Linn established a youth arts competition and festival in 1969. This festival, known as ''Slógadh'', featured musicians and acts such as:

, the Hothouse Flowers, Altan, Dolores O'Riordan and Cathal Ó Searcaigh.

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