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{{Short description|Traditional Gaelic storyteller/historian}}
{{For|the record label|Shanachie Records}}
{{distinguish|Saenchai}}
{{More footnotes|date=February 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
 
A '''seanchaí''' ({{IPA-ga|ˈʃan̪ˠəxiː|pron}} <small>or</small> {{IPA-ga|ʃan̪ˠəˈxiː|}} – plural: {{langlangx|ga|seanchaithe}} {{IPA-ga|ˈʃan̪ˠəxɪhɪˈʃan̪ˠəxəhɪ|}}) is a traditional [[Gaels|Gaelic]] storyteller/ or historian, serving as an [[List of oral repositories|oral repository]]. In Scotland,[[Scottish theyGaelic]] werethe calledword is {{langlangx|gd|'''seanchaidh'''|label=none|italics=no}} ({{IPA-gd|ˈʃɛn̪ˠɛxɪ|pron}}; plural: {{lang|gd|seanchaidhean}}). AThe commonlyword encounteredis Englishoften spelling[[anglicisation|anglicised]] of the Irish word isas '''shanachie''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|æ|n|ə|x|iː|,_|ˌ|ʃ|æ|n|ə|ˈ|x|iː}} {{respell|SHAN|ə|khee|,_-|KHEE}}).
 
The word ''{{langx|ga|seanchaí''|label=none}}, which was spelled ''{{langx|ga|seanchaidhe''|label=none}} (plural ''{{langx|ga|seanchaidhthe''|label=none}}) before the [[Irish language|Irish-language]] [[Irish orthography#Spelling reform|spelling reform of 1948]], means a bearer of "old lore" (''{{langx|ga|seanchas''|label=none}}).<ref>{{Cite In web|url=https://oldmooresalmanac.com/the ancient [[Celts-seanchai-of-ireland-and-their-stories/|Celtic]]title=The culture,Seanchaí theof historyIreland and lawsTheir ofStories|date=July the25, people2019|website=Old wereMoore's notAlmanac}}</ref> writtenIn downthe but[[Gaels|Gaelic]] memorized inculture, long lyric poems which were recited by bards (''{{langx|ga|[[fili|filí]]''; filidhe|label=none}} in the original pre-1948 spelling), in a tradition echoed by the ''{{langx|ga|seanchaithe''|label=none}}.
 
==Traditional art==
{{langx|ga|Seanchaithe|label=none}} were servants to the heads of the lineages and kept track of important information for them: laws, genealogies, annals, literature, etc. After the destruction of Gaelic civilization in the 1600s as a result of the English colonialism, these more formal roles ceased to exist and the term {{langx|ga|seanchaí|label=none}} came to be associated instead with traditional storytellers from the lower classes.<ref name=BBCNI>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/storyteller/pdf/gen_notes_all.pdf |title=Study Ireland:An Introduction to Storytelling, Myths and Legends |publisher=BBC Northern Ireland
Seanchaithe were servants to the chiefs of the tribe and kept track of important information for their clan.They were very well respected in their clan.
|first=Eugene |last=McKendry }}</ref>
The ''seanchaithe'' made use of a range of storytelling conventions, styles of speech and gestures that were peculiar to the Irish folk tradition and characterized them as practitioners of their art. Although tales from literary sources found their way into the repertoires of the ''seanchaithe'', a traditional characteristic of their art was the way in which a large corpus of tales was passed from one practitioner to another without ever being written down. Seanchai passed information orally through storytelling from one generation to the next about Irish folklore, myth, history and legend, in medieval times.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/storyteller/pdf/gen_notes_all.pdf Study Ireland:Storytelling, BBC Northern Ireland]</ref>▼
 
▲The ''{{langx|ga|seanchaithe''|label=none}} made use of a range of storytelling conventions, styles of speech and gestures that were peculiar to the Irish folk tradition and characterized them as practitioners of their art. Although tales from literary sources found their way into the repertoires of the ''{{langx|ga|seanchaithe''|label=none}}, a traditional characteristic of their art was the way in which a large corpus of tales was passed from one practitioner to another without ever being written down. Seanchai{{langx|ga|Seanchaithe|label=none}} passed information orally through storytelling from one generation to the next about Irish folklore, myth, history and legend, in medieval times.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/storyteller/pdf/gen_notes_all.pdf Studyname=BBCNI Ireland:Storytelling, BBC Northern Ireland]</ref>
Because of their role as custodians of an indigenous [[Oral literature|oral tradition]], the ''seanchaithe'' are widely acknowledged to have inherited &ndash; although informally &ndash; the function of the ''filí'' of pre-Christian Ireland.
 
The distinctive role and craft of the ''{{langx|ga|seanchaí''|label=none}} is particularly associated with the [[Gaeltacht]] (the Irish-speaking areas of Ireland), although storytellers recognizable as ''{{langx|ga|seanchaithe''|label=none}} were also to be found in rural areas throughout English-speaking Ireland. In their storytelling, some displayed archaic [[Hiberno-English]] idioms and vocabulary distinct from the style of ordinary conversation.▼
Some ''seanchaithe'', however were not part of a clan. Some were itinerants, traveling from one community to another offering their skills in exchange for food and temporary shelter. Others were members of a settled community and might be termed "village storytellers" who told their stories and tales at ceremonies and community events, similar to the servant Seanchaithe.
 
▲The distinctive role and craft of the ''seanchaí'' is particularly associated with the [[Gaeltacht]] (the Irish-speaking areas of Ireland), although storytellers recognizable as ''seanchaithe'' were also to be found in rural areas throughout English-speaking Ireland. In their storytelling, some displayed archaic [[Hiberno-English]] idioms and vocabulary distinct from the style of ordinary conversation.
 
==Modern times==
[[File:IVRLA 10443 Ó hEinirí.jpg|thumb|243x243px|[[Seán Ó hEinirí]], {{langx|ga|seanchaí|label=none}} from [[County Mayo]]]]
Members of the [[Celtic Revival]] such as|Irish [[PadraicCultural ColumRevival]] took a great interest in the art of the ''{{langx|ga|seanchaí''|label=none}}, and through them the stories that they told were written down, published, and distributed to a global audience.<ref name=BBCNI />
 
At events such as [[mummer]]s' festival in [[New Inn, County Galway]], and the [[All-Ireland]] [[Fleadh Ceoil]] storytellers who preserve the stories and oratory style of the ''{{langx|ga|seanchaithe''|label=none}} continue to display their art and compete for awards. [[Edmund Lenihan|Eddie Lenihan]] is one notable modern-day ''{{langx|ga|seanchaí''|label=none}}, based in [[County Clare]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40071116.html|title=A storytelling tradition that endures: 'Irish people have always been in love with words'|first=Mike |last=McGrath Bryan |date=October 27, 2020|newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] }}</ref>
 
Actor [[Eamon Kelly (actor)|Eamon Kelly]] was well known for his portrayals of the traditional {{langx|ga|seanachaí|label=none}}, and ran several series of one-man shows in Dublin's [[Abbey Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jan/04/guardianobituaries.books|title=Obituary: Éamon Kelly|author=Nuala Hayes|publisherwork=[[The Guardian]]|date=2002-01-04|accessdateaccess-date=2014-10-10}}</ref>
 
==Other uses of the term==
The term is also found within [[Scottish Gaelic]] and [[Manx language|Manx]] where it is spelt ''{{langx|gd|seanchaidh''|label=none}} ({{IPA-gd|ˈʃɛn̪ˠɛxɪ||}}) and ''{{langx|gv|shennaghee''|label=none}} ({{IPA-gv|ˈʃɛnaxiː||}}) respectively. All uses ultimately have their roots in the [[bard|traditional poets]] attached to the households of ancient [[Irish nobility|Gaelic nobility]]. In Scotland, it is commonly anglicised as ''{{langx|gd|shen(n)achie''|label=none}}.<ref>Robinson, M (1985) ''The Concise Scots Dictionary'' Chambers, Oxford {{ISBN|0-08-028491-4}}</ref>
 
The Shanachies are a cricket club playing in the Inner West Harbour grade competition in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mycricket.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/entitydetails.aspx?entityid=13390|title="CricketNetwork"|accessdateaccess-date=2018-03-17}}</ref>
 
==See also==
{{Portal|Ireland}}▼
 
* [[Gaelic Ireland]]
* [[Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh]]
 
==Notes==
Line 32 ⟶ 40:
 
==References==
* Padraig{{cite book|editor-last=Colum, |editor, ''-first=Padraig|year=1954|title=A Treasury of Irish Folklore''|location=New York|publisher=Crown Publishers}}
* {{cite book|last=DeLaney|first=Frank|author-link=Frank Delaney|year=2004|title=Ireland|location=London|publisher=Time Warner}}
* Frank DeLaney, ''Ireland''
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Lynch|editor-first1=Patricia A. Lynch, |editor-last2=Fischer|editor-first2=Joachim Fischer, and |editor-last3=Coates|editor-first3=Brian Coates, ''|year=2006|title=Back to the Present: Forward to the Past—Irish Writing and History since 1798''|location=Amsterdam|publisher=Rodopi}}
Leabhar Seán O’Conaill. Killrelig Co, Kerry
 
==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzP4FM3WqwY How To Tell A Story -The Seanachaí (Eamon Kelly)]
 
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▲{{Portal|Ireland}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seanchai}}
[[Category:IrishGaelic culture]]
[[Category:Culture of Ireland]]
[[Category:Storytelling]]
[[Category:Irish words and phrases]]
[[Category:Irish poets]]
[[Category:Irish storytellers]]
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