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The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk
by William Ramoutar

I can honestly say there is no way I would have been the person to compile this collection of songs or artists.  In my mind there are too many tunes that whizz around my head every week of my life that I sometimes obsess about– I would have needed 5, 6, or even 10 cd’s.  And, as for artists, well, that is another entirely different horse.  Older songs and Artists pop into my recollections without invitations or indeed reason!  Although I have to say the liner notes are so well done and really a quite comprehensive explanation of where the music came from (compiled by John O’Regan, a presenter on Limerick radio in Ireland), he also compiled the collection, and it is a clue to his own radio show's format. He is, as I say on Limerick Community Radio with a show called The Eclectic Celt. The tunes from the musicians on the cd are truly excellent.  Mind you, probably everybody would have different tunes they would have chosen for a collection named as this, but what a package to promote our heritage and the great tradition of Irish music.

The whole ensemble begins with the distinctive voice of the late Luke Kelly, one of The Dubliners group, with Patrick Kavanagh’s autumnal love story to Dublin - Raglan Road.  You can almost see the leaves swirling lazily through the streets and the serenity of the Grand Canal as it winds its way through the neighbourhoods of the capital city.  I won’t go track by track, but I will give you a few little tastes of this worthy addition to any person’s music shelves.

The older songs rendered here are by icons of the music, such as Paul Brady with Andy Irvine, and Dolores Keane, in fact singing the magnificent Brady song  “The Island,” which I believe is a tune to be recognized as a true classic for decades to come.  It is the comparison of Northern Ireland to Lebanon which is awe inspiring and so pertinent to what is happening at the moment in their ongoing conflict.  I think Paul Brady’s forte is songs about home, or the Irish diaspora.  His gift is in the recognizable visions he gives us of home - writings that are amongst the best descriptive images of the land and its people.

Paul Brady is also included on the second cd from his time with The Johnstons, and here is where we differ.  I would have used the ultimate version for me of the “Dublin Jack of all Trades,” which will never be bettered.

One of my favourite spandex rock bands of all time were “Horslips,” who burst onto the scene in the seventies; their electric reels and punchy guitar were the best of all.  “King of the Fairies” is their song done many times since, but never reaching the lasting impression this one leaves.  I promise, this version could inspire football teams to greatness.  Maybe even yourself on one of your exercise runs!

The Dubliners are again on the second cd with “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and as we had Luke earlier on, we have a live version here with Sean Cannon, a song that never fails to make me see how our ancestors persisted in the face of many adversities.

The gorgeous voice of Niamh Parsons brings the words of the brilliant Northern Ireland singer songwriter, Briege Murphy to life.  Visions of banshees and fairy mountains abound in this classic of recent years.

Another great entertainer and writer of emotive lyrics and from the opposite end of the Island is John Spillane from Cork who writes a number of classic tunes every year it seems.  A rilliant airing of his “Johnny don’t go to Ballincollig” is here also.

Clannad bring their ethereal sound to the compilation, and Maire (or Moya, as she now wishes to be known), brings her unmistakable voice with her uncles and brothers to the Irish song “Rhapsody na gCrann.”  And here again. there are at least a dozen songs that would have fit their contribution, as their overall sound is unequalled.

I heard Luka Bloom’s “You couldn’t have come at a better time” many years ago on another compilation and I have never tired of hearing it since.  Definitely one to be copied by bands and singers for the rest of time, but with Luka’s driving vocals and the electric blue fiddle of ex-Cherish the Ladies fiddler Eileen Ivers pouring it on, certainly unforgettable.

Truthfully one of the founders of the speed merchants of Irish traditional music of today were “The Bothy Band,” who belt one out live with nary a note missed.

Great icons Altan are also here with an instrumental - The Curlew.  I have heard Mairead sing live and think only sometimes has the true potential of her voice ever been recorded; she is a magical gift from the west of Ireland and her style of fiddling is something that so many of our up and coming artists look to emulate.  The chosen tunes of America’s Cherish the Ladies, led by the indomitable Joanie Madden, and The London Lasses and Pete Quinn with their driving force, Karen Ryan are recordings to remember.  My only reservation is when I loaded the cds into my iTunes library it seems the songwriters are listed rather than the artists.  Small issue and hardly worthy of mention and if you have iTunes you can change it yourself.

I am delighted with the collection as it is yet another choice for the upcoming gift giving season and I will pass some on to serious listeners and friends who live for this music.  As I said, there is something on here for most everyone, with both new and old selections and entertainers, so remember it when you are buying for Christmas, or in fact any occasion.  St Patrick’s Day is always around the corner too, so I can see this being played out the windows in celebration of the good times that this holiday brings every year.  As said earlier, I wouldn’t even try to list all the tracks,* but you will you find some of your favourites on here  or even new faves.  I would bet this release will be around for many years. Find it and share it!

The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk is available on Amazon

And here are all the tracks:
CD 1

Luke Kelly: Raglan Road
Lúnasa: Morning Nightcap / The Malbay Shuffle
Kevin Burke & Mícheál O’Domhnaill: Lord Franklin
Réalta: The Galtee / The Black Haired Lass / The Stoney Steps (Reels)
Andy Irvine & Paul Brady: Plains of Kildare
Dervish: Baba Chonraoi
Johnny Duhan: The Voyage
Michelle Mulcahy: Hornpipes: The Galway Bay / The Peacock’s Feather No. 2
Dolores Keane: The Island
The Makem & Spain Brothers: Crossroads Ceili
Jane Cassidy: Green Bushes
Lou McMahon: Wide Eyed Lady
Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill: Paddy Fahey’s Reel
Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla: Brian Boru’s March
Luka Bloom: You Couldn’t Have Come at a Better Time
The Willis Clan: Boys from Boston
Screaming Orphans: Lonely Boy
Afro Celt Sound System: Whirl-Y-Reel No 1

CD 2

Clannad: Rhapsody na gCrann
The Young Folk: Way Down South
Cherish the Ladies: Rayleen’s Reel / The Pullet / Scotch Mary / Within a Mile of Dublin
Caladh Nua: The Cruel Lowland Maid
Craobh Rua: Hunting the Hare / Give Us a Drink of Water / Ellen O’Grady / Moll Rua The Mighty Doonans: Ramblin’ Siuler
Kíla: Glanfaidh Mé
The Johnstons: Gleanntáin Ghlas’ Ghaoth Dobhair
The Dubliners: The Rocky Road to Dublin (Live)
Altan: The Curlew / McDermott’s / Three Scones of Boxty
Niamh Parsons: Clohinne Winds
The Bothy Band: The Green Groves of Erin / The Flowers of Red Hill (Reels) -
John Spillane: Johnny Don’t Go to Ballincollig
Sinéad O’Connor & Christy Moore: Lord Baker
The London Lasses & Pete Quinn: Boys of Belfast / Julia Clifford’s / Reg Hall’s - Horslips: King of the Fairies


Author's BIO: William Ramoutar
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Thu, Feb 29, 2024

St Patrick's Cathedral

The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St. Patrick is the full official name and, according to tradition, St Patrick baptised several converts at a well in what is now a park adjacent to the cathedral. To commemorate this event, a small wooden church was built. In 1901, the well was rediscovered and an ancient granite stone, marked with a Celtic cross which covered the well, was moved into the cathedral. The parish church on this site was one of four Celtic churches in Dublin and was known as St Patrick's in Insula - on the island - as it was built on an island between two branches of the River Poddle which still flows under the cathedral.
Image: StPatrick's Cathedral.ie

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Carolan's Receipt
by Derek Bell

Derek Bell recorded Carolan's Receipt in 1975, the same year he joined the Chieftains. The selections include "Sídh Beag agus Sídh Mór," the first melody O'Carolan composed, as well "Carolan's Farewell to Music," which was his last. There have been dozens of settings of O'Carolan's compositions released since these, but none have surpassed the beauty of Bell's.
Michael Simmons
See our Article on O'Carolan
Click here for Carolan's Receipt.



James Galway & The Chieftains In Ireland

Two of Ireland's most popular music ambassadors team up to produce an outstanding collection of ancient airs, lively jigs and reels, and lush, romantic melodies.This CD has been in our collection for more than ten years and we never tire of listening to it.
See Review
Click here for Galway & Chieftains


 

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