On Saturday, April 15, 55 people gathered for a special lunch in Lough Rynn Castle to honour Edwina Guckian as the 2023 Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year in recognition of her promotion of Irish culture, song, dance, music, traditional customs and heritage.
Edwina comes from just outside the village of Drumsna, Co Leitrim. Her family have been steeped in the tradition of music and dance, and her style is influenced by the local music she grew up with in Leitrim.
She started teaching dancing at the age of 16, and she has taught her steps and shared the stage with some of Ireland’s most influential acts such as Altan, De Danann, Dervish, Mairtín O Connor, Frankie Gavin, Kíla, Martin Hayes, Séamus Begley, and Laoise Kelly. She set up Áirc Damhsa Culture Club for youths in her area to give them a space to be immersed in traditions and cultures from home and from across the world in a fun and non – competitive environment. It is now in its 19th year and the club has over 500 members in nine counties in Ireland and 1 club in New York.
In 2017 Edwina was awarded the Arts Council of Ireland Next Generation Bursary to support her work on redeveloping the connection between music and movement, between the musician and the dancer.
She is well known for her pride in Leitrim and she uses her gift for connecting people in the community together to make great things happen such as her annual hosting of events in the county like the Leitrim Dance Festival, the Mummers’ Project and the Effrinagh Crossroads Dance.
Other recent work includes reviving the Mumming tradition in Leitrim through the Sowing the Seed project which sees over 350 Leitrim people growing oats organically on their land and using the oats and straw sustainably.
Most recently she was awarded the TG4 Gradam Comaine for her outstanding contribution to the traditional arts. Edwina is the artist in residency at St. Patrick’s Campus DCU Drumcondra for 2022/23 and will be launching her first children’s book in October of this year.
Pat Gallagher, the 2022 Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year, travelled back from Kent to celebrate the occasion with Edwina and her family.
He spoke about how much the award meant to him and how delighted he was to see (someone like) Edwina getting it. He wished her as much joy and happiness in her year representing the title as he had during his recent reign.
Leitrim Guardian Editor Tommy Moran chatted to Edwina about her passion for Leitrim and for retaining our valued traditions, congratulated her on all her achievements and presented her with the award.