Craic On

Colaiste Lurgan have once again surpassed themselves with an unbelievable musical cover ‘as Gaeilge’. Some of their past covers have included Sia’s Chandelier, Hozier’s Someone New and Adele’s Hello. But now they have gone a step further with our very own Michaela Ní Loingsigh-Ní Ghráinne.
Hailing from Ardmore here in the village, Michaela, aged just 19, featured on Tuesday night this week on TG4 singing solo, For You by Gavin James, which she translated into Irish herself.
Michaela is one of the cúntóirí from Colaiste Lurgan and simply excels in this performance. ‘Her.ie’ referred to Michaela yesterday in a post saying, “her voice is absolutely stunning as she sings the song.”
Gavin James himself tweeted in reference to the performance, “so good.”
So just how does it feel to have oneself all the way from the wee village of Muff go viral with such talent? Michaela’s Mum told me last night:
“I rang her tonight ….and asked her what is it like being famous – she simply said: ‘haha mammy.’
I asked her what she was doing at that particular time – printing off work for primary school teaching practice that starts next week…and getting ready to go to Killarney for an Irish speaking weekend…She’s going with the Cuman Gaelige from Mary Immaculate college.”
Michaela is very proud of her national language and is giving her weekend to speaking Irish and meeting up with others from all over Ireland who have the same love of the language. She’s a real credit to her village and indeed to her country.
Her mother Ethel continued: “It all started in Scoil Naomh Brid here in Muff. She always credited Mrs Anne Gallaghers verb list and her love of the language for her vocation now with that same language. After 2nd year in Moville Community College, she went to Ranafast. During 3rd year in school, she watched the band Seo Linn perform the hit “Avici” on the Late late show with all the students from Colaiste Lurgan in Spideal in Galway. She said that night, ‘thats where I’m going’ …so year upon year she has returned there – working and saving hard all year to get”.
Colaiste Lurgan is a college in Co. Galway where hundreds of teenagers attend Irish courses all summer. They are totally immersed in the national language and their sole purpose is to promote the national language. Ethel continued: “It was through Colaiste Lurgan that Michaela performed live on TG4 with other students from the Fleadh in Sligo last year, Then shortly after this she appeared on “Up for the Match” with the band Seo Linn. Their manager Troy Armour has links to Buncrana and in turn the band put on a gig in the Plaza last year. Michaela spent this past summer working in Colaiste Lurgan as a Cúntóir. She wears her Fáinne (gold emblem of an Irish speaker) with pride.”
“Michaela started learning guitar aged just 7 with local music teacher Roisin Brogan. She completed her vocal training and voice grades with Diana McLaughlin school of music in Burnfoot and studied music theory for her leaving cert with local teacher Eoghan Johnston, who runs Inishowen Music Academy in Inch.”
Michaela may be modest in her reaction to the feedback her performance on television has produced but it is exactly this modesty which is leaving us all wanting to hear more.
I firmly believe we are just witnessing the beginning of this very promising member of our community and wish her every success in everything she does.
Our national language can sometimes appear to get lost amongst our current English tongue. But thanks to places like Colaiste Lurgan and young folk like Michaela our national language, one I am very proud of, is coming fast to the fore once more. Go raibh míle maith agat Michaela agus a chairde.
Do anois, ‘Go leor de luck agus amhránaíocht choinneáil’.
Michaela can be seen and heard performing Tuesday night last on TV here: Michaela ag casadh “For You” le Gavin James

GMcC