Passing on the Songs

Passing on the Songs is a beautiful concept, rooted in the oral tradition of passing music and song onto the next generation, a vital and somewhat fragile but ultimately powerful act. 

Thomas McCarthy is a renowned Traveller singer, an artist who has brought Traveller music, particularly songs never written down but central to Traveller Culture across generations, to the general public, other musicians and academic institutions. Thomas came to national fame through TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award, and an acclaimed documentary on his life and work. 

Over Autumn 2023, in partnership with the Cork Traveller Women’s Network, the families, and Triskel, Thomas has been able to create the space and time to work directly with young people from the Traveller Community, each of them talented singers and performers, and teach them the songs, using the oral tradition, spending time with each young person, transmitting the music directly. The culmination of this time will be a live performance by Thomas and guests on the Triskel stage.