Cara sa Cheol
Cara sa Cheol: A six-part music documentary series
Cara sa Cheol (“a friend in music”) celebrates creative collaboration between Irish-language, New Irish, and immigrant-background musicians.
Across six episodes, artists with diverse cultural roots—including Irish, Nigerian, Zimbabwean, Iranian, Palestinian, Ukrainian, and Ethiopian heritage—immerse themselves in each other’s communities, sharing everyday life, local customs, and personal stories while exploring each other’s musical worlds. They blend tradition, contemporary sounds, and experiences of identity, migration, and resilience.
Through rehearsals, improvisation, and live performances, the series showcases innovative compositions and vibrant concerts, highlighting the power of music to connect communities and celebrate cultural diversity.
Tosaíonn gach eipeasóid le ceoltóir lánGhaeilge ag tabhairt cuairte ar phobal a gcomhpháirtí, áit a gcasann siad le teaghlach agus cairde, glacann siad páirt i nósanna agus traidisiúin áitiúla, agus iniúchann siad scéalta pearsanta faoi imirce, féiniúlacht agus ceangal le pobail. Ansin, tugann na healaíontóirí comhpháirteacha aird ar shaol an cheoil lánGhaeilge—ag freastal ar sheisiúin thraidisiúnta, ceolchoirmeacha agus imeachtaí cultúrtha—ag cur le meas, tuiscint agus comhluadar idir cultúir.
Collaboration 1
Shahab Coohe & Séamas Hyland
Shahab Coohe, Iranian-born composer and performer, blends Persian classical music with contemporary improvisation.
Seamas Hyland, a multi-instrumentalist and set dancer from West Waterford, draws on Irish traditional music and the session scene. Together, they create a vibrant dialogue between Persian and Irish musical traditions.
Collaboration 2
Cáit Ní Riain & Toshín Bankole
Cáit Ní Riain, traditional singer and folklorist, combines her deep knowledge of Irish music with Toshín Bankole’s powerhouse Nigerian-Irish soul vocals. Their collaboration bridges continents and genres, uniting tradition with contemporary soul and R&B.
Collaboration 3
GodKnows & Caoimhín
Zimbabwean-Irish rapper GodKnows, founding member of Rusangano Family, pairs with Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Caoimhín Mac Uaid. Their collaboration fuses sharp lyrical storytelling with inventive, genre-defying production.
Collaboration 4
Catríona Ní Ghribín & Sarraj Alsersawi
Donegal singer and accordionist Catríona Ní Ghribín joins Gaza-born oud player Sarraj Alsersawi. Together, they blend voice, accordion, and oud, creating performances that honour tradition while embracing fresh creative energy.
Collaboration 5
Olesya Zdorovetska & Aoife Ní Bhriain
Violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain performs alongside Ukrainian-born singer and composer Olesya Zdorovetska. Their collaboration merges virtuosic violin with expressive vocal storytelling, weaving Irish and Eastern European musical traditions.
Collaboration 6
Ciara Ní É & Dara Abdurahman
Award-winning poet and playwright Ciara Ní É pairs with Irish bassist of Ethiopian heritage Dara Abdurahman. Together, they combine spoken word with live music, creating performances that are both thought-provoking and sonically compelling.
About the Project
Cara sa Cheol is a Setanta Films production, directed by Feilimí O’Connor, series produced by Aisling Ní Fhlaithearta, with Doireann Ní Ghlacain as music producer. The series is funded by Coimisiún na Meán and TG4.
For further information or interview requests, please contact info@setanta-films.com or visit www.tg4.ie
Is léiriú de chuid Setanta Films é Cara sa Cheol, faoi stiúir Feilimí Uí Chonchúir, agus tá an tsraith léirithe ag Aisling Ní Fhlaithearta, le Doireann Ní Ghlacáin mar léiritheoir ceoil. Maoinithe ag Coimisiún na Meán agus TG4 an tsraith.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais nó iarratais agallaimh, déan teagmháil le info@setanta-films.com nó tabhair cuairt ar www.tg4.ie.
