Ireland's Favourite Folk Song | Mal Tuohy

Ireland’s Favourite Folk Song, is a brand new RTÉ TV series and national campaign in association with IMRO to identify and celebrate the songs that define us as a people.
Throughout the centuries, folk music has immortalised the real, live experiences of the citizens who have lived on, or passed through this island. Ireland has a vast archive of beautiful folk songs, both in English and in Irish, which its citizens draw on in times of joy and sorrow, to entertain, or to capture big personal or historic moments. Many of these songs have been passed down through families for generations. Some of these songs were written by Irish people, some brought in from other cultures, but what sets folk music apart is that it captures the eternal stories, hopes and struggles of ordinary people.
During January and early February 2019, RTÉ instigated a callout to members of the public to nominate their favourite songs. Nominations are currently being reviewed by an independent jury of music lovers and experts who will create a shortlist of ten folk songs they feel best capture the public’s favourites, but also the spirit and story of Ireland.
On 19th April, RTÉ will announce the 10 shortlisted folk songs to the nation in a special edition of The Ronan Collins Show on RTÉ Radio 1. Over the following five weeks, people will be invited to discuss the songs through various channels.
To help people to make an informed choice, a brand new 5-part TV series, Ireland’s Favourite Folk Song, presented by Mary Black, begins on RTÉ One on 21st April. Each episode will tell the story behind two of the shortlisted songs. Audiences will be also able to discover more about each song across RTÉ Radio 1 and on www.rte.ie/culture.
As part of RTE's search for Ireland's Favourite Folk Song, we visited the Patrician Secondary School, Kildare to deliver a folk music seminar with lead vocalist of The Riptide Movement, Mal Tuohy.
As well as that, with the help of leading Irish songwriter Luan Parle, the talented students wrote a song of their own on the topic of mental health called 'Looking for the Remedy'. Thanks again to all involved.
www.rte.ie/culture/folk-song/
Song Credit:
'Skin And Bones' by The Riptide Movement
open.spotify.com/track/3gLl60...