Aidan O’Donnell delighted with highest accolade for Donegal fiddlers

Donegal fiddler Aidan O'Donnell has expressed huge delight on the recent announcement that Cáirdeas na bhFidiléirí have been named winner of the 'Outstanding Contribution to Irish Culture' (Gradam Comaoine) Award at this year's TG4 Gradam Ceoil.

Aidan is currently the Chair of Cáirdeas na bhFidiléiri and Director and Musical Development Officer with Music Generation Tipperary and while currently based in Thurles, his heart has never left his native county.

He explained that 'Cáirdeas’ was formed in the early 1980s to help support and promote the art of fiddle playing in the Donegal tradition. 

Led by musician/researcher/author Caoimhín MacAoidh and fiddle-maker, Rab Cherry, the organisation's core mission is to strengthen Donegal fiddle playing at its roots, and to improve standards, promote participation in all aspects of Donegal fiddle music and encourage the transmission of the Donegal styles and repertoire. 

The organisation's main events include the annual Donegal Fiddlers' Summer School in Glencolumbcille and the October Donegal Fiddlers' Meeting Glenties. 

In receiving the award it was recognised that the diverse and dynamic crop of contemporary fiddle players across Donegal stands as a testament to the profound impact of this organisation’s contribution.

Speaking from Barcelona, Aidan, who is also known as a professional musician with Fidil, along with Ciarán O’Maonaigh and Damien McGeehan said: 

“I am from Dunkineely and my father’s family were from Kilcar as well. My grandfather would have been well known through his work at the Post Office there.”

Aidan credits Seamus Sweeney from Ballyshannon as being the teacher who introduced himself and many others into the fiddle tradition, when Seamus started lessons in Bruckless on Monday evenings.

“We ended up going to him and then we started going to the Cáirdeas stuff as well and those classes took place in Glencolmcille and Glenties. That would be where we really got into the Donegal fiddle playing and style because you had access to some of the real masters of the tradition. 

“Myself and my brother Kevin both play and now he has a music school based in south west Donegal, running classes from Donegal town to Dunkineely and over to Killybegs.

ABOVE: Caption: Aidan O’Donnell pictured with other members of the board of Directors of Cáirdeas na bhFidiléirí

“I suppose it is a good example of how things go full circle. He started with Seamus, went through the Cáirdeas system and now he is teaching up to 100 young people in the area, and after Seamus stopped teaching there was no one there for about twenty years.”

Cáirdeas has now ensured that there is a sustainable provision for young people into the future, he added. 

Over the years, Cáirdeas has issued a substantial body of recordings by fiddle players, past and present, and shares a wealth of information about fiddle styles and associated history and folklore on its website, dongealfiddlemusic.ie. 

This site also offers a suite of fiddle lessons by contemporary Donegal fiddlers as well as the unique Musical Landscape project, a cartography mapping fiddlers and their stories across the county. 

The award also acknowledges the monumental efforts in preserving local traditions and nurturing a vibrant musical community have left an indelible mark in Donegal and beyond. 

Its influence extends to every fiddle player in the county, from legendary figures like Tommy Peoples, the Campbells from Glenties, Danny Meehan from Drimalost, James Byrne from Glencolmcille to icons like Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, and rising stars like Megan Nic Fhionnghaile. 

It operates as a not-for-profit voluntary organisation and any income generated is invested directly into their events, programmes, publications, projects and support for living artists.

Aidan concluded: “The great and very important thing is that Caideas gave us access to the great masters of Donegal, as well as opening doors for us to become professional performers.

“That Donegal style is different because it's got this real lively style, through the bowing of the fiddle, gives the music a different sound. And there is a dancing tradition that is associated with it. Cáirdeas do a lot of work with that as well, through the ‘house dance’ or ‘couple dance’ tradition which go hand in hand with the music.      

This year's Gradam Ceoil Gala Awards concert takes place at the University Concert Hall Limerick on May 5, 2024.