Eithne Ní Uallacháin

Eithne Ní Uallacháin (; 1 January 1957 – 19 May 1999) was an Irish singer, songwriter, and former teacher from County Louth, Ireland.

Early life

Eithne was born in an

I was born into a passionate, intelligent family, whose passion for the Irish language, for literature and for learning, was the foundation stone on which all my music was based. My father’s love of song steered the course and purpose of my life.

— Eithne Ní Uallacháin, Tuairisc.ie

While at the

Eithne became a teacher in the 1980s at Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan, an Irish-medium primary school in Dundalk, County Louth. In 1986, she collaborated with husband Gerry and Belfast flute player Desi Wilkinson^[5] in a recording for release on the Gael Linn label. 'Cosa Gan Bhróga' was engineered by Nicky Ryan and released in 1987. The album was subsequently remastered and reissued in 2013 by Gael Linn.^[6][7] While performing in La Chapelle-Neuve, Côtes-d'Armor, France, Eithne met Gilles le Bigot and approached him to record on her next album with Gerry.^[5]

1991–1998: Lá Lugh

In 1991, Ní Uallacháin and O'Connor released their first album as a duo. '

Subsequent to the release of Lá Lugh, Eithne and Gerry formed a group of the same name. In 1995, the duo began recording their second album. The album was again recorded in Shaun 'Mudd' Wallace's Homestead Studios and focused on Eithne's songwriting and Gerry's fiddle playing. Brighid's Kiss was released under their own Lughnasa Music label that same year, featuring many of the same musicians as their previous album, along with two of their children, Dónal and Siubhán.^[10] The album was launched by Lá Lugh at The Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk.^{[citation needed]}

Eithne's songs Brighid's Kiss and Tá Sé Ina Lá (inspired by the movement towards a

In 1998, Eithne returned to Shaun 'Mudd' Wallace's Homestead studios to record a solo album. Ní Uallacháin's vocals were completed and much of the music was arranged, but the album was not released. Eithne took her own life 19 May 1999, following several bouts of illness.[17] Eithne's grieving husband, Gerry O'Connor, could not return to work on the album and focused instead on raising his children and on touring to support the family.^[3] Their son, Dónal, took residence at Wallace's studio as an assistant engineer, and during times when the studio was not booked worked with Wallace on the album.^[3]

Due to contractual issues with the original record label, the album was not released until 2014, 15 years after its recording and 14 years after mixing and mastering had ended. The album was titled Bilingua, named after its title track.^[3] Bilingua was released with Gael Linn, who released Eithne's first album, Cosa Gan Bhróga.^[18] In preparation for its release, tributes were written by Capercaillie's Karen Matheson, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Pauline Scanlon, Mary Black and Eithne's family and friends. Early reception to the album was overwhelmingly positive, with reviews appearing in English,^[19] Irish,^[2] French^[20] and Breton.^[21]

Bilingua was launched by Fintan Vallely at Odessa Club in Dame Court, Dublin on 3 December 2014.^[22]

Artistry

Eithne was known for her singing and flute playing and inspired a number of singers and musicians. On the release of Bilingua, tributes were sent by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Karen Matheson, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Pauline Scanlon, Mary Black and Irish artist Declan O'Mahony.^[23]

Personal life

Eithne married fiddle player

• 2014 — Bilingua
• 1998 — Senex Puer
• 1996 — Brighid's Kiss
• 1992 — Lá Lugh
• 1987 — Cosa Gan Bhróga

Footnotes