Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin is a traditional singer, composer, author and a professional musician since 1999.
Brought up in an Irish speaking family, she lives in Omeath, County Louth.
She has recorded 10 studio albums of over 140 songs including over 60 new song compositions and is the author of and the director of Oriel Arts.
The recipient of various awards and bursaries, she gained a PhD from The University of Ulster in 2008. Her work has been the subject of a number of television and radio documentaries on RTE, TG4 and BBC.
Pádraigín is the recipient of one of the major traditional awards in Ireland – Gradam Ceoil TG4 for ‘Outstanding Contribution’ to Traditional Music (2018) as well being the first traditional musician to get a Major Arts Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. She is also a recipient of The Markievicz Award (2023)
Recognition
- TG4 Gradam Award for Outstanding Contribution to Traditional Music, 2018
- Gradam Shean-Nós Cois Life, 2003
- Major Arts Award, Northern Ireland Arts Council, 2007
- Jig of Life Award NYAH County Cavan Festival, 2017
- GAA Ómós Con Chulainn, An Mullach Bán, 2018
- Civic Award, Newry, Mourne & Down, 2018
- Creative Arts Award Fiddler’s Green Festival in Rostrevor, County Down 2018
- Mná an Mhisnigh Award, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, 2018
- Ceannródaithe Award, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018
Residencies
- The Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, QUB, Belfast
- Glens Arts Centre, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
- DKIT, County Louth
- Royal Literary Fellow in Queens University and St Marys University College Belfast
Publications
- A Hidden Ulster – people, songs and traditions of Oriel (2003/2022)
- www.orielarts.com multi media website of Gaelic song, harp and music traditions of Oriel
Traditional Song Albums
- An Dara Craiceann – 15 trad songs (Gael Linn, 1995)
- An Dealg Óir – 14 Oriel songs (Gael Linn, 2003)
- Ceoltaí Oirialla – 14 above +13 accapella of Oriel songs (Ceoltaí Éireann, 2020)
- A Stór is A Stóirín – 36 songs for young people (Gael Linn & Ceoltaí Éireann,1994/2020)
- Let the Fairies In – 11 songs in English for young people (Ceoltaí Éireann, 2014)
- An Irish Lullaby – Suantraí 15 songs Shanachie USA, 2000)
New Compositions Albums
- Áilleacht – 11 songs in Irish (Gael Linn, 2005)
- Seven Daughters of the Sea – 10 songs in Irish (Ceoltaí Éireann, 2024)
- Songs of the Scribe – 10 bilingual songs (Ceoltaí Éireann, 2011)
Translation
Ní Uallacháin has translated over 90 Irish language poems and songs into English. Michael Longley commented, “her versions enjoy the dignity of poetry.” They are included in The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. ed. Patrick Crotty (2010); The Ulster Anthology ed. Patricia Craig (2006); However Blow the Winds ed. John Ennis et al (2004)
Collaborations
Song-air settings for poems by Séamus Heaney, Ciaran Carson, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Michael Hartnet, Biddy Jenkinson, (Fergal Óg Mac A’ Bháird, Fearflátha Ó Gnímh, W.B.Yeats).
Music production collaborations with Garry Ó Briain, Steve Cooney, Dónal O’Connor, Máire Breatnach, and Helen Davies, and with international musicians Palle Mikkleborg, Steve Vai and Rajat Prasana.
She has studied chant, dhrupad and vocal work with Dr. Ritwick Sanyal from Benares in India, with Silvia Nakkach in Auroville in India, and with Jill Purce in London
New compositions recorded by
- Fare Thee Well, a Stór (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Altan, Dolores Keane, The Black Family),
- Óró (Eithne Ní Uallacháin),
- The Willow Tree (Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh & Danú, The Boys of the Lough),
- Innsvaddie Annie (Skylark)
- The Tryst (Skylark),
- Ná tar ach san oíche (Craobh Rua) and
- The Beloved / An Leannán (Helen Davies & Palle Mikkelberg, Gunnar Andreas Berg & Henning Sommerro, and others).
- A Óganaigh Óig (sung by Máire Ní Choilm as the award winning sean-nós entry in Oireachtas na Gaeilge Corn Uí Riada (2019)