Kíla
Encyclopedia
Kíla are an Irish folk music/World music
group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish Language
secondary school, Coláiste Eoin
in Co. Dublin. Kila's blend of Irish traditional music and World Music with a modern rock sensibility is generally credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish folk music.
(fiddle), Rossa Ó Snodaigh (whistle, bones
), Rónán Ó Snodaigh
(bodhrán), Karl Odlum (bass), and David Odlum (guitar). Colm Ó Snodaigh
, the brother of Rónán and Rossa, joined the band before the first recordings were made. Rónán, Rossa, and Colm Snodaigh are sons of publisher Pádraig Ó Snodaigh
and artist Cliodna Cussen and are brothers of Irish TD
, Aengus Ó Snodaigh
.
In 1991, Colm Mac Con Iomaire
and Dave Odlum left Kíla to join The Frames
, an Irish rock band. In the same year, Dee Armstrong and Eoin O'Brien joined the band as replacements. Dave Reidy also joined as a lead guitarist, though he emigrated to San Francisco a year later. Karl was then replaced by Ed Kelly on bass who emigrated to Scotland a little over a year after the recording Mind the Gap in 1994. Eoin O'Brien was replaced by Lance Hogan. Laurence O Keefe filled in temporarily on bass until Brian Hogan assumed that position prior to recording Tóg É Go Bog É.
In 2009, Donegal guitarist Seanan Brennan joined the band to replace Lance who was on a sabbatical. He has remained with the band since then bringing an electric guitar to the line up for the first time since Eoin O'Brien was a member. He made his first appearance with Kíla in early January of that year on a televised version of Leath ina Dhiaidh a hOcht.
Kila have played at many festivals around the world, including Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, Electric Picnic
, Womadelaide
, Glastonbury
, Féile an Dóilín, St. Chartier and the Stockholm Water Festival. All members of the group participate in composing and arranging Kila's songs.
The band collaborated with French composer Bruno Coulais
on the soundtrack of The Secret of Kells, an animated film by the Irish studio Cartoon Saloon
. The film was nominated for best animated film at the 82nd Academy Awards
in 2010. That same year their music was heavily featured in two other feature films - Maeve Murphy's controversial "Beyond the Fire" and Ciarán O'Connor's Trafficked. Kila's music also features in the award winning documentary film "Fight or Flight"
.
The feature animated film that Kíla worked on, The Secret of Kells, was nominated for an Oscar and an Annie
award in 2010.
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish Language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
secondary school, Coláiste Eoin
Coláiste Eoin
Coláiste Eoin is an Irish language Catholic voluntary secondary Gaelscoil for boys, under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust located in Booterstown, County Dublin, Ireland. It prides itself in the Irish culture, having successful hurling and football teams, traditional music bands,...
in Co. Dublin. Kila's blend of Irish traditional music and World Music with a modern rock sensibility is generally credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish folk music.
Band history
The original lineup for the band was Eoin Dillon (uileann pipes), Colm Mac Con IomaireColm Mac Con Iomaire
Colm Mac Con Iomaire is from Blackrock, Co. Dublin. He plays violin and sings vocals with the Irish Rock group The Frames. Mac Con Iomaire has been involved with The Frames since 1990 and has been a member of the Swell Season since 2006 .Previously, Colm was a founder member of Irish folk group...
(fiddle), Rossa Ó Snodaigh (whistle, bones
Bones (instrument)
The bones are a musical instrument which, at the simplest, consists of a pair of animal bones, or pieces of wood or a similar material. Sections of large rib bones and lower leg bones are the most commonly used true bones, although wooden sticks shaped like the earlier true bones are now more...
), Rónán Ó Snodaigh
Rónán Ó Snodaigh
Rónán Ó Snodaigh is a musician, poet and vocalist from Dublin, Ireland. He is the lead vocalist in the musical group Kíla. He has released four albums to date, Playdays, Tonnta Ró, Tip Toe and The Last Mile Home...
(bodhrán), Karl Odlum (bass), and David Odlum (guitar). Colm Ó Snodaigh
Colm Ó Snodaigh
Colm Ó Snodaigh is a member of the traditional Irish folk group Kíla. Born in Dublin and reared on the south side of Dublin by Sandymount's sea, Colm is a native Irish speaker and was schooled at both Scoil Lorcáin and Coláiste Eoin...
, the brother of Rónán and Rossa, joined the band before the first recordings were made. Rónán, Rossa, and Colm Snodaigh are sons of publisher Pádraig Ó Snodaigh
Pádraig Ó Snodaigh
Pádraig Ó Snodaigh is an Irish language activist, poet, writer and publisher. He worked for the Irish Electricity Supply Board, and later in the National Museum of Ireland. He is a former president of Conradh na Gaeilge, the Gaelic League.From 1974 to 1977, he was the editor of Carn, the official...
and artist Cliodna Cussen and are brothers of Irish TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
, Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Aengus Ó Snodaigh is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency since May 2002, and is party spokesperson for Housing, Justice, Equality and Human Rights, and International Affairs.-Early and private life:A Dubliner and Irish language...
.
In 1991, Colm Mac Con Iomaire
Colm Mac Con Iomaire
Colm Mac Con Iomaire is from Blackrock, Co. Dublin. He plays violin and sings vocals with the Irish Rock group The Frames. Mac Con Iomaire has been involved with The Frames since 1990 and has been a member of the Swell Season since 2006 .Previously, Colm was a founder member of Irish folk group...
and Dave Odlum left Kíla to join The Frames
The Frames
The Frames are an Irish band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six albums...
, an Irish rock band. In the same year, Dee Armstrong and Eoin O'Brien joined the band as replacements. Dave Reidy also joined as a lead guitarist, though he emigrated to San Francisco a year later. Karl was then replaced by Ed Kelly on bass who emigrated to Scotland a little over a year after the recording Mind the Gap in 1994. Eoin O'Brien was replaced by Lance Hogan. Laurence O Keefe filled in temporarily on bass until Brian Hogan assumed that position prior to recording Tóg É Go Bog É.
In 2009, Donegal guitarist Seanan Brennan joined the band to replace Lance who was on a sabbatical. He has remained with the band since then bringing an electric guitar to the line up for the first time since Eoin O'Brien was a member. He made his first appearance with Kíla in early January of that year on a televised version of Leath ina Dhiaidh a hOcht.
Kila have played at many festivals around the world, including Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, Electric Picnic
Electric Picnic
The 2005 festival took place on Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September. It is best remembered for Arcade Fire's performance which came before their subsequent mainstream success...
, Womadelaide
WOMADelaide
WOMADelaide is an annual world music and dance festival, which was first held in 1992 in Botanic Park, Adelaide, South Australia as part of the WOMAD series of music festivals. WOMAD events are a showcase of different sorts of music, arts and dance. They encourage people to experience the music of...
, Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, Féile an Dóilín, St. Chartier and the Stockholm Water Festival. All members of the group participate in composing and arranging Kila's songs.
The band collaborated with French composer Bruno Coulais
Bruno Coulais
Bruno Coulais is a French composer, most widely known for his music on film soundtracks. He recently composed the score for the animated film, The Secret of Kells, released 12 March 2010.- Life and career :...
on the soundtrack of The Secret of Kells, an animated film by the Irish studio Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon is an Irish company which provides illustration, design, animation, film and TV services. The company is based in Kilkenny City. The company developed the successful cartoon series Skunk Fu!. Skunk Fu was nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award in October 2008. The company has...
. The film was nominated for best animated film at the 82nd Academy Awards
82nd Academy Awards
The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2009 and took place March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. The ceremony was scheduled well after...
in 2010. That same year their music was heavily featured in two other feature films - Maeve Murphy's controversial "Beyond the Fire" and Ciarán O'Connor's Trafficked. Kila's music also features in the award winning documentary film "Fight or Flight"
Fight or Flight (documentary)
Fight or Flight is a 2007 documentary film produced by Peter J McCarthy and directed by McCarthy and Shane Sutton. The film won "Best Foreign Documentary" at the Long Island Film Festival as well as "Best Documentary" at festivals in Hamburg, Toronto and California...
.
Current members
- Rossa Ó Snodaigh has performed at numerous drumming workshops, raves and dance classes and has recorded with many other bands. He plays many instruments but concentrates on percussion. He has organized the Irish language tent at the Electric Picnic and founded a Gaelscoil (Irish speaking national school) in his local area, Cluainín Uí Ruairc/Manorhamilton. He also set up the Speaker’s Square in Dublin’s Temple Bar area.
- Rónán Ó SnodaighRónán Ó SnodaighRónán Ó Snodaigh is a musician, poet and vocalist from Dublin, Ireland. He is the lead vocalist in the musical group Kíla. He has released four albums to date, Playdays, Tonnta Ró, Tip Toe and The Last Mile Home...
continues to develop his bodhrán playing. He toured with Dead Can DanceDead Can DanceDead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
in the 1990s. Since DCD's Spiritchaser tour in 1996, he has focused his energies on Kíla and his solo work. He released his fifth solo album in ten years in 2010, Water Off a Duck's Back. His latest book of poetry, "The Garden Wars", was published in 2007. In 2010, he composed the background music for two episodes of RTÉ's 4-part documentary, "The Eagles Return". - Colm Ó SnodaighColm Ó SnodaighColm Ó Snodaigh is a member of the traditional Irish folk group Kíla. Born in Dublin and reared on the south side of Dublin by Sandymount's sea, Colm is a native Irish speaker and was schooled at both Scoil Lorcáin and Coláiste Eoin...
joined the band in 1988, on the occasion of Kíla's first festival appearance, at the European Youth Music FestivalEuropean Youth Music FestivalThe European Youth Music Festival is a music festival held annually in Europe. The 9th festival in 2007 was held in Budapest, Hungary, the 10th to take place in Linz, Austria in 2009l- External links :* , 2007.* , 2009.* , 2012...
, held in BonnBonnBonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Giving (2007), a follow-up to his first solo album, Éist (1990) was described by Hot Press as a work of "true beauty" and featured contributions from Hot House FlowersHot House FlowersHot House Flowers is an illustrated, allegorical children's book written and self-published by Brooklyn criminal court judge John H. Wilson, which compares illegal immigration to dandelions which overrun a greenhouse....
, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin, saxophonist Richie Buckley and rising star Lisa HanniganLisa HanniganLisa Margaret Hannigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. For several years she was a member of Damien Rice's band before beginning her solo career in 2008. She has been the recipient of various award nominations and critical praise both in Ireland and the USA...
. His first novella was published in 2007. He translated a children's book in 2008. He is currently working on a book about civil disobedience and on his next solo album, which is scheduled for release in 2011. - Dee Armstrong is a daughter of classical musicians Gillian and Lindsey Armstrong. She has illustrated a number of book covers, designed sets for plays and has worked with street theater company Macnas. Dee has recorded with other musical artists (Bobbie Lee, The Clay Dolls) and is currently working on a solo album scheduled for release in 2011.
- Eoin Dillon is a piper with a unique style. Originally a cabinet maker, he taught woodwork on Tory Island before embarking on an apprenticeship with pipe maker Cillian Ó Briain. He is a composer and a Dublin music session organizer. Eoin has released 2 albums of his own, The Third Twin (2005) and The Golden Mean (2010).
- Seanan Brennan, a native of Rossnaulagh, is a guitarist and mandola player, formerly a member of the groups Boxty and Georgia. During his days off he serves tea and bakes cakes in his mother's tea shop in Rossnaulagh.
- Lance Hogan was born in Limerick in 1969 and grew up in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. He is a music producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. He has toured with Dead Can Dance and has worked with U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and Oscar winning director Neil Jordan. In the studio he has produced five gold albums and one platinum album. He recently produced the Trouble Makers' remake of the Horslips' song "Trouble With A Capital T" for a music TV Series "The Raw Sessions". The song was also released as a single with all profits going to the Irish Youth Foundation charity. Lance's most recent composition work was for the Finnish feature film "Lapland Odyssey". - Brian Hogan followed his brother Lance into the band in 1996 having guested with Kila in a tour of the southwest of Ireland in December 1993. Brian has toured and recorded with several bands such as the Eurostar Band. He has illustrated a number of books, including Rossa's "Joy of Pissing", and has recently been designing sleeves for CD's. His side project band Preachers Son released their first single "X for Sandra" in March 2010. He is currently working on a solo album. Brian and Lance are sons of folk singer Larry Hogan and artist Róisín Daly.
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Albums as Kíla
- Groovin' - 8-track cassette (1991)
- Handel's Fantasy (1993)
- Mind the Gap (1995)
- Tóg É Go Bog É (1997)
- Lemonade & Buns (2000)
- Live in Vicar St. (2000)
- Monkey - soundtrack to West End pantomime (2002)
- Luna Park (2003)
- Live in Dublin (2004)
- Best of & Live in Dublin (double album) - Japan only (2005)
- Another Beat - remixed Kíla tracks by Japanese artists - Japan only (2006)
- Kíla & Oki - with OkiOki-Places:*Oki District, Shimane - the Oki Islands in Japan, formerly Oki Province*Oki, Fukuoka - a town in southern Japan*Oki Islands - a group of islands in the Sea of Japan*Oki Airport - The airport serving the Oki Islands...
(2006) - Gamblers' BalletGamblers' BalletGamblers' Ballet is a 2007 album by the Irish folk band Kíla. It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2007. The opening track Leath Ina Dhiaidh A hOcht/Half Eight was the first single taken from the album.- Track listing :...
(2007) - The Secret of Kells - film soundtrack, with Bruno CoulaisBruno CoulaisBruno Coulais is a French composer, most widely known for his music on film soundtracks. He recently composed the score for the animated film, The Secret of Kells, released 12 March 2010.- Life and career :...
(2009) - Rogha - The Best Of (2009) - a 2-CD collection
- Soisín (2010)
Singles as Kíla
- Ón Taobh Tuathail Amach (1997)
- Tóg é go Bog é - Live Christmas single (2002)
- Glanfaidh Mé - radio edit (2003)
- An Tiománaí - with Heatwave (2005)
- Tóg é go Bog é - with OkiOki-Places:*Oki District, Shimane - the Oki Islands in Japan, formerly Oki Province*Oki, Fukuoka - a town in southern Japan*Oki Islands - a group of islands in the Sea of Japan*Oki Airport - The airport serving the Oki Islands...
(2005) - hAon Dó & Ní Liom Féin - with Oki - radio edits (2006)
- Half Eight/Leath ina dhiaidh a hOcht - radio edit (2007)
- Cabhraigí Léi/Nothing Changes Around Here - Remixes with The ThrillsThe ThrillsThe Thrills are an Irish rock band, formed in 2001 in Dublin, Ireland. The band was founded by lead vocalist Conor Deasy and guitarist Daniel Ryan, guitarist and bass player Padraic McMahon, pianist Kevin Horan and drummer Ben Carrigan. Their big break came with their debut album, So Much for the...
giveaway with Hot PressHot PressHot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
(2007) - The Ballad of Ronnie DrewThe Ballad of Ronnie Drew"The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" is a single by U2, The Dubliners, Kíla, and "A Band of Bowsies". The single was recorded as a charitable project, with proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society - owing to Ronnie Drew's condition of cancer. It was recorded at Windmill Lane on 14 and 15 January 2008...
- with U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, The DublinersThe DublinersThe Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
& A Band of Bowsies (2008) - Cardinal Knowledge - radio edit (2009)
Solo
- Éist - Colm Ó Snodaigh (1990)
- Tip Toe - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2001)
- Tonnta Ró - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2003)
- The Playdays - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2004)
- The Third Twin - Eoin Dillon (2005)
- The Last Mile Home - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2007)
- Giving - Colm Ó Snodaigh (2007)
- The Golden Mean - Eoin Dillon, Steve Larkin, Des Cahalan & Frank Tate (2010)
- Water Off a Duck's Back - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2011)
- Love, Life & Limb - Preachers Son (Brian Hogan) (2011)
DVDs as Kíla
- Live in Vicar St - bonus dvd with Luna Park (2003)
- Kíla 'Once Upon a Time' - Concert Film filmed in Vicar St Dublin (2008)
Books
- Turasóireacht (short stories) - Colm Ó Snodaigh (1995)
- Luascadán (collection of Rónán's song lyrics in Irish) - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2004)
- Songs (collection of Rónán's song lyrics in English) - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2004)
- The Joy of Pissing (humorous insights into pissing) - Rossa Ó Snodaigh aka Professor Jimmy Riddle & illustrated by Brian Hogan (2006)
- Pat The Pipe - Píobaire (novella) - Colm Ó Snodaigh (2007)
- The Garden Wars (poetry) - Rónán Ó Snodaigh (2007)
- Céal & an Buachaill Gorm (children's story) - Sandy Fitzgerald - translated to Irish Colm Ó Snodaigh (2008)
- Cliúsaíocht as Gaeilge/ Making Out in Irish (Phrase book) - Rossa Ó Snodaigh (2010)
Trivia
The band's first gig was upstairs in the Baggott Inn, Dublin, a gig that was attended by three people.The feature animated film that Kíla worked on, The Secret of Kells, was nominated for an Oscar and an Annie
Annie Award
The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
award in 2010.
External links
- Kila.ie, Kíla's official website.
- IrishMusicDB information
- Musical Rooms Part 13; Kíla, by Sinéad Gleeson, February 18th, 2008
- Ón Taobh tuathail Amach & The Dream I Haven't Showed Her, Rónán Ó Snodaigh performance on Other VoicesOther Voices (television)Other Voices is a music television show broadcast on RTÉ Two in Ireland, usually on a Wednesday night. It features live performances & interviews from many Irish and international musicians. Filming of the live performances is usually in the intimate setting of the 200 year-old Church of St James...
RTÉ 2002 - Review of Kíla & Oki by Jamie Rowland, Pennyblackmusic, March 2007
- Review of Kíla at The Electric Picnic 2008 by Jan Ní fhlanagáin, Cluas.com, September 2008
- Excerpt of an article about Kíla by Donald Mahoney 2007
- Article on Kíla by Martin Murphy in The Epoch TimesThe Epoch TimesThe Epoch Times is a multi-language, international media organisation. As a newspaper, the Times has been publishing in Chinese since May 2000. It was founded in 1999 by supporters of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline....
Sept 2007. - Article by Nadine O Regan about Kíla & Oki in The Sunday Business PostThe Sunday Business PostThe Sunday Business Post is an Irish national Sunday newspaper published by Post Publications Limited. Post Publications is owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Ireland, the average weekly circulation was 57,783 for the period January to June 2009. The...
13 August 2006. - Kíla concert review by Neil King in September 2009.
- Kíla concert preview by Roger levesque in The Edmonton Journal in August 2011.