The Sounds of Grief

Michelle Collins veiled for an art installation on keening

The Sounds of Grief is a 40-minute documentary funded by the BAI’s Sound & Vision scheme telling the story of one of our most infamous and persistent traditions – caoineadh/keening – the Irish funeral cry. Presented by Traditional Arts researcher and Sound Art practitioner Michelle Collins, the programme features contributions from: James Wilce, author of Crying Shame; Emeritus Professor of Irish-language studies at UCD, Angela Bourke; sean nós singer Sara Grealish; Reverend Cait Brannigan, who leads Keening ceremonies in Ireland today; and retired priest Fr Eddie O Conghaile.

Woven throughout the programme is a rich soundtrack of Irish and international music of grief.

The programme was broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm on 29 January 2016.