Kíla

Kíla began in 1987 in the secondary in Coláiste Eoin, in the first year they busked nearly every week and played 44 concerts, mostly at their father's publishing company book launches, their mother's art exhibition openings and their brother's political campaign launches. Their first pay-in concert was upstairs in the Baggot Inn and was attended by only 3 people one of which was the broadcaster Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and her school friend Nóra Ní Chonchubhair and the Music historian and musician but then didgeridoo player Siomon Ó Dwyer, who joined them onstage.

But Kíla's genesis goes much further back to the primary school Scoil Lorcáin where Rossa Ó Snodaigh, Colm Mac con Iomaire, Aengus Mac An Rí and Fearghal Mac Cárthaigh competed in competitions like Feis Átha Cliath, Feis Lorcáin and Feis Naithí as two pieces and three pieces. In 1984 at the start of his second year in the secondary school of Coláiste Eoin Rossa asked fiddler Colm Mac Con Iomaire and flute player Aengus Mac An Rí if they wanted to form a band to enter competitions like Slógadh.

They asked their fellow primary schoolmate - whistler Fearghal Mac Cárthaigh, Colm's neighbour - piper Eoin Dillon and Rossa's brother - bodhrán player Rónán Ó Snodaigh to join them. They were initially guided by their whistle teacher Mícheál Ó hAlmhain and upon his departure by a past pupil come teacher Proinsias de Poire who named them 'Cogar' (whisper). They went busking, played lunchtime sessions, and entered competitions but never progressed to the national finals of Slógadh, but did well in Feis Átha Cliath in various forms.

Before the summer holidays of 1987, Fearghal and Aengus departed of but upon their return in 5th year they invited a guitarist, Karl Odlum from their class to join them. A classmate and budding radio worker for Bray Local Broadcast, Shane Ó Docartaigh, offered them a slot on a show that weekend.The morning of the show they drove up to Karl's house in Dún Droma to rehearse, whereupon Karl mentioned that his brother Dave, who was in Rónan's class would like to join and was a better guitarist and that he, and that he himself actually played the bass. which brought the response from Rossa of "What's a bass?". They rehearsed 4 sets of tunes that morning and got a lift to the radio station where they performed for the very first time as the outfit that would become named Kíla. Within the year they were invited to play in the National Concert at a ceremony that President Dr. Ó hIrghile attended and at a festival in Bonn in Germany, where they were joined by Rossa and Ronán's brother Colm.

The original lineup of yet to be named band was Eoin Dillon (uilleann pipes), Colm Mac Con Iomaire (fiddle), Rossa Ó Snodaigh (whistle, bones), Rónán Ó Snodaigh (bodhrán), Karl Odlum (bass), and David Odlum (guitar). In 1988 one of Rossa and Rónán's older brother's - flute player Colm Ó Snodaigh, joined the band before the first recordings were made. Rónán, Rossa, and Colm Ó Snodaigh are sons of publisher Pádraig Ó Snodaigh and artist Clíodna Cussen and are brothers of Irish TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

In 1991, Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Dave Odlum left Kíla to join The Frames, an Irish rock band. In the same year, Dee Armstrong and Eoin O'Brien joined the band as replacements. Dave Reidy also joined as a lead guitarist, though he emigrated to San Francisco a year later. Karl was then replaced by Ed Kelly on bass who emigrated to Scotland a little over a year after the recording Mind the Gap in 1994. Eoin O'Brien was replaced by Lance Hogan. Laurence O Keefe filled in temporarily on bass until Brian Hogan assumed that position prior to recording Tóg É Go Bog É.

In 2003, in a review of their album Luna Park, Kíla's blend of Irish traditional music and world music with a modern rock sensibility was credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish folk music.[1]

In 2009, Donegal guitarist Seanan Brennan joined the band to replace Lance who was on a sabbatical. He has remained with the band since then bringing an electric guitar to the line up for the first time since Eoin O'Brien was a member. He made his first appearance with Kíla in early January of that year on a televised version of Leath ina Dhiaidh a hOcht.

In 2008, Kíla recorded "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" with U2, Shane MacGowan, Glen Hansard, Damien Dempsey, The Dubliners and a host of other artists. With proceeds going to The Irish Cancer Society. The song was later included on a U2.com-only album of collaborations that U2 recorded with other artists - Duals (2012).

Kíla have played in 35 countries on all continents excepte South America and at some of the biggest festivals around the world, like Montreaux Jazz Festival - Switzerland, Womad and Cambridge Folk Festivals - England, Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo, Electric Picnic, Womadelaide, Glastonbury, and the Stockholm Water Festival, Sziget Festival- Budapest Hungary. They have also performed at the launch of the Special Olympics in Ireland for the welcoming ceremony of the Dalai Llama and at many of President Mícheál Ó hUiginn's garden Parties.

In 2010, the band collaborated with French composer Bruno Coulais on the soundtrack of Cartoon Saloon'sThe Secret of Kells, The film was nominated for a best animated film at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010. That same year their music was heavily featured in two other feature films - Maeve Murphy's controversial Beyond the Fire and Ciarán O'Connor's Trafficked. Kíla's music also features in the award-winning documentary film Fight or Flight.

In late 2011, Kíla published their long-awaited Book of Tunes. Comprising over 100 of their compositions and lavishly decorated with photos, poems & prose, the book was a huge success, being described as 'a masterpiece' by Seán Laffey from Irish Music Magazine. The publication of the book ended a fine year for Kíla in style. Through this year they played three sell-out shows in Harare, Zimbabwe at the HIAFA festival, played at the Possibilities conference that welcomed the Dalai Lama to Ireland and played the inaugural concert in Temple Bar Meeting House Square, under the elegant retractable canopies, two days before Christmas.

2015 could be termed the 'year of the awards and nominations' for Kíla. They collaborated on the music for the Oscar nominated animated feature, Song of the Sea with Bruno Coulais. They received an Annie Awards nomination for 'Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature Production'. They also received an Emmy nomination for their work on a Crossing The Line production called 'The Secret Life of the Shannon'. In June Eoin Dillon left and James Mahon from Shankill took his place.

In 2020, just at the eve of the lockdowns, Kíla had begun recording music for two films Cartoon Saloon's Wolfwalkers, and Tomás Ó Súilleabháin debut film Arracht. Screen Ireland chose Arracht to represent Ireland in the Oscars foreign film category and Wolfwakers was entered by Apple for the best Animation. It could've been the case that Kíla would've been mentioned in two Oscar nominated film, but alas Arracht didn't make the shortlist but won an IFTA later on. They were in the running along with Bruno for many other award ceremonies for Wolfwalkers.

During the two lockdowns, their manager Caoimhe Ní Riagáin organised six different online lockdown concerts culminating in a Wolfwalker's themed St Patrick's day broadcast going live to all the Irish consulates across the world. By 2021, she took a post in the Arts Council, and Rossa stepped into the role to organise their 15 date post lockdown tour and produce their 3 larger shows – Kíla & Tumble Circus Sept 2021, Kíla le Prás - New Year's Eve 2021, Kíla & Cairde for Tradfest in the National Stadium 2022.[2][3]

The present lineup of Kíla as of 2015 until Now is:

• Rossa Ó Snodaigh has performed and composed for many theatre and dance companies. He composed music for Jean Butler's Masterclass Dance DVD and in 2011 performed his compositions in the La Mama Theatre for Irish Modern Dance Theatre's piece Fall and Recover. He also gives numerous music and drumming workshops. He plays wind, skin and stringed instruments and sometimes during the one piece of music. He runs the Irish language tent at the Electric Picnic and founded a Gaelscoil (Irish-speaking national school) in his local area, Cluainín Uí Ruairc, Co. Liatroma. He has had seven books published thus far: The Joy of Pissing, Cliúsaíocht as Gaeilge/Making Out in Irish, Our Fada co-authored with Micheál Ó Domhnaill, An Fochlach Foclach and a children's books Aistir ar an Aibítir, Grá i nGléas G and Cad a Chuirfeadh Seon ar Leon?. He also set up the Speaker's Square and the Dublin Drum Circle in Dublin's Temple Bar. Upon moving to Liatroim he established and later chaired the founding committee to open Gaelscoil Chluainín and Aonad Loch Gile. He also played the spoons in Hershey's Mousse North American advertising campaign in 1988. Rónán Ó Snodaigh continues to develop his varying bodhrán techniques. He toured with Dead Can Dance in the 1990s. Since DCD's Spiritchaser tour in 1996, he has focused his energies on Kíla and his solo work. He has released seven solo albums to date Tiptoe, The Playdays, Tonnta Ró, The Last Mile Home, Water off a Duck's Back, Sos and Or agus Airgead. He has also released an album of soundtrack work Wild Journeys His latest book of poetry, The Garden Wars, was published in 2007. Ó Snodaigh has composed original score for a number of nature series including Wild Journey's, The Eagles Return and The Secret life of the Shannon. He has a number of bodhrán tutorials available at his YouTube channel.
• Colm Ó Snodaigh joined the band in 1988, on the occasion of Kíla's first festival appearance, at the European Youth Music Festival, held in Bonn, Germany. He recorded his first solo album Éist in 1990; his follow-up, Giving (2007), was described by Hot Press as a work of "true beauty" and featured contributions from Hot House Flowers, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin, saxophonist Richie Buckley and Lisa Hannigan. Colm played soccer for League of Ireland team Bray Wanderers and was a sports columnist for the Irish-language weekly newspaper Anois. In 1995 his collection of short stories Turasóireacht was published by Coiscéim, his first novella, Pat the Pipe - Píobaire, was published in 2007 and in the same year his translation of Sandy Fitzgerald's children's story, Céal agus an Buachaill Gorm was also published. A collection of essays from his time as a columnist with online magazine Beo.ie Istigh sa cheol was published in book form, in 2013. He recently completed a book about civil disobedience in Corca Dhuibhne. It was published in 2017 and is called Dún Chaoin - Oscail an Scoil!.
• Dee Armstrong is a daughter of classical musicians Gillian and Lindsey Armstrong. She has illustrated a number of book covers, designed sets for plays and has worked with street theater company Macnas. Armstrong has recorded with other musical artists (Bobbie Lee, The Clay Dolls). She has designed and choreographed the Manorhamilton Halloween Parade for many years. She founded the feted Manorhamilton Summer Rock School. She most recently devised the Féile Kíla shows and also helped in the organising and devising of Palfest's alternative Eurovision!
• Seanán Brennan, a native of Ros Neamhlach, is a guitarist, bassist and mandola player, formerly a member of the groups Boxty and Georgia.
• Brian Hogan followed his brother Lance into the band in 1996, having guest performed with Kíla in a tour of the southwest of Ireland in December 1993. Hogan has toured and recorded with several bands, including the Eurostar Band. He has illustrated a number of books, including Ó Snodaigh's Joy of Pissing, and has designed sleeves for CDs. His side project band Preachers Son released their first single "X for Sandra" in March 2010, followed by their début album Love, Life & Limb later that year. His video for his song ”Come On" won Best Music Video at LA Film and Script Festival. Brian and Lance are sons of folk singer Larry Hogan and artist Róisín Daly. His 2014 album is Ten Stories Tall.
• Dave Hingerty has toured and recorded with many bands, most notably Josh Ritter, The Frames, The Swell Season, Eric Eckhart and Gráda. He founded the Irish Drum Academy ten years ago, which continues to thrive in Temple Lane Studios. He is also a skilled photographer and has worked with the likes of Iggy Pop, The Beastie Boys and Kings of Leon. Along with studio engineer/producer Anthony Gibney Dave released a collaborative album in 2020 Side 4 Collective.
• James Mahon was a founding member of short-lived band Cirrus, and is a former member of the Afro Celt Sound System. He earned Masters in Music Performance in the University of Limerick.

• Kila.ie, Kíla's official website
• IrishMusicDB information
• Musical Rooms Part 13; Kíla, by Sinéad Gleeson, February 18, 2008
• Ón Taobh tuathail Amach & The Dream I Haven't Showed Her, Rónán Ó Snodaigh performance on Other Voices RTÉ 2002
• Review of Kíla & Oki by Jamie Rowland, Pennyblackmusic, March 2007
• Review of Kíla at The Electric Picnic 2008 by Jan Ní fhlanagáin, Cluas.com, September 2008
• Excerpt of an article about Kíla by Donald Mahoney 2007
• Article by Nadine O Regan about Kíla & Oki in The Sunday Business Post, 13 August 2006
• Kíla concert review by Neil King in September 2009
• Kíla concert preview by Roger levesque in The Edmonton Journal in August 2011
• Kíla Book of Tunes review in Folkworld.de, March 2012