Polish and Irish folk artists in tune with one another
The cultural links between Poland and Ireland are longstanding and strong. With almost 100,000 Polish people living, working and studying in Ireland and Polish being the third most spoken language in Ireland, the Polish presence is profoundly felt. This is not just unique to Ireland’s population. An ever-growing link between our countries is Poland’s love for Irish and Celtic music.
From the establishment of the Kraków Celtic Festival to the annually held Celtic Music Festival, Zamek in Będzin, Ireland’s music and culture is celebrated across the country.
This year, at the Museum of Ethnography in Warsaw, the Embassy of Ireland in Warsaw was honoured to welcome the Len Collective and Patrycja Betley Trio, to showcase the best of Ireland and Poland’s traditional folk music. Afterword's we sat down with some of the musicians and they told us about their experiences. Hear from the musicians here.
Meet the musicians
About the Len Collective
The Len Collective are a group of traditional Irish musicians from Dublin. Though only officially formed in 2022, this group of friends have been playing and attending festivals together since they were children. Go into the Cobblestone at any hour of the day or night and there's a good chance you'll find at least one of them hanging about.
The group is made up of 6 musicians, Méabh Mulligan playing the concertina and singing, Liam Lonergan playing the concertina, guitar, piano and singing, Ruth McCrohan playing flute, Padraig Óg Mac Aodhagain playing pipes, flute and saxophone, Sarah Flynn playing the concertina and Libby McCrohan on bouzouki.
Since forming in 2022, the Len Collective have performed at multiple festivals including All Together Now, Otherside, Féile na Gealaí, Féile Nasc, Smithfield Fleadh, Electric Picnic, NCH’s Tradition Now, the Dublin Folk Festival, as well as representing Ireland at the Tonn Nua festival supported by the Irish Embassy in Berlin. Some highlights of 2024 include performing at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin, Yn Chruinnaght festival on the Isle of Man and Beyond the Pale.
Learn more about the Len Collective here.
About Patrycja Betley Trio
The band was created in 2021 on the initiative of Patrycja Betley. The band's music is a combination of various musical cultures - Scandinavian, Celtic, Polish - which are presented in innovative, eclectic arrangements.
The instruments they play combine tradition with modernity.
The trio is made up of Patrycja Betley on her own hybrid set of ethnic percussion instruments, Ewelina Grygier who plays the wooden transverse flute and Paweł Betley on piano.
We sat down with these artists to learn more about their passion for folk music
Patrycja, your music brings together music from so many places, what brings these traditions together?
Patrycja: In our music, we combine the traditions of Poland, Scandinavia, and Ireland, which, despite their distinct sounds, share many common features. In all these cultures, music is closely connected to dance - rhythm, tempo, and phrasing are adapted to characteristic dance steps.
These traditions also have a strong social aspect, as dance has always been an integral part of communal music-making and celebrations. Additionally, they are characterised by recurring phrases that create a trance-like atmosphere, as well as a sense of interpretative and improvisational freedom.
Patrycja, you have a long relationship with Irish folk music. Where did this begin?
Patrycja: My musical journey began with Irish music. At the age of 10, together with Ewelina, we started learning to play the Irish tin whistle at a cultural center in Poznań. This was made possible thanks to Wojciech Wietrzyński, an enthusiast of Irish culture and the creator of the tin whistle orchestras in all over of Poland, who in the 1990s established an orchestra of children playing this instrument.
A year later, while watching a one-minute fragment of a The Chieftains concert on a VHS tape, I saw the bodhrán and was immediately fascinated by it. I began teaching myself to play at home, using my wardrobe as my first instrument. Ewelina continued playing the tin whistle while also taking up the Irish wooden flute, which has now become her main instrument. Paweł, he is also a flutist by training, but in my band, he plays keyboards. His journey with Irish music is shorter, but he has always been fascinated by traditional music from various parts of the world. With his classical education and experience as a sound engineer and composer, he brings new energy to the band, along with many intriguing harmonic ideas.
And how did the Patrycja Betley Trio come together? Where can we see you next?
The idea for the trio came up to me three years ago when I wanted to celebrate 25 years of mine and Ewelina’s musical journey. From the very beginning, I knew what kind of music I wanted to play, with whom, and in what style.
The plan was simple: to play a home concert, record it, and upload it online along with our stories about how it all started and where it has taken us. It was meant to be a one-time event, but the response was so positive that I decided to continue with the band. We don't play often, as each of us has many other projects, but whenever the opportunity arises, we do it with great joy!
Méabh, Libby, how long have you all known each other? And how did the Len Collective come to be?
Méabh: We have all known each other since we were children. We started learning Irish music in the same music school. We grew up playing music together in each other’s houses, busking in Dublin, pubs and festivals around Ireland.
Libby: We put the band together in 2022 and we've had brilliant opportunities and experiences such as our trip to Warsaw, Berlin, Isle of Man and many festivals in Ireland!
Ruth, Liam, did you know about Polish folk music before you came here? Does it sound familiar?
Ruth: We didn't know much about Polish folk music before our trip. It was so interesting to hear! I enjoyed the lively rhythm.
Liam: I loved hearing the similarities and differences between Irish polkas and Polish polkas.
Sarah, Pádraig Óg, how did you enjoy your stay? Will you be back?
Sarah: I loved our trip to Warsaw! I thought the city was beautiful and I loved eating pierogi!
Pádraig Óg: I would love to come back to Warsaw, maybe in the summertime, it was a great experience to visit the city and meet people from the Irish community.