Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin
Pádraigín in India in January 2009 for cultural events with poets Michael Longley and Ciaran Carson
Background information
Birth name	Pádraigín Máire Ní Uallacháin
Born	County Louth, Ireland
Genres	Irish traditional Folk Celtic music
Occupation(s)	Singer Author Academic Composer
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Gael Linn (1994–2005) Ceoltaí Éireann (2006 – present)

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin is an amazing Irish singer, songwriter, and academic writer. She comes from Ireland and is known for her beautiful music and interesting research. She has released many albums and written important books about Irish songs.

Pádraigín's Early Life

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin grew up in an Irish-speaking home. She was born in County Louth, Ireland. Her father was a teacher and loved collecting old songs. He encouraged Pádraigín and her seven siblings to sing. One of her sisters, Eithne Ní Uallacháin, also became a well-known singer.

Her family lived in different places in Ireland. These included Ballina, County Mayo, and Dundalk, County Louth. Pádraigín went to boarding school in Monaghan. Later, she studied at University College Dublin and the University of Ulster. She earned her doctorate degree in 2009.

In 1977, Pádraigín made history at RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster. She was the first woman to read the news in Irish. She also created many radio shows in both English and Irish. In 1980, she left RTÉ to continue her studies. She taught for a while before becoming a full-time musician in 1999.

Her Music Career

Pádraigín started recording her own music in 1994. Her first album, A Stór is a Stóirín, had 36 songs for all ages. Channel 4 in Britain even made music videos for some of these songs. These videos were often shown on TG4, an Irish-language TV channel.

In 1995, she released her second album, An Dara Craiceann: Beneath the Surface. This album featured traditional Irish songs. She also composed music for the film Branwen that year. Her third album, When I Was Young, was for children. She worked on it with musician Garry Ó Briain and singer Len Graham.

Working with Other Artists

Pádraigín has worked with many talented musicians. From 1997 to 2012, she often performed with Danish composer Palle Mikkelborg. She sang on his film soundtrack and on his album Song... Tread Lightly. Her song Don't give me the whole truth was also featured on harpist Helen Davies' album.

She has also composed music for poems by famous Irish poets. These include Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Ciaran Carson, and Seamus Heaney. Her songs have been recorded by many other artists too. Some of these include Dolores Keane, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, and even rock guitarist Steve Vai.

Exploring Oriel Songs

Between 2003 and 2005, Pádraigín did a lot of research on songs from her home region, Oriel. She recorded an album called An Dealg Óir with these restored songs. This album was produced by Steve Cooney. It featured many well-known Irish musicians.

Her book, A Hidden Ulster: People, songs and traditions of Oriel, was published in 2004. This huge book has over 500 pages! It's full of rare songs, their stories, and information about folk traditions in Oriel. The book was highly praised and even named a "Book of the Year" by important newspapers. Because of her work, Pádraigín received special awards for her contribution to Irish song.

Recent Projects

In 2011, Pádraigín released Songs of the Scribe. For this album, she set ancient Irish poems to her own new music. She even traveled to Switzerland to read old Irish manuscripts! This album was very popular and stayed on the Celtic music charts for seven months.

Her third children's album, Let the Fairies In, came out in 2012. It was produced by Dónal O'Connor, who is also her nephew.

In 2017, Pádraigín launched the Oriel Arts Project. This project helps to bring back old songs and music from the Oriel region that were almost forgotten. She researched and recorded many of these songs. The project also includes videos of singers performing the songs. To celebrate, she released a double album called Ceoltaí Oirialla.

In 2018, Pádraigín received a special award for her "Outstanding Contribution to Traditional Music" at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 awards. This is a very important award in Irish music. She performed at the ceremony with other musicians.

Her work was also featured in a TV documentary called "Sé Mo Laoch" in 2019.

Newest Album

In January 2024, Pádraigín released her tenth studio album, Seven Daughters of the Sea. She worked again with Steve Cooney and Dónal O'Connor. The album also features Steve Vai and Indian flautist Rajat Prasanna.

Pádraigín continues to research and record songs. She is currently working on songs from County Leitrim and Omeath, County Louth. She is also helping to edit a song collection by Len Graham.

Awards and Recognition

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin has received many awards for her amazing work:

• 2003 – Gradam Shean-nós Cois Life (Award for traditional singing)
• 2004 – Major Arts Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (She was the first traditional musician to get this award!)
• 2004 – A Hidden Ulster was named a "Book of the Year" by the Times Literary Supplement and the Irish Times.
• 2009 – She earned her Doctorate from Ulster University.
• 2018 – "Outstanding Contribution to Traditional Music" at Gradam Ceoil TG4.
• 2018 – Mná an Mhisnigh (Women of Courage) Award.
• 2018 – Cultural Achievement Award from Mullaghbawn GAA.
• 2018 – Civic Award from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for her contribution to local culture.

Special Roles

Pádraigín has also held important roles:

• From 2005 to 2013, she was the Traditional Singer in Residence at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queens University Belfast.
• She was the first person to receive an Irish language fellowship from the Royal Literary Fund.

Pádraigín's Family

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin has two sons, Eoghan Graham and Macdara Jewellery. As mentioned, her sister was the singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin. Pádraigín is also the aunt of musician and producer Dónal O'Connor, film director Feilimí O'Connor, and Uilleann piper Finnian Ó Connor.

Her Albums

• 1994 – A Stór Is A Stóirín
• 1995 – An Dara Craiceann
• 1997 – When I Was Young
• 1999 – An Irish Lullaby
• 2002 – An Dealg Óir
• 2005 – Áilleacht
• 2011 – Songs of the Scribe
• 2012 – LET THE FAIRIES IN
• 2017 – Ceoltaí Oirialla
• 2024 – Seven Daughters of the Sea