Aisling Gheal

AISLING GHEAL (Bright Vision) is one of the most revered songs from the Munster Sean-nós singing tradition and is also the name of the local scheme – run by the women in the film – responsible for passing the tradition onto the younger generations.

The film follows the weekly workings of the scheme over a year-long period and in particular the relationship between renowned singer and teacher Máire Ní Chéilleachair and one of her students: 11-year old Shahira Apraku (of African /German heritage).

Máire and Shahira’s journey together, the struggles of the women, the songs of the Sean-nós and the flow of the Sullane river provide parallel intersecting narrative vehicles for this documentary, yielding insights into this very precious part of our culture in the course of its unfolding, and challenging some of our key contemporary notions of ‘Irishness’ in the process.

This is the 2nd film in Dónal Ó Céilleachair’s ‘Irish Music Trilogy’ that includes ‘3: TRIÚR (in search of a Musical Form)’ (2012), Aisling Gheal (2013) & From Coolea to Iona (2014).