The Irish Traditional Music Archive’s (ITMA) flagship artistic series “Drawing from the Well” launched in 2020 with the aim of connecting Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, singers, and dancers with ITMA’s rich archival material to inspire new works of art. In partnership with TG4, ITMA now bring this concept to the small screen in “Taoscadh ón Tobar”, as five new artists uncover the stories of significant musicians, singers, collectors, and regions. Through performances, interviews, and research they draw from the deep “well” of traditional music.

Italian-born fiddle player Andrea Palandri traces the life and music of Sliabh Luachra fiddle master and teacher Pádraig O’Keeffe. He meets musicians, researchers, and acquaintances of O’Keeffe to discuss his legacy, uncovering previously unheard recordings in the process.

Cúil Aodha native Iarla Ó Lionáird studies the songs of his locality as collected by Alexander Martin Freeman in the early 1900’s. He highlights the social context, and musical richness, of “Songs from Ballyvourney” and performs significant songs from the collection including “Loch Léin” and “Aililiú na Gamhna”.

Doireann Ní Ghlacáin uncovers the story of fellow Dublin fiddle player Bridget Kenny, dubbed “The Queen of Irish Fiddlers” by Captain Francis O’Neill. She pays homage to Mrs. Kenny, busking on a crowded Thomas Street , just around the corner from where she once lived.

Seán McElwain highlights the music of Sliabh Beagh, a border area where counties Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Monaghan meet. He recalls local collector James Whiteside, studies the manuscripts, interviews historians, and performs tunes from the collection along side a host of musical guests.

Singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh performs a deep dive on the songs of Seán de hÓra, a standard bearer of the tradition, and the only ever Oireachtas winner to hail from Corca Dhuibhne. She interviews friends and family of de hÓra to gleam a deeper insight into his personal life.