Celebrities become learners of an instrument used in Irish music, in this great series from TG4. Comedian Paddy Courtney gets lessons on playing the Bodhrán (Irish drums).




Clár ina dtugann pearsaí aitheanta faoi uirlis cheoil a chasadh. Rachaidh Paddy Courtney i mbun ceoil ar an mbodhrán os comhair an phobail in éineacht lena dheartháir Gerry, a bheidh ag seinm ar an bhfeadóg. Beidh an bheirt acu i mbun ceoil agus iad ag oscailt seó Paddy ar Shráid Vicar. Cuirtear tús leis an gclár i nDun Garbhán i gCo. Phort Láirge agus Paddy ag cur Danú, grúpa ceoil, os comhair an phobail. Téann sé féin agus Donnchadh, a mhúinteoir, chuig tigh Malachy Kearnes i gCloch na Rón chun bodhrán a fháil. Castar Joanie Madden, a bhíonn ag seinm na feadóige le Cherish the Ladies, an fidléir Jessie Smith, Colm Gannon a bhíonn ag seinm ar an mbosca ceoil agus Seosamh Ó Neachtain, damhsóir ar an sean-nós air ansin.

Paddy Courtney's first performance will to accompany on the Bodhrán his brother Gerry Courtney, who will be on the Whistle. They'll both perform as part of Paddy's first headline stand-up gig in Vicar Street. The programme begins in Dungarvan, County Waterford where Paddy introduces his mentor Donnchadh's group Danú onto the stage. Donnchadh brings Paddy to Malachy Kearnes in Roundstone to get his Bodhrán. There he meets Whistle player Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies, fiddler Jessie Smith, box player Colm Gannon and sean-nós dancer Seosamh Ó Neachtain.

" one of the rare programs I've ever seen about people learning ANYTHING as an adult that they weren't already skilled at - and showed the journey of the issues that come up about embarassment, self consciousness, finding the time, having a willing heart and soul but uncooperative body parts etc."

Directed by Conor Byrne The programs involve well known Irish people learning traditional instruments for the first time, and filming their progress, to the point where eventually they give a performance. In this nine-part series, eight celebrities embark on a journey to learn a musical instrument over a period of six months under the expert tuition of a renowned musician and each programme charts their trials and triumphs. Celebrities include the actor Jeremy Irons, footballer Andy Reid, actor Macdara Ó Fátharta, playwright Marie Jones and actor Adrian Dunbar.
TG4 is not only a great station for Irish speaking people, also for people from all over the world who love listening to Irish music they offer the chance of watching their program online on the internet. The whole program is in Irish, but they have English subtitles, and from time to time someone speaks English too, so normally it's no problem to follow the action, and of course the most important part of a music program is the music and then the language doesn't matter. TG4 - www.tg4.tv