When Máire Úna Ní Bheaglaoich’s daughters left their home in the west Kerry Gaeltacht and moved to Dublin, Máire didn’t fancy staying put in their small village. So in 1986, she came and joined them – and she’s lived in the city ever since.
Even after more than 30 years in the capital, it’s obvious that the music, culture and language of her home is as important as ever to Máire. She spends her days playing traditional music in an alley just off Grafton St, entertaining tourists and locals alike with the sound and songs of her button accordion. She also shows us an array of badges featuring the work of her daughter, artist Siobhán Begley.
“With the regulars, we have a general chat about life and their state of health,” she says. “And when people are from abroad I ask them where they're from and give them a badge. We have all sorts of conversations here – we save the world and everything else!”
After more than three decades of playing music for Grafton St’s shoppers, Máire says she’s developed a keen eye. “You see everything, really,” she says. “You see attempted robberies and send a text to somebody, quick. I hope I have prevented a few things like that. It's like being a detective.”
Máire is happy to see a wide range of musicians playing in the area, though she’s not so keen on the amplifiers that tend to drown out her traditional acoustic instruments. And she thinks there should be more support for our own language and culture. “The Irish language is the most important thing in the world for us at the moment,” she says, “to give us back our spirituality and our independence.”
As for Irish people who disparage the language or fail to see the point in promoting their mother tongue? “That's not nice,” she says firmly. “That's not respecting your mother.”
Máire’s gives us her final thoughts in Irish – Dublin is “ breá – fine, cordúil – friendly, agus compordach – comfortable!”
.png?w=600)
