Dolly McMahon was born and raised in East Galway into a house that was rich in folklore, history and music. Her father Martin had a stór of local songs and seanchas which he passed on to his daughter Dolly. After marrying Ciarán Mac Mathúna in the mid 1950s, she moved to Dublin and became a central figure in the traditional music and ballad revival in the 1960s. Her album on the Claddagh label 'Dolly' was a seminal release in 1966. Dolly's style and repetoire has been an inspiration to younger singers including contemporary artiste Lisa Lambe. This interview opens a window to Dolly's unique musical background in conversation with Lisa with whom she has developed a close relationship..Ranging from earliest musical experiences, to sage advice to young people, to hopes for the future of the tradition, SAOITHE offers in-depth conversations with seven of Ireland’s most influential and outstanding tradition bearers. The long-format Q&A style interviews, with performance and illustrative archival recordings, expand our understanding of these artists by exploring their influences and by seeking out their personal philosophies as traditional artists.

The fortnightly series has already featured Matt Molloy, Sarah Ghriallais, Christy Moore, Catherine McEvoy and Frankie Gavin and these videos are freely available to watch online at: Facebook page and YouTube channel.

SAOITHE is an extension of ITMA’s online archival series Drawing from the Well which is available to watch here: VIEW Drawing from the Well