Though she’s steeped in pride to be Irish, as Patrick Kielty would put it, many will be shocked to find out that Imelda May is only starting her journey to learn Gaeilge.
The Dublin native, who hails from The Liberties, appeared on the Late Late Show to share her personal journey about reconnecting with the Irish language, many moons after leaving school and putting it to the back of her mind.
The singer’s new TV series, Imelda May: Amhráin na nGael, sees her explore Ireland’s rich cultural heritage through traditional music, trying her hand at some sean-nós along the way.
Imelda May pictured speaking with Patrick Kielty on The Late Late Show. Pic: Andres Poveda
Of course, Imelda couldn’t leave the RTÉ studio without showcasing her newfound skills, and performed an ‘absolutely beautiful’ Irish song for the in-studio audience and viewers at home.
The praise was heaped on the singer, 51, with one Instagram user writing: ‘Gives me goosebumps!!! Wow!!! What a voice!!!,’ as another said: ‘Iontach maith, Imelda. Galanta.’
Elsewhere, Imelda received the height of praise in a comment that read: ‘Omg, not only has she an amazing voice, she is a beautiful person and absolutely stunning… a triple threat.’
Ruth Bradley and Imelda May with host Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show. Pic: Instagram
‘There’s a lot of people like me who feel a little left behind, and you don’t know how to start [learning Gaeilge],’ Imelda told Patrick of her journey.
‘I wanted to do this for me, and for everyone else that feels the same, and put myself in that really awkward, embarrassed, mortified position that you’re 10 years old in school again.’
Imelda May pictured speaking with Patrick Kielty on The Late Late Show. Pic: Andres Poveda
‘And trying to get over that fear. There’s a fear, isn’t there?,’ Patrick prompted, to which the singer replied: ‘There’s fear, there’s shame, and while I was [on this journey] I realised it’s not my fault, it’s not your fault, it’s not our fault that we don’t speak Irish. It was taken from us.
‘I didn’t wake up and learn to speak Irish as a child, and that’s not my fault. That’s what paved the way forward,’ Imelda, who is also dipping her toe into the world of acting, concluded.