By Dan Walsh at Wexford Library
Traditional singer, songwriter and composer Aileen Lambert was awarded the Commemorations Artist Bursary 2024 from Wexford County Council earlier this year and last night in Wexford Library she presented an evening of ‘New Songs’.
Aileen shared songs which she has written which attempt to tell the story of ordinary people’s lives and experiences around the time of the formation of the Irish Free State.
One of Aileen’s unique talents is putting airs to old song words, or indeed, new works.
She discussed her research, composition process and the background to each song. There were four newly written songs while Aileen has also composed new airs for two poems by Jean Maskall.
Taking common forms in traditional song such as a lament and an emigration song, Aileen has penned new pieces to relate stories from diverse voices such as a bereaved mother, impoverished family, and people who experienced time in institutions such as Industrial Schools and Magdalene Laundries.
Aileen has composed beautiful, sorrowful, expressive airs to deliver the songs and this event was a unique opportunity to hear them and was enjoyed and appreciated by the audience which included County Arts Officer Liz Burns and County Librarian, Eileen Morrissey.
This event was part of Wexford County Council’s 2024 Commemorations Programme and is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
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