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Last night TG4 broadcast a documentary about the life and music of singer and fluteplayer Eithne Ní Uallacháin.

It's sad, moving and beautiful to watch.

Eithne - Idir dhá Shaol

Sad indeed - depression is such an awful illness.

Mr.Gumby wrote:Last night TG4 broadcast a documentary about the life and music of singer and fluteplayer Eithne Ní Uallacháin.

It's sad, moving and beautiful to watch.

Eithne - Idir dhá Shaol

I watched the whole thing.

watched it last night, very sad but beautifully done. A special soul.

A beautiful program.
Thank you for sharing!

just to say a lady I know, from the church I sometimes go to, suffered from terrible depression. Three times she tried to kill herself. She went into hospital, they gave her electroshock treatment, which today is much more benign and less dramatic, medicated her until she was stable, and she's been happy and content ever since on a maintenance dose of meds. Been about two years of happy. I don't know what the state of the art was when the talented lady in the video died, but I do want to say there now seem to be a lot of more effective remedies. I've been there, too.

I am not sure focusing fully on the depression while not getting to the person and the music at all is the way to go for this thread. Anecdotal and second hand experience is perhaps even less helpful.

i am not sure the black dog sitting in the corner of the room earlier in the documentary was a deliberate reference to Dr Johnson's name for the disease. Whatever the way, and to go with the metaphor, it's not a beast you easily put out permanently once it has settled in its corner. Or as the film puts it, in a lot of cases you don't just pull yourself out of it. And that's well before even thinking of (the quality of ) help and facilities available. But enough of that. There is more to a person than just the disease.

We had the privilege of hearing La Lugh a few times here in southern Sweden. In the documentary it's mentioned that Eithne had an interest in Swedish and Norwegian folk music. I remember being very impressed by Ethane's singing and her flute playing.

Here's Eithne on flute, together with Gerry, Desi, and Robbie playing in a session setting, 1983.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGPOULYJBpI

Thanks for that Thomas, and a happy Christmas to yourself and Helena.

More here: Eithne Ní Uallacháin website

Thanks a Merry Xmas to you, Sanna, and Gus and a Happy new year too. First time I've seen Robbie with a whistle, thirty years ago though. La Lugh were one of the few Irish bands that came our way during the '90's (southern Sweden), Boys of the Lough, Reeltime with fiddler and singer Máirín Fahy

Peter, I agree with everything you said. There are implicit medical implications to the video, wanted to add some perspective for viewers who may suffer from, or know someone who suffers from, this disease. I believe the medical situation has become more hopeful and treatable since 1999. Specialists have more resources on several fronts. I couldn't agree more that there is more to anybody than her disease, doubly so this woman. Kind regards,
Jim Stone, Ph. D. medical ethics

I believe the medical situation has become more hopeful and treatable since 1999. Specialists have more resources on several fronts.

I could say things to that, resources or the lack of them in the Irish health care system, but as I said I don't think this is the place for it. Suffice to say I am not as optimistic as you are Jim. Eithne's singing though, that's balm for the soul.

Wonderful singing.

Last night TG4 repeated the program and followed it with Bilingua - Ceol Eithne Ní Uallacháin, a registration of a tribute concert celebrating Eithne ní Uallachan's music.