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

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The Morning Thrush, composed by James Ennis - piano

Photo: Taken by Creena Mulchrone, outside Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, at Féile Chois Chuain Festival, May bank holiday 2015.
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The Sword In Hand, The Reel of Bogie - viola

Uileacán Dubh Ó, sung by Saileog and Muireann Ní Cheannabháin at the Crane Bar, on October 15th, 2016, at the Galway launch of Roithleán.
We learned this song from Caitlín Maude, who put the tune of The Bold Trainer O, as played by Willie Clancy, to this very old poem (writer unknown).
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Crane launch

Uileacán Dubh Ó: Muireann & Saileog, at Crane Bar, Galway

Ailbhe learned this song from Áine Uí Cheallaigh some years ago. This version is usually sung in An Rinn, Co. Waterford. It is probably of Tipperary origin, and there are several versions of it across the Gaeltacht regions of Munster.
Traditional, arranged by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin.
Photo: An Coinigéar, An Rinn, Co. Waterford, by Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha.
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An Cailín Deas Rua: Ailbhe, Saileog

Live recording of An Cailín Deas Rua at Féile Traidphicnic, An Spidéal, Co. Galway, on 30th June 2017.
Singers: Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin
Uilleann pipes: Pádraic Keane
A traditional sean nós song from Tipperary, this version is from Rinn Ó gCuanach, Co. Waterford. Arranged by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha and Pádraic Keane.
Photo by Bridge Barker.
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An Cailín Deas Rua - Ailbhe, Saileog, Pádraic - Féile Traidphicnic

House recording, 5th July 2017.
Aidan Connolly: Fiddle
Saileog Ní Cheannabháin: Upright piano (Petrof)
Aidan's album is available here: https://raelachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/be-off
Photo: Muighinis Island, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, July 2017.
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Duet with Aidan Connolly: The Sailor on the Rock/The Templehouse/Stoney Steps

The first two jigs are versions I heard from Paddy Canny, and the third tune is a version from Máirtín Byrnes.

Home recording on a Petrof upright piano, and viola made by Peter Healy, cellist (RIP).

Keys: B flat and F.

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Garrett Barry's/Down the Back Lane/Tatter Jack Walsh - piano & viola

Live recording from concert for Trinity Trad Society on 15th November 2017, in Seomra na Gaeilge, TCD.

Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin: Bflat-F concertina, by Jurgen Suttner
Saileog Ní Cheannabháin: Yamaha P-105 digital keyboard
Recorded by Ann Marie Bell (this was an acoustic concert, recording was done via portable recording device.)


Máirseáil Uí Néill is an old clan march which we believe dates from sometime in the 1700s. It was recorded and arranged by Seán Ó Riada and Ceoltóirí Chualann, for the 1969 LP, Ó Riada sa Gaeity.
Lord Mayo is attributed to the harper Dáithi Ó Murchadha, whose patron was Lord Mayo (Theobald Bourke, 1681–1741), of Castlebar, County Mayo.
Picture: View of Achill Island, from Doohoma beach, Co. Mayo.
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Máirseáil Uí Néill/Lord Mayo - Eoghan, Saileog

Live recording from concert for Trinity Trad Society on 15th November 2017, in Seomra na Gaeilge, TCD.

Saileog Ní Cheannabháin: Viola made by Peter Healy (R.I.P.)
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin: Bflat-F concertina, by Jurgen Suttner
Recorded by Ann Marie Bell (this was an acoustic concert, recording was done via portable recording device.)

These tunes were also recorded for the album Roithleán, on flute and fiddle. 
Sleeve notes: 
Thart ar 2008, bhí m’athair Peadar ag déanamh taighde ar amhráin a bhailigh Séamus Ennis i gConamara, ag díriú go háirthid ar an ábhar a frítheadh i gceantar Iorras Aithnigh. Thug mé héin agus mo dheartháir Eoghan suntas dho na poirt neamhchoitianta a bhí sa mbailiúchán. Thaithnigh na poirt áirthid seo go mór linn. Ó Cholm Ó Caoidheáin as Glinsce a breacadh Máirseáil na Fuiseoige, agus síleann muid gur leagan de ‘An Fhuiseog ar Maidin’ atá ann. Ó Pheait Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin ar an Aird Mhóir a bailíodh an dá phort eile. Bhí stór mór amhrán agus ceoil ag an mbeirt thuasluaite agus tá a gclann is a ngaolta fós ag casadh ceoil go rialta.
 
Around the year 2008, my father Peadar was researching songs that Séamus Ennis collected in Connemara, focusing in particular on material from Iorras Aithneach. My brother Eoghan and I were very taken with the unusual tunes in the collection and we particularly liked these jigs. Máirseáil na Fuiseoige was transcribed from Colm Ó Caoidheáin from Glynsk and we reckon it’s a version of ‘The Lark in the Morning’. The other two tunes were collected from Peait Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin from Ardmore. The aforementioned musicians had a vast store of tunes and songs besides and their families continue to play music regularly.
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Happy to Meet/Máirseáil na Fuiseoige/Gan Ainm - Saileog, Eoghan

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.
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An Clár Bog Déil - Saileog, Ailbhe, Pádraic

Frédéric Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp Minor, op. 66

Composed in 1834, published posthumously in 1855.
Portrait of Chopin by Eugène Delacroix.
Piece played by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on a Petrof upright piano, 10th March 2018.
Home recording on Olympus portable recording device.
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Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor - S. Ní Cheannabháin

Singing: Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha
Saileog Ní Cheannabháin
Uilleann pipes in b: Pádraic Keane
Fiddle (tuned to b): Saileog Ní Cheannabháin
Photo credit: Kennyj at mountainviews.ie. Comshingaun lake from above, Comeragh mountains, Co. Waterford.
Concert in The Cobblestone pub, Dublin, 19th May 2018
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Ailbhe, Saileog, Pádraic: A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn Ó, Rd To Lisdoonvarna, The Ravelled Hank of Yarn

Recorded at the Cobblestone, Dublin, on 19th May 2018.

Uilleann pipes: Pádraic Keane
Fiddle: Saileog Ní Cheannabháin

Photo: Muighinis island (a.k.a. Mweenish), Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, Co. Galway.
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Pádraic, Saileog: The Snow On The Hills, The One Horned Cow

Prelude in B Minor, Opus 32 Number 10, by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Composed in 1910.
Piece played by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on a Petrof upright piano, 23rd February 2019.
Recorded on a portable Tascam recording device.
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Rachmaninoff: Prelude in B Minor - S. Ní Cheannabháin

I learned the first tune from Danny Diamond and Aki's album, 'Danny & Aki: Music from the Irish, American & Nordic Traditions'.  The second two tunes were learned from East Mayo accordion player, Alan Morrisroe, one of them played live, and one of them both live and also on his album with Iris Nevins, 'Old Irish Melodeon Masterpieces.' 

Played on Petrof upright piano by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin.
Keys: B flat major, F major.
Recorded on a portable Tascam recording device.
26th March 2019.
Photo: Toormore, Clare Island, August 2018.
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The Whistle O'er the Lovett/John Burke's Reel/Miss Monaghan

From the album Roithleán, 2016.

Is port é ‘Red Tom of the Hill’ a chloistí go minic ag an bhfliúiteadóir Paddy Carty as Baile Locha Riach, Condae na Gaillimhe. Thaitnigh sé liom i gcónaí mar phort ach níor fhoghlaim mé ceart é go dtí le gairid. Chuala mé Conor Connolly, sár-bhoscadóir as Droichead an Chláirín, dhá chasadh ag seisiún ag Féile Cooley-Collins 2014 agus d’fhoghlaim mé ansin é. Fuair mé an dara port ó shean-taifead de Phaddy Canny agus an triú port ó thaifead de Mhartin Rochford. Tá an-tóir a’am ar cheol na beirte seo ó oirthear an Chláir.

 

Red Tom of the Hill is a tune that would be very much associated with the flute player Paddy Carty from Loughrea, Co. Galway. I always liked the tune but I didn’t learn it properly until recently. I heard Conor Connolly, a great accordion player from Clarinbridge, playing it at the 2014 Cooley-Collins festival and learned it there and then. I got the second tune from an old recording of Paddy Canny and the third from a recording of Martin Rochford. I have admired both of these East Clare fiddle players for some time.

Viola  - Copy of Gasparo da Salo viola, made by Peter Healy (RIP), cellist, luthier, mountaineer & family friend.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jack Talty at Bunker Hill Studio, Lissycasey, Co. Clare.

Producer: Jack Talty
Photography and design: Maurice Gunning
Proof reading: Deirdre Ní Chonghaile
Proof reading of song lyrics: Peadar Ó Ceannabháin
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Roithleán

Red Tom Of The Hill/The Galtee/Martin Rochford's - Roithleán album

Amhrán Mhuighinse is a traditional sean nós song which was composed by Máire Ní Chlochartaigh, while she was on her death bed. She was originally from Muighinis island (near Carna, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara), Co. Galway (also spelled 'Maínis' and anglicised as Mweenish). She was married to Taimín Ó Conghaile (referred to as Taimín Bán in the song), of Leitir Caladh.
In the song she expresses her love and loyalty to him, and her wishes to be buried at home in Muighinis, and not in Leitir Caladh. Unfortunately there was a very bad storm three days after her death, making it impossible to sail to Muighinis, and therefore the burial was in Leitir Caladh.
She also describes the details for the arrangements of her wake.  In the last two lines she says, " Ach cuirigí i Muighinis mé, áit a gcaoinfear mé go breá, Beidh soilsí ar na dumhachannaí, 's ní bheidh uaigneas orm ann." Translation: "Bury me in Muighinis, where I will be well mourned, There will be lights on the dunes, and I won't be lonely there."

I learned this version of the song from the singing of Seán 'ac Dhonncha and Seosamh Ó hÉanaí.

Photo: An Meall Rua, Muighinis island.
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Amhrán Mhuighinse

Reels: Barr na Cúille, composed by Néillidh Mulligan, and two old reels, The Geese in the Bog and Jenny Picking Cockles.
Played by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on upright Petrof piano, September 2019.
Home recording on a Tascam recording device.
Photo: Bog near Carna, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, August 2014. (Saileog Ní Cheannabháin)
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Barr na Cúille (N.Mulligan)/The geese in the bog/Jenny picking cockles - piano

From Roithleán album

Sleeve notes:

Fidil/Fiddles: Marie McHugh, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin

Fliúiteannaí/Flutes: Tim McHugh, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin

 

Is sean-ríleannaí coitianta iad Sporting Nell agus The Merry Sisters a bhí cloistithe ag an gceathrar a’inn le bliantaí. Maidir leis an bport i lár báire, ‘sé Eoghan a rinne ríl as an amhrán The Whistling Thief, a chuala muid ar albam a d’eisigh Seán ‘ac Dhonncha, nó Johnny Joe Pheaitsín mar ab fhearr aithne air. Chas Eoghan an leagan úr seo den phort ag seisiún i dteach ósta McNeill’s i mBaile Átha Cliath cúpla bliain ó shoin agus lean an chuid eile a’inn é! Is é Tim a mheabhraigh dom an port nuair a chas sé é ag féile i rith an tsamhraidh anuraidh.

 

 Sporting Nell and The Merry Sisters are well-known old tunes that the four of us have known for years. As for the middle tune, it originated from the song The Whistling Thief, which Eoghan turned into this reel. We heard the song on a Seán ‘ac Dhonncha album. Eoghan played the reel version at a session in McNeill’s pub in Dublin a few years ago and the rest of us joined in! Tim reminded me of the tune last summer when he played it at a festival.
Cover design & photography: Maurice Gunning
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Sporting Nell/The Whistling Thief/The Merry Sisters - Saileog, Eoghan, Marie & Tim McHugh

Played on a Yamaha grand piano, CIT Cork School of Music, at a CIT Tradsoc lunchtime concert on 21st November 2019.

I learned this version of Joe Mháire Mhicilín from a recording of Tomáisín Pheaits Ó Ceannabháin, from An Aird Mhóir, near Carna, Connemara, recorded by Séamus Ennis.
The second tune was recorded by Roscommon accordion player and singer, Ann McNulty in the 1930s (not the 20's as I mistakenly said). I heard the recording of her but prior to that had heard Sarah Flynn, Liam McGonigle, Conor Connolly and Andrea Palandri play it at a session at the beginning of 2016.
The third tune is an Ann McNulty version of Miss Monaghan, which I heard from Alan Morrisroe, east Mayo accordion player.
Recorded on a Tascam portable recording device.
Photo: Taken near An Aird Thoir, Carna, Connemara, August 2018.
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1. Joe Mháire Mhicilín/Ann McNulty's/Miss Monaghan - Cork School of Music Tradsoc Concert

The first tune is associated with the Fermanagh uilleann piper Tom Busby. I learned it from the playing of Jack Talty, who recorded it on his 2011 duet album with Cormac Begley. Later, I was influenced by Fiachna Ó Mongáin's version of the same tune. The second tune is Junior Crehan's version of The Humours of Bandon, which is on the album The Last House in Ballymakea.
Played on a Yamaha grand piano, at a CIT Tradsoc lunchtime concert, Cork School of Music, 21st November 2019. Photo: Corrib river, Galway city, July 2018.
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2. Tom Busby's/The Humours of Bandon - Cork School of Music Tradsoc concert

I learned this song from the singing of Sorcha Ní Ghuairim, who was from Roisín na Maithniach, near Carna, Connemara, Co. Galway.
Sung at a CIT Tradsoc lunchtime concert, Cork School of Music, 21st November 2019.
Recorded on a Tascam portable recording device.
Photo: Roisín na Maithniach, Carna, Connemara, Co. Galway, summer 2012.
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4. Seachrán Sí  - Cork School of Music Tradsoc concert

I learned the first tune from the playing of west Clare fiddle player Bobby Casey. I first heard Pádraic Keane playing the second tune, he learned it from Jimmy O'Brien Moran's album of tunes collected from Galway piper Paddy Coneely in the 19th century.
Played on a Yamaha grand piano at a CIT Tradsoc lunchtime concert, Cork School of Music, 21st November 2019. Recorded on a Tascam portable recording device.
Photo: Near Coillín, Carna, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, June 2014.
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6. Poll Ha'penny/The Garden of Daisies - CIT Tradsoc Cork School of Music concert

This version of Johnny is the Fairest Man is based on a version I heard on a recording of Joe Éinniú (also known as Seosamh Ó hÉanaí or Joe Heaney), which I first heard about seven years ago.
The origins of the song are unknown, it was sung in some parts of Ireland and versions of it were also collected in England. More info: https://mainlynorfolk.info/watersons/songs/tstandsforthomas.html
Singing & piano: Saileog Ní Cheannabháin
Home recording on a Tascam recording device, January 2020.
Photo: Near An Aird Thoir, Carna, Iorras Aithneach, Connemara, Co. Galway.
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Johnny is the Fairest Man - trad.arr S. Ní Cheannabháin

Preludio from Seis Hojas de Album, Op. 165, composed in 1890, by Isaac Albéniz.
Played by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on an upright Petrof piano.
Recorded on a Tascam recording device.
Photo: La Maroma mountain, Sierra Tejeda range, Axarquía region, between the provinces of Málaga & Granada, Andalucía, Spain.
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Albéniz: España - Preludio from Seis Hojas de Album - S. Ní Cheannabháin

I learned this song from listening to Joe Carey, a singer and accordion player from Doohoma in Erris, Co. Mayo. He said his friend Paddy Mills found the words of the song in a dresser in his house, where they had been for a long time, and the words are attributed to Tom McMenamin.  I'm not sure where the tune comes from, maybe Joe put this tune to the song.
Home recording on a Tascam device.
Photo: Minaun Cliffs, Achill Island (taken by myself).

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Where first my breath I drew (Tom McMenamin arr. Joe Carey & Paddy Mills)

This is a version of The Geese in the Bog which I learned recently from a 1929 recording of the piper Michael Carney. I really like his version and thought I might challenge myself to try and play it in his style to a certain extent, imitating some of the ornaments etc. There are some intentional and some unintentional goose sounds!
Fiddle (in B) - Saileog Ní Cheannabháin. Recorded 28th April 2020 on a Tascam device.
Photo: Near Loch Poibrium, bog walk in Iorras Aithneach, Connemara (taken by me a few years ago.)
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The Geese in the Bog - Michael Carney version - Fiddle

A piece I learned many years ago and then stopped playing it after a while. I decided to start relearning it again a few months ago. It's still a work in progress, and I find parts of it very challenging.

Toccata (1932) - Aram Khatchachurian
Played by Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on an upright Petrof piano
Home recording on a Tascam device, June 2020.

Photo of Yerevan, Armenia, by Hayk Meliksetyan.
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Aram Khatchachurian - Toccata, played by S. Ní Cheannabháin

Newly recorded track - Nana, from Siete Canciones Populares Españolas, by Manuel de Falla.
Audio track here:
https://hearthis.at/saileog/dr00000924-pitch-000-tempo-100-pitch-000-tempo-100-1/
Video here:
https://youtu.be/eXNcWXE1CP4?feature=shared





I'm no longer adding tracks here on SoundCloud. 
New and older tracks here (some of which SoundCloud deleted in 2020 without warning): https://www.hearthis.at/saileog. 
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjuvpib3abbHCdpET4JMlNA/videos
Excerpts from albums: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6B-Ar2x1zVj8JZT4FS3rL2mYsmyqlwNC
Concerts and other info: https://saileog.blogspot.ie

Sean nós singer, fiddle, piano and viola player.
http://www.saileog.blogspot.ie
Second album, Roithleán, and debut album I bhfíor-dheiriú oidhche, both released by Raelach Records. 
To buy directly from Saileog, please go to: https://saileog.blogspot.com/2024/05/cds-digital-albums.html

Excerpt from track on Rogha Raelach Vol.1 (2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbAZ19VXKXA

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