I heard a rumour that RTE is considering scrapping Ceili House as part of its cost-cutting efforts. It would really be a loss to players like me living on the other side of the world. Check http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/ if you haven't heard of the program before.
I'll send an email supporting the show to RTE at ceili@rte.ie and it might be a good idea if more of us drop them a note to make sure we don't lose this great trad music broadcast.
That would be sad, as it is more of an institution than a programme. I remember in London in the fifties, using various types of aerials to try and pick it up from Radio Eireann, without much success I may add, It was like listening to a broadcast from the Moon at the time. Nowadays however, you have to ask yourself....
Is it a viable proposition for the Radio Station?
Who listens to it?
How many people tune in every Saturday at around 9.30, when a vast number of musicans who may be interested, are maybe playing a gig, or people are watching something on the telly. I manage to play on it twice over the years, but I find there is two much talk and not enough music. I once had it on in the car as I was travelling to a gig. A Séan Nós song started as I left the house and was just finishing as I reached my destination, a distance of six miles. On another occasion I learnt the complete history of some Irish town land but managed to miss the selection of reels which faded out in time for the 10 O'Clock news. RTE were never much for broadcasting Traditional music anyway so it could be on the cards.
It is an institution and should be kept going - I listen online every week, as I am sure thousands of ex-pats do, all over the world.
It must also inspire so many young players who listen.
It is fair comment that travelling to the States to make programmes might not be the best use of the limited dosh.
Certainly hope they will keep it going - this is an excellent program indeed to tune in on irish trad and get a sense on what´s going on. During Christmas I´ve in fact been catching up on programs I´ve missed in the past through the great archive service on their home pages.
I hope the Cost cutters manage to see the big picture and stay away from this one. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate support - hopefully it is not too late.. my mail is sent.
Ditto -- "I find there is too much talk and not enough music."
It's very staged - managed - and not at all "what's going on" ... except in the mind of the over-the-top Kieran Hanrahan...
Like a previous poster above I remember sitting on the stairs in the domestic part of the pub where my dad was the landlord in the 1950s listening to Ceili House on the radio which was playing good and loud in the bar. This was in the Cottage of Content in Merstham, Surrey. Moved to Ireland in early 60s and it was on our radio every Saturday night.
But the most intriguing part was attending a 'Celtic' festival in the mountains south on Modena in Italy about 10 years ago where I met a very fine Italian fiddle player who had never been to Ireland but had learned a lot of his music from his recordings of Ceili House. We played together after a concert with a piper from Milan and a few more good Italian players in the little square beside the church until the parish priest sent out word sometime after mid night that he was trying to get some sleep.
Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
I heard a rumour that RTE is considering scrapping Ceili House as part of its cost-cutting efforts. It would really be a loss to players like me living on the other side of the world. Check http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/ if you haven't heard of the program before.
I'll send an email supporting the show to RTE at ceili@rte.ie and it might be a good idea if more of us drop them a note to make sure we don't lose this great trad music broadcast.
# Posted on January 2nd 2010 by dogbox
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Just finished my note - thx for passing this tidbit along. I'd hate to see this program axed; it's a real gem.
# Posted on January 3rd 2010 by waltcamp45
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
That would be sad, as it is more of an institution than a programme. I remember in London in the fifties, using various types of aerials to try and pick it up from Radio Eireann, without much success I may add, It was like listening to a broadcast from the Moon at the time. Nowadays however, you have to ask yourself....
Is it a viable proposition for the Radio Station?
Who listens to it?
How many people tune in every Saturday at around 9.30, when a vast number of musicans who may be interested, are maybe playing a gig, or people are watching something on the telly. I manage to play on it twice over the years, but I find there is two much talk and not enough music. I once had it on in the car as I was travelling to a gig. A Séan Nós song started as I left the house and was just finishing as I reached my destination, a distance of six miles. On another occasion I learnt the complete history of some Irish town land but managed to miss the selection of reels which faded out in time for the 10 O'Clock news. RTE were never much for broadcasting Traditional music anyway so it could be on the cards.
# Posted on January 3rd 2010 by Free Reed
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
It is an institution and should be kept going - I listen online every week, as I am sure thousands of ex-pats do, all over the world.
It must also inspire so many young players who listen.
It is fair comment that travelling to the States to make programmes might not be the best use of the limited dosh.
# Posted on January 3rd 2010 by geoffwright
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Certainly hope they will keep it going - this is an excellent program indeed to tune in on irish trad and get a sense on what´s going on. During Christmas I´ve in fact been catching up on programs I´ve missed in the past through the great archive service on their home pages.
I hope the Cost cutters manage to see the big picture and stay away from this one. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate support - hopefully it is not too late.. my mail is sent.
# Posted on January 4th 2010 by FiddleTramp
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Ditto -- "I find there is too much talk and not enough music."
It's very staged - managed - and not at all "what's going on" ... except in the mind of the over-the-top Kieran Hanrahan...
# Posted on January 4th 2010 by David Levine
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Like a previous poster above I remember sitting on the stairs in the domestic part of the pub where my dad was the landlord in the 1950s listening to Ceili House on the radio which was playing good and loud in the bar. This was in the Cottage of Content in Merstham, Surrey. Moved to Ireland in early 60s and it was on our radio every Saturday night.
But the most intriguing part was attending a 'Celtic' festival in the mountains south on Modena in Italy about 10 years ago where I met a very fine Italian fiddle player who had never been to Ireland but had learned a lot of his music from his recordings of Ceili House. We played together after a concert with a piper from Milan and a few more good Italian players in the little square beside the church until the parish priest sent out word sometime after mid night that he was trying to get some sleep.
# Posted on January 5th 2010 by awwilko
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Is a Ceili just for playing, dancing and singing, to the exclusion of everything else?
# Posted on January 5th 2010 by geoffwright
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
The playing, dancing and singing are just a cover, really it's all about sex.
# Posted on January 6th 2010 by Bernie 29
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
Isn't that why the priests shut down the house dances and community music making and dancing in the early 1900's?
# Posted on January 6th 2010 by the wounded hussar
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
I found out why Presbyterians are so against sex......it might lead to dancing!
# Posted on January 6th 2010 by minijackpot
Re: Is RTE Radio's Ceili House under threat?
It was Aine Hennessey's trad programme that RTE cancelled.
# Posted on January 7th 2010 by iwerzon