Main pic: The late Pauline Hanly (n\u00e9e Sweeney) pictured in the early 1980s.<\/p>\n
A renowned Donegal sean-n\u00f3s singer will be remembered this weekend at the official launch of the Roscommon County Fleadh.<\/strong><\/p>\n Pauline Sweeney-Hanly (63), who was a native of Killygordon, passed away in June, 2014.<\/p>\n Originally from The Curragh, she moved to County Roscommon in the early 1970s after marrying the well-known flautist, Patsy Hanly. The couple met while touring the US with the Irish traditional music organisation, Comhaltas Ceolt\u00f3ir\u00ed \u00c9ireann (CCE).<\/p>\n Pauline will receive a posthumous Gradam award from CC\u00c9 Bhaile Ros Com\u00e1in at the launch of their county fleadh on Sunday for \u201cher wonderful contribution to traditional singing in the area\u201d, the organisers said. The event will take place in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon Town, at 5pm, where songs by her family and friends will be performed.<\/p>\n A spokesperson Roscommon CCE described the late Ms Hanly as \u2018the voice of Donegal and the soul of se\u00e1n n\u00f3s\u2019 singing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe art of se\u00e1n n\u00f3s (\u2018old style\u2019 singing) is not merely about a beautiful voice; it is about channelling history, language, and landscape into a single, raw performance. Few embodied this truth as completely and with such genuine humility as Pauline,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cAn All-Ireland champion, a dedicated mentor, and a beloved figure in the traditional music community, her contribution to this uniquely Irish art form continues to resonate, long after her passing.<\/p>\n \u201cBorn with the clear sound of her native Donegal in her accent, Pauline\u2019s style was profoundly influenced by her local heritage. While recognised by her peers as a great singer, she always considered her voice secondary to the narrative. Her artistry lay in her profound attention to the lyrics, striving always to convey the story\u2019s true meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n Pauline\u2019s mastery was formally recognised with an impressive streak of competitive success, earning her the All-Ireland title three years running in 1978, 1979, and 1980.<\/p>\n \u201cThese victories cemented her place in the history of Irish music, yet her truest legacy lies not in the trophies she won, but in the talent she nurtured,\u201d the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n A cherished anecdote tells of a late-night session and lock-in in Doughill, Roscommon, in the early 1980s. When the Garda\u00ed arrived, Pauline simply kept singing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey (guards) made no move to stop her, perhaps held captive by the sheer power of her voice, a Donegal accent weaving its magic into the early morning air\u2014a beautiful testament to how her art could transcend the political and the mundane.\u201d<\/p>\n