An Mhaighdean Mhara (The Mermaid)

Teddy Regan .mp3

Here is a solo fiddle recording from "Another One From The Set List", a recent recital held in The Cobblestone Backroom where I shared the stage with the divine, debonair, dazzling duo that is @aoifeandliam (Aoife Nic Dhomnaill and Liam Lonergan). The set is taken from my recent EP Farewell to the Highlands. 

The EP can be heard in full on cathalcaulfield.bandcamp.com/album/farewell-to-the-highlands-ep

Farewell to the Highlands is an EP of fiddle music from the making of Kú's recent audiobook The Tale of Déin. The pieces date back to the 19th / early 20th centuries and are thought to be older still.

The tunes were sourced from 6 different collectors and adapted to the themes of Kú's audiobook, a reimagining of the story of Déin MacCécht, the healer of the Tuatha Dé Dannan. The themes include loss of place, otherworldly magic, abuse of power, betrayal, fierce anger, sorrow, grief and reconciliation.

Ceó Druídheachta was found in the Petrie collection (1902). The old Irish spelling of "Druídheachta" draws on the link between the words “Druid” and “Draíocht” (magic). The beauty of the air and its link to the mystical made it an easy choice for the opening piece to the audiobook The Tale of Déin.

The melancholic title track, Farewell to the Highlands, is a march that was with us from the beginning of our manuscript meanderings and has found a home at last in this EP. It was found in Tunes of the Munster Pipers vol. 2 from Canon J. Goodman's manuscripts (1860s).

Thank you to Liam Longergan for the recording !

Ceo Druídheachta & Farewell to the Highlands: Live @ The Cobblestone Backroom

Kevin Fowley - Pisses (demo)

The Morning Thrush was composed by James Ennis around 1913 or 1914, inspired by hearing a song thrush, and was often played by his son Seamus Ennis on the uilleann pipes.

Photo: At the crossroads in Carna, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, Co. Galway, July 2014.

Song thrush: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Turdus-philomelos

If you'd like to make a donation to support my work, here is a link: www.buymeacoffee.com/saileog
To buy an album: https://saileog.blogspot.com/2024/08/cds-digital-albums.html

The Morning Thrush, composed by James Ennis - piano

From Saileog's new album, Roithleán, out 8 October on RaelachRecords.com

Chuala mé ‘The Old Dúidín’ ag roinnt daoiní, ach ‘sé an fidléir Paddy Killoran is mó a chuimrím air mar fhoinse ar an bport. Chuala mé a leagan siúd ar bhailiúchán ceoil ‘Tuning the Radio’ a chuir RTÉ amach sa mbliain 2010, taifead ar inis Eoin Ó Beaglaoich dhom faoi. Chuala mé an dara port ó Alan Morrisroe, boscadóir spleodrach as Béal Átha na Muice, Condae Mhaigh Eo, a bhfuil go leor poirt neamhchoitianta aige chomh maith le heolas cuimsitheach ar cheoltóirí Connachta. Fuair seisean an port seo óna chara Paddy Joe Tighe, boscadóir iontach as Achadh Mór in oirthear Mhaigh Eo.
Fuair mé an tríú port ó thaifead RTÉ de Thomáisín Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin, sárbhoscadóir as an Aird Mhóir, Conamara. Sean-stíl an mhileóidian a bhí aige. Rinne Séamus Ennis agus Johnny Spillane taifeadadh air sa mbliain 1948. Port é seo a chastar do dhaimseoirí go minic ach níor chuala mé an leagan seo ag aon duine eile ach ag a nia, an píobaire Tommy Pheait Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin, a cailleadh roimh Nollag 2015, suaimhneas síoraí air. Is sár-fhliúiteadóir é a dheartháir Páraic agus is iomadh port neamhchoitianta a chuala muid uathab agus muid ar cuairt acab. Ceoltóirí den scoth agus iad groíúil fáiltiúil i gcónaí.
 
I have heard several musicians play ‘The Old Dúidín’ over the years, but I associate it mainly with the fiddle player Paddy Killoran. I heard his version of the tune on the ‘Tuning the Radio’ compilation that RTÉ released in 2010, a recording which was brought to my attention by Eoin Ó Beaglaoich.
I heard the second tune from Alan Morrisroe, a great accordion player from Swinford, Co. Mayo. He has many unusual versions of tunes and a great knowledge of Connacht musicians in particular. He got this tune from his friend Paddy Joe Tighe, another great accordion player from Aghamore in east Mayo. I got the third tune from a RTÉ recording of Tomáisín Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin, a fantastic accordion player from Ardmore in Connemara. He played in the old melodeon style. Séamus Ennis and Johnny Spillane recorded him in 1948. This tune is often played for dancers but I have never heard anyone else play this version except for Tomáisín’s nephew, the piper Tommy Pheait Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin, who passed away before Christmas 2015; may he rest in peace. His brother Páraic is a great flute player and they played many unusual tunes for us over the years when we visited them. Fantastic musicians and always generous and welcoming.

The Old Dúidín, Tighes Rare Reel, Joe Mháire Mhicilín

We learned this version of An Clár Bog Déil from a recording of Seán ac' Dhonncha (locally known as Johnny Joe Pheaitsín), from An Aird Thiar, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, Co. Galway. 
Singers: Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha
Geoff Wooff uilleann pipes: Pádraic Keane
Key: B
Recorded with an Olympus portable recorder in the Bailey Allen building, NUI Galway, on 13th January 2018.
If you'd like to make a donation to support my work, here is a link: www.buymeacoffee.com/saileog
To buy an album: https://saileog.blogspot.com/2024/08/cds-digital-albums.html

An Clár Bog Déil - Saileog, Ailbhe, Pádraic

Sarah Flynn's Album

Doireann Glackin and Sarah Flynn, The Cliffs of Moher and Allistrums March

Recorded at the Cobblestone on 19th May 2018.
Singers: Saileog Ní Cheannabháin
Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha
Uilleann pipes: Pádraic Keane 
Photo: From The Cobblestone pub, Dublin

If you'd like to make a donation to support my work, here is a link: www.buymeacoffee.com/saileog
To buy an album: https://saileog.blogspot.com/2024/08/cds-digital-albums.html

Saileog, Ailbhe, Pádraic: An Clár Bog Déil, Cobblestone concert

This song always had a particular appeal to me as a fiddle player and a fan of John Doherty – his playing of the air is so beautiful. When I came across this version in Sam Henry’s Songs of the People collection I was immediately curious to compare the transcribed melody with that of the familiar air. I ended up liking the Sam Henry melody better even than the version I already knew. The setting of the narrative is Eastersnow, a townland in Co Roscommon.

Helen Diamond

Helen Diamond - 05 - Eastersnow

Bonny Blue Eyed Nancy

Arranged and played by Hajime Takahashi

Photo by Ayumi Miyano

Bonny Blue Eyed Nancy

NEW EP OUT NOW --> Bandcamp Link: cathalcaulfield.bandcamp.com

Cathal Caulfield is a traditional folk singer / fiddle player from Dublin whose sound is strongly influenced by the Irish fiddling tradition, as he attempts to imitate the ethereal tone and intricate ornamentation of the instrument in his singing.

Naturally, this led to the inclusion of the fiddle itself. Expect to hear delicate vocals interwoven with gentle drones and wailing instrumentals. Followed by varied sets of traditional tunes which are full of life and energy while showing great respect to the origins of the music and the music makers.

Ceo Druídheachta & Farewell to the Highlands: Live @ The Cobblestone Backroom

Cathal Caulfield

Related tracks