Eibhlin Ní Dhochartaigh retiring and celebrating the success of Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin

The rafters were ringing in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin at the Imbolc event: ‘Gach Rath agus Bláth - A Session for Eibhlín’.

Held in honour of Eibhlín Ní Dhochartaigh, the seisíun on Saturday celebrated her work and legacy while wishing her all the best for the future.

Eibhlín, a key figure in the development of Traditional Irish culture in Derry and across the north-west has recently retired as Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin’s arts director.

Speaking to The Derry News, Eibhlín explained Cultúrlann has a number of independently funded projects which contribute to the overall ethos of the organisation: the Irish language Coláiste an Phobail, Club Óige Setanta, Droichead cross-community project, and the Arts project, which also encompasses An t-Acadamh Ceoil Chaoimhín Uí Dhochartaigh.

Reflecting on how her Cultúrlann journey began, Eibhlín said she had been a volunteer for the first 20 years then employed for another 20.

“As a volunteer I was and still am a member of the Derry branch of Comhaltas, which was set up in 1972 by the late Paddy Rice, the proprietor of Quaver Records in Carlisle Road,” recalled Eibhlín.

“Quaver Records was the hub at that time, and Paddy set up the branch and we all got involved in it and then it just kind of evolved from there. We didn’t have a base as such. We had classes in various places before ending up in Pilots Row,” she added.

“I have very fond memories of Pilots Row, great memories and every Tuesday night, we took every room, every hall was given over to us for our classes. It was a great resource, a great example of a good community resource, and the staff and the management were great. We were there for a number of years until we moved to An Cultúrlann, which opened in 2009.

“My partner Caoimhin (Ó Dochartaigh) and I worked together on all of the projects up until he died. Caoimhin died in 2009 so he never got to see An Cultúrlann open because he was in hospital at the time.

“I have to say, I think An Cultúrlann has now become what it set out to be. It has become a cultural hub. It is a place where people come to learn Irish, to learn music or to just sit in the café (Crann Beatha). There are also all sorts of conversation circles.

“So it is now at a point where it is what it should be, I believe, and it is probably timely for me to have taken that decision to step out. I had thought about this anyway because succession planning is very important. I think you have to, with your vision and planning, then take a step back and let that evolve and let new people take it forward. That’s the way it should be,” smiled Eibhlín.

“I am away passed retirement age,” she laughed. “I am 75 this year.

“Covid came and went and in An Cultúrlann, like everywhere else, the dynamics changed, and this sort of environment and organisation needs people. The way people worked changed as well, so it took. I stayed on but instead of succession planning, it was making sure that everything was stable,” said Eibhlín.

“It took a while to get over all the obstacles but now An Cultúrlann is where it should be and I am happy now to step out,” she added.

“But I find it really strange when people congratulate me on retiring. This hasn’t ever felt like a job where you couldn’t wait to retire. It has been a lifetime, part of my life.

“And you kind of forget the major events we’ve had in Derry. We had An tOireachtas in 2006, and Féile Pan Cheilteach (Pan Celtic Festival) in 2014 and 2015. We also also had ‘Coming Home: Art and the Great Hunger’ (An Gorta Mór) in 2019, and of course Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2013, which I think will be great in Belfast this year,” said Eibhlín.

Born and bred in Derry’s Nelson Street, where Glenfada Park now stands, Eibhlín’s interest in all things Trad began with her and Caoimhin’s interest in Folk music.

“Caoimhin was a big Bob Dylan fan. We got interested then in Irish folk music-and from that progressed into really getting into the Comhaltas branch,” she reminisced.

“He was a self-taught musician. He was a really good bouzouki player. The guitar was is first instrument and the fiddle after that.

“So, we got really into the Comhaltas branch and involved the young people learning music and then Caoimhin started teaching music as well, along with musicians and dancers including piper Finbar McLaughlin, Buncrana’s Dinny McLaughlin, Martin McGinley, and Frankie Roddy, with his great interest in set dancing,” said Eibhlín, who was one of the pioneers of Irish-medium education in Derry, again along with Caoimhin.

“There were a few meetings and we decided to send our younger child to Bunscoil Cholmcille in Steelstown,’ recalled Eibhlín.

“We were one of a number of non-Irish speaking families that got behind it. We also campaigned for ages for school transport to Bunscoil because a lot of those children were coming from all over Derry. We ended up giving up that battle but I got a grant from Children in Need, about £790 or something and we bought a minibus,” she added and Caoimhin drove it and one of the parents, Tommy Mooney, put a lovely design on its side.

Eibhlín said the development she was proudest of was An t-Acadamh Ceoil Chaoimhín Uí Dhochartaigh, adjoining An Cultúrlann.

“The next generation is being looked after. We have fantastic young musicians, on another level. We are going forward with brilliant young Gaeilgeorí.

“We are in the place we wanted to be a number of years ago. I think it is great to see.

“What I am happiest about is the engagement of young musicians. The talent is unbelievable. It is in a really, really great place. And we always remember the people who have gone before and were part of that.

“In terms of my time at An Cultúrlann, I wouldn’t change one thing. It’s been wonderful.”