Ahead of the release of a new Brendan Gleeson documentary, we catch up with the film’s director – musician and filmmaker Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.
Many know Brendan Gleeson from collaborations with Martin McDonagh – including In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin – his turn as Mad-Eye Moody in the Harry Potter series, and other excellent film roles.
In a new project, Gleeson will combine his love of film with another passion of his – traditional Irish music.
Ahead of the premiere of Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’s at this year’s Dublin International Film Festival, we spoke to the film’s director, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, about the project, the cultural importance of Irish pubs, and his life in music.
The film – an ode to a classic Dublin pub
As the trailer for Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’s says, Hughes’s was “not just any old pub”. In fact, it played an “iconic role […] in traditional music, song, and dance in Dublin”.
Indeed, the Chancery Street pub was a hub for traditional Irish music for more than 35 years before its closure a few years ago.
“It was the place to go to for tunes in Dublin,” said Ó Maonaigh. “I used to frequent it when I lived there in the early 2000s, at the weekend especially.
“Sunday nights stood out to me. I’d go to The Cobblestone from 7-9 pm as there was a lovely tune there and then around the corner to Hughes’s for 9:30 pm, and the tunes were always magic. I really miss it”.
The film sees Irish actor and musician Gleeson – “well able to play, on multiple instruments” – return to Hughes’s to celebrate its legacy.
Director Ó Maonaigh came on board at the behest of Gleeson and Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) director Liam O’Connor after having directed the last five seasons of TG4’s ‘Se Mo Laoch – a series of hour-long documentaries about Irish musical heroes.
The importance of pubs like Hughes’s – “crucial” to the proliferation of traditional Irish music
As anyone who has set foot in an Irish pub will attest, traditional Irish music is an integral part of the culture. This is obvious. Perhaps less apparent, though, is the codependent nature of the relationship.
Traditional Irish pubs, however, are “crucial” to the proliferation of traditional Irish music and, indeed, other elements of Irish culture.
“The pub is neutral ground. A place to go, enjoy yourself and mingle with mates. Good music pubs like Hughes’s are hard to come by. Places that respect the music and foster a safe place to congregate and play,” Ó Maonaigh told us.
“To be able to sit down with someone and play tunes, meet people – old friends, musical heroes, musicians you are meeting for the first time – in a nice convivial atmosphere is a real pleasure!”.
In the absence of Hughes’s, we asked Ó Maonaigh his favourite spots for live music in the capital and further afield.
“I enjoy the odd tune in The Pipers Corner when I’m there [Dublin]. The Cobblestone always has tunes going, although when I’m there, I’m usually chatting to friends.
“I love Hudí Beags, my local in Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal. I’m so lucky to have one of the storied Irish music pubs and Irish language pubs of Ireland on my doorstep and that the music is so appreciated there”.
Ciarán Ó Maonaigh – director and musician
Ó Maonaigh is a man of many talents. As mentioned, he directed the last five seasons of ‘Se Mo Laoch for TG4, and he is also continuously on the lookout for other film and television projects that “dovetail” with and “feed” his “musical inquisitiveness”.
This is because he is also a renowned musician. In keeping with the collaborative nature of Irish traditional music, Ó Maonaigh’s expert fiddle playing is accompanied by a concertina, played excellently by his wife, Caitlín Nic Gabhann.
Ó Maonaigh and Nic Gabhann have also collaborated on a series of projects with many of the island’s best musicians.
You can catch the pair at a host of festivals and summer school appearances this summer. Aspiring musicians should also check out Nic Gabhann’s websites, focused on teaching her beloved concertina and other traditional Irish instruments.
Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’s premieres at the Dublin International Film Festival on Friday, 1 March. Get more information here.
