Father and son embark on the trip of a lifetime
Renowned Kerry traditional musicians, father and son Breanndán and Cormac Ó Beaglaoich, travel up the west coast of Ireland from Kerry to Donegal in their 40-year-old camper van, Beauty, on a journey of musical discovery.
It's all captured in a new six-part traditional music series on TG4, entitled Slí na mBeaglaoich, which starts from Sunday, April 26 (9.30 p.m.).
On the journey, Breanndán and Cormac meet with friends old and new, traditional musicians and artists as they embark on a trip of a lifetime.
In what will be an eye-opening journey, they will unearth some of the most exciting musicians, singers and dancers of the Wild Atlantic Way. They will dig deep to explore the traditional music of all the regions they visit, showcasing exciting new talent as well as celebrating established musicians who embody the tradition of their county.
Their journey will take them through Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo before finally reaching their ancestral home of Donegal.
Oliver Award nominee Cormac Begley and his father, traditional music legend Breanndán, who is known for his spirit for adventure most recently seen in award-winning documentary Camino Voyage, live for their music, but this is not only a musical journey but a personal one too. They have a unique relationship as a father and son who both share the same passion.
Young and old, they bring a musician’s perspective to the telling of the tale of the traditional music of Ireland’s western coastline. Along the way they take in all the great sights, experience some mishaps, enjoy plenty of laughs, and their camper van, Beauty, has her own issues, as together they explore what defines the music of the west coast and each other.
“When Cormac asked me to do this project with him, to travel across Ireland meeting with musicians and artists and all sorts of people, that’s something different entirely,” said Breanndán, “So I am hopeful that we’ll spend time together to talk to each other, and maybe a few things will come out about me that he didn’t know and maybe something from his perspective that I didn’t know until now.”
Cormac stated: “My father was my first teacher; he encouraged me to do my own thing and to be honest with my music and emotions. He’s a unique individual and I’m looking forward to spending this special time together, expressing ourselves through our music and getting to know each other better as adults.”
This series will sate the appetite of any traditional music lover with familiar, fun characters at the helm, enjoying a road trip through some of the most musical areas in the country with a wide variety of fantastic and inspiring music in the line-up throughout.
Episode one sees the pair set off on their trip from their home place and Breanndán’s famous house on wheels in Baile na bPoc, Co. Kerry, and they continue to explore thier native county, meeting many fine musicians along the way, before boarding the ferry across the River Shannon to Co. Clare.