Musical show in Rath Chairn

When the Connemara-based publishing house, Futa Fata, released the CD and book of traditional rhymes 'Gugalaí Gug' in the autumn of 2006, 2,000 copies were printed, a relatively big print-run for an Irish-language publication. "We hoped to sell that first batch within a year or two," explains the publisher and creator, Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin. "Six weeks later, every single copy was gone!" The public interest in Gugalaí Gug! has remained very strong – to date there have been almost 8,000 copies sold, leading to the album being awarded a gold disc for exceptional sale success in Ireland. To celebrate this significant achievement, An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán " Cuirreáin will present those involved with their Gold Disk at Seanscoil Sailearna, Inverin, Co. Galway, and the the band is headed east to perform to their many young fans in Meath at a special matinee performance on Sunday 6th March, in Rath Chairn. There are ten performers involved in the stage show, including six children and four former children. The four adults were all involved in the original 2006 recording. They are Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin (vocals and guitar), Caitlín Ní Chualáin (vocals), John Ryan, producer (keyboard) and Paul Kelly (mandolin, banjo, bozouki and fiddle). None of the six younger performers were featured on the 2006 recording, though some of them do appear on the follow-up to Gugalaí Gug!, the collection of traditional children's songs, Peigín Leitir Móir. They are Joe " Conghaile (vocals and bodhrán), Domhnall " Braonáin (vocals), Tadhg "g Mac Dhonnagáin (vocals and bodhrán), Iseult Ní Fhoighil (vocals) and Róise Nic Dhonnagáin (vocals). The youngest member of the 2011 band is five-year old Doireann Ní Fhoighil. Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin recalls seeing her, in Scoil Sailearna in Indreabhán, during the recording of Gugalaí Gug! a mere babe in arms a few weeks old at the time. "That's the beautiful thing about this project" he says. "To recreate this timeless material for an ever-renewing audience of children, and to work with new performing talent every time we go out to do a performance or record a new CD." Gugalaí Gug! – Beo is in Áras Pobail, Ráth Chairn, on Sunday 6th March at 3pm. Tickets are €5 for children, €10, for 'former children', €25 for a family ticket (two children and two adults). Bookings can be made at the Futa Fata office, (091) 504 612 or at the door.