D’fhás mé aníos i nGaeltacht Rath Cairn ag foghlaim amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós ó mo sheanmháthair Mary Tom Máirtín as Camus Íoctair agus go mór mhór tríd freastal ar ranganna le Mairéad Ní Cheallaigh agus Éamonn Ó Donnchadha ó aois an-óg. Is tríd ócáidí agus féilte ar nós Féile na Mí agus seó an tSamhradh i Rath Cairn a fuair mé cleachtach ar a bheith ag amhránaíocht ar an stáitse. Uaidh sin ghlac mé páirt i neart comórtaisí ar nós Fleadh na hÉireann agus an Oireachtas áit a bhain mé amach go leor duaiseanna ina measc; Amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós Craobh na hÉireann faoi 18, duaiseanna ag an Oireachtas faoi aois agus ansin Comórtas Máire Mhic Dhonnchadha agus an chéad áit i gcomórtas na mBan ag Oireachtas na Samhna chomh maith leis an triú háit i gCorn Uí Riada. Fuair mé neart deiseanna m’amhránaíocht a roinnt le daoine tríd páirt a ghlacadh i gcláracha teilifíse agus raidió le RTE agus TG4 agus ceolchoirmeacha ar fud na hÉireann ina measc; The Youth of Bloom, Céilí House, Geantraí, Abair Amhrán agus Sean-Nós.
Is ag an Oireachtas a chas mé le mo fhear chéile, Pól Ó Ceannabháin agus is tríd an sean-nós a chuireamar aithne ar a chéile ón gcéad lá. Freastlaíonn muid ar fhéilte, ócáidí sean-nóis le chéile agus lena dheirfiúr Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin, ritheann muid féile i gceantar Carna chuile bhliain bunaithe go mór ar an sean-nós in ómas dá athair, Michael Mháire Ghabha, sé sin Éigse Mhicheal Mháire Ghabha. Sa lá atá inniu ann bím ag moltóireacht ag an sean-nós ar na comórtaisí sean-nóis faoi aois agus glacaim páirt fós sna comórtaisí. Is múinteoir bunscoile mé i Scoil Ghaeltachta i gConamara agus is tríd an múinteoireacht a dhéanamh iarrachta mo chuid sean-nóis a roinnt leis an gcéad ghlúin eile.
Single-cell church, rebuilt c.1902, entered through a three-stage bell tower, leading to the nave with two-bay side elevations and a single-bay chancel to east. Porch attached to south elevation. Pitched slate roof with limestone eaves dentils and cast-iron rainwater goods. Castellations, buttresses and rock-faced limestone to bell tower. Rendered walls to nave, with rock-faced limestone buttresses. Pointed arch openings with limestone dressings, tracery and hood mouldings. Timber battened doors with strap hinges. Ashlar limestone gate piers with cast-iron double gates. Graveyard to site.
The simple and modest form of Agher church is enlivened by the treatment of the ashlar masonry. The castellated entrance tower is particularly notable, with a wide variation of dressing employed in its construction. The snecked rock faced limestone contrasts with the ashlar buttresses, string courses and opening surrounds. The chancel exhibits similar textural variation, while the nave is enhanced by the masonry buttresses. The setting of the church is enhanced by the graveyard and the mausoleum to the site.
Michelle Powderly grew up in Navan, Co. Meath. She started learning the fiddle with Gerry O'Connor, And as a teenager she continued learning with Geraldine Smith. She took part in Fleadhanna Ceol all through her teenage years & took part in several Comortas Fiddler na Midhe in the Warrenstown Arms, Kiltale, Co. Meath. She has a lifelong devotion to traditional music. When she lived in Navan in the nineties, great Thursday nights were had when she played in Molloy‘s Bar , Bridge Street with Harry Gillick, Tom King Geraldine Smith , Martin Quinn, Gerry Bird, Ray Smith , Pat Marry and a myriad of local and passing musicians. She is a regular guest musician at numerous traditional music festivals throughout the country. She appeared on the traditional music programme Geantrai in 2010. She lives in Carlow Town with her husband David Sheridan who is also a fiddle player. Michelle and David play every Thursday night in Carlow. She is delighted to be a part of the Meath Beo concerts .
Geraldine Smith was born in Birmingham, England & still young Geraldine was immersed in music when the family returned to Navan, Co Meath. Geraldine is one of the original members of the renowned Táin Céilí Band who won the All Ireland Fleadh in 1999, 2000 & 2001. She has featured at events throughout Ireland and England as well as in Brittany, the US, Australia, Italy, England, Finland, Corsica and Poland, appeared on various TV programmes including Hup and Geantrai and even played with The Tain on “Up for the Match” when Meath were in the All Ireland football final in 1999 and 2001. She has also featured on various radio programmes; one special one was on Ciaran McMathuna’s Mo cheol thú where she featured with friends Bryan and Miriam Collins (Kilmihill). She is a music teacher and has adjudicated at county, provincial and all Ireland Fleadhanna. Geraldine now lives in Baile Ghib.