Day in the Life - Nell Ní Chróinín, Kilkenny Tradfest

Nell Ní Chróinín hails from the Múscraí Gaeltacht of West Cork, she now resides in Kilkenny with her Kilkenny husband and their two boys Teidí and Páidí.

When Nell is not regularly touring as the lead singer of the world-famous group Danú in the USA, she can be found teaching the brains of tomorrow in Kilkenny’s Gaelscoil Osraí.

This year Nell Ní Chróinín will perform for the very first time at Kilkenny Tradfest on St  Patrick’s night in the Club House Hotel, for a evening of fiddle, uilleann pipes, accordion, and more.

Nell grew up in the small village of Béal Áthá’n Ghaorthaidh. The Múscraí area is historically linked with a strong heritage of song and music. There Nell was exposed to local traditions from a very young age, which throughout her career has been the corner stone to her identity as an artist and a traditional sean nós singer.

She enjoyed success as a younger singer, including several underage singing medals and titles from various Irish festival competitions such as Oireachas na Samhna and The Fleadh Ceoil.

Her accomplishments at the Oireachtas festival blossomed as she won the prestigious Corn Uí Riada competition in 2014. This was a momentous win for Nell personally, as the youngest winner in the history of the competition at the time. It was however also a momentous for the wider Múscraí singing community as it was the first time any singer from her locality had won this accolade, which was particularly significant as it was named after the local composer and highly acclaimed musician, Seán Ó Riada.

In 2012 she was the youngest ever recipient of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Amhránaí na Bliana award to which she believes is one of her highest honours and achievements to date.

In 2016 she became the lead singer with the highly renowned traditional band, Danú. This, for Nell, was a change as she was so familiar with singing in the sean-nós style without accompaniment. This again helped her further develop as an artist, crafting her own voice while still being firmly rooted in tradition.

She is thoroughly enjoying exploring singing in this different context and she recorded her first album with Danú in 2018, entitled Ten Thousand Miles.

Here is a glimpse into Nell’s world…

Growing up in the Múscraí Gaeltacht of West Cork, you were immersed in a rich tradition of song and music. Can you tell us about your journey into Irish traditional music?
It wasn’t really a journey; it was just the way we were brought up. I suppose my immersion started at home and continued in primary and secondary school as a result of the singing scheme entitled ‘Scéim Amhránaíochta Aisling Gheal’. This scheme aimed to preserve the local songs by teaching them to the younger generation of the area and encouraging them to sing them.
From the age of 10 I attended these classes under the tuition of the wonderfully talented Máire Ní Chéilleachair with whom I accredit many of my successes. Máire would not only teach the songs, but also the history of the songs and would expose the class to some old recordings of local singers who were no longer with us.
This spurred my interest in the singing massively and I began to sing publicly from the age of 11 at local festivals or sessions.

Being deeply rooted in the traditional sean nós singing style, what drew you to this type of singing?
I suppose it was just the norm. When I was younger learning about the stories of the songs, I didn’t realize what you can learn from the songs.
As I got older, and started doing my own research into songs, I realise how it’s important to know the history of where you’re from, or about the local people that wrote the songs. When they wrote these songs a 100 years ago, they didn’t think that somebody would be still singing them.
I’m interested in history and keeping the culture alive - that was and still is important to me.

You are a qualified primary school teacher. Do you actually get to teach or are you full-time gigging?
That’s what brought me to Kilkenny! It was my very first time here and I was coming for an interview for a job teaching in the Gaelscoil.
I came to Kilkenny for the very first time and I got a job after my first year qualified from Mary Immaculate College. I taught for two years in the Gaelscoil here in Kilkenny, after which I taught in Cork for a few years.
Then I got the opportunity to join Danú the band. So, I decided to leave my primary school teaching job in Cork.
I had also met my husband at this stage, who is from Kilkenny, so I moved back to Kilkenny and subbed for  sometime while I did a lot of touring. Right now, I’m actually job sharing, and I can do a bit of both, which is great.

This is your first Kilkenny Tradfest because normally you would be touring, but you’ve just had your second baby Teidí two weeks ago, congratulations. Hence you are staying rooted in Kilkenny for a while!
Normally we go to America every year around March and in the lead up to Patrick’s Day we would be on tour for three weeks. My eldest fella Páidí, who is two and a half now, came with us on tour a couple of times.
Páidí and my husband have been all over the States. However, I think that Teddí is just a little bit too young for that yet!
I was delighted, then, to be asked to do Kilkenny Tradfest. Actually, I jumped at the opportunity, because I hear every year how fantastic a festival it is. The trad scene is small so you would know a lot of people playing at these festivals and its great to meet them all on my doorstep.

Is it true your singing voice can change after pregnancy?
It hasn’t happened yet! If anything during pregnancies and after having the babies, has been very good for my voice because I am not out socialising as much! Also, I’m not in a crowded room or a pub performing where you are trying to mind yourself but naturally you are straining your voice.
Obviously with age, your voice changes. You have to learn how to look after your voice, especially if you are singing for a living. You have to learn to warm up, which was something I was never taught as a child. As with anything you have to mind your instrument.

Who were your earliest musical influences, both within and outside of the traditional Irish music scene?
In terms of my earliest musical influences, I’d say my parents played a significant role due to their deep appreciation for traditional Irish music. They often took us to festivals and sessions, immersing us in the music scene from a young age.
My main influence was my remarkable singing teacher named Máire Ní Chéilleachair, who went above and beyond to nurture her pupils with passion for music. She made learning enjoyable and interactive, incorporating various teaching methods that kept us engaged.
Alongside Máire, local singers from our community also left a lasting impression on me. Like Iarla Ó Lionáird, who I listened to when I was growing up. Now both of us are living in Kilkenny and teaching in the Gaelscoil!

In your opinion Nell, what sets traditional Irish music apart and makes it resonate with audiences around the world?
Traditional music is very social, stemming from intimate gatherings in sitting rooms or kitchens rather than grand stages.
The essence of the tradition is still there and lies in spontaneous sessions where musicians learn from each other without formal rehearsal. Even when performing on stage, the goal remains the same - to engage the audience, prompting them to sing along, clap louder, or even dance.
This interaction distinguishes traditional music from other genres. Whether it’s lively tunes or soulful ballads, traditional music encompasses a range of emotions and experiences, inviting listeners to both celebrate, tap, and sing along.

For tickets to Nell’s Kilkenny Tradfest gig  visit https://kilkennytradfest.com/tickets/nell-ni-chroinin-band/