Audio-visual material, sound recordings, images, and documents concerning Joe Éinniú, one of the greatest of all sean nós singers, was presented to NUI Galway this week.
Féile Joe Éinniú, which celebrates traditional Irish singing, takes place in Carna, Connemara, during the May Bank Holiday Weekend. The festival will be opened by Mr Éinniú’s friend Máire NicFhinn, and on Monday, she presented the collection of material to NUIG’s Gaeltacht centre Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim in Carna.
Mr Éinniú was born in Áird Thoir, Carna, Connemara, in 1919 and died in Seattle in 1984. Ms NicFhinn knew him from the time she worked for Gael Linn, which published many of his recordings, and through organising cultural events in which Mr Éinniú participated.
As a result Ms NicFhinn has compiled a valuable collection comprising recordings, images, and documents relating to the work and life of Mr Éinniú. This new material will augment the extensive Joe Éinniú collection already in the possession of the Áras in Carna. It includes a music and song archive that was compiled in Washington University where Mr Éinniú spent his later years lecturing in Irish culture and traditional music.
The entire Joe Éinniú collection will be digitised and made available in accessible formats to the local community and to those pursuing studies at NUIG.
