An Mhaighdean Mhara (The Mermaid)

Teddy Regan .mp3

Kevin Fowley - Pisses (demo)

Composed by James Ennis around 1913 or 1914, and often played by his son Seamus Ennis.

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

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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

Accompanied on guitar and informally recorded by Mr. Hajime Takahashi. 

I learned the set dance, The Job of Journeywork, from the great uillean piper Johnny Doran's album "Johnny Doran: The Master Pipers. Volume 1". I have always been jealous of pipers because they have the gift of the regulators while the fiddler does not. Johnny Doran's regwork is some of the most exciting regwork I have heard and it was while listening to him that I started trying to emulate the sound of the regs on the fiddle (as so many better musicians have done in the past).   

I learned The Irish Girl when I was very young from the playing of Michael Coleman, the master fiddler from Sligo. The tune has stuck with me throughout the years and is becoming a favourite all over again!

The Job of Journeywork / The Irish Girl (Set Dance / Reel)

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: saileog.bandcamp.com/

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: saileog.bandcamp.com/

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.

The Job of Journeywork / The Irish Girl (Set Dance / Reel)

Cathal Caulfield

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