| Ocras |
| Order of Tracks: | |
| 1. | The Potato Drill - 2:35 |
| 2. | Na Maithe Móra - 3:40 |
| 3. | Landlords of Ireland - 2:44 |
| 4. | The Exile / New-Found-Land - 3:14 |
| 5. | Workdance - 3:08 |
| 6. | Chapel Street / Sailing from Sligo - 3:00 |
| 7. | An Gorta Mór - 5:18 |
| 8. | The Rebel's March - 2:29 |
| 9. | Caoineadh na dTrí Muire - 2:52 |
| 10. | The Boys of Ballisadare / Splendid Isolation - 3:58 |
| 11. | Caoineadh Eibhlín - 5:01 |
Front Cover
The front cover is an original painting which was kindly lent to us by the Donegal artist Seoirse O Dochartaigh.
The Famine
The great famine of the 1840's was the worst disaster ever to strike Ireland. The country was economically, politically and socially unprepared for the magnitude of the potato crop failure and the wave of disaster that followed. Even the winter of 1847 was described as 'the longest and coldest' in living memory. Those who attempted to emigrate often perished at sea, or worse still failed to survive the quarantine station. Famine death was relentless in its pursuit of the Irish in those years. This music endeavours to capture the myriad facets of a smitten nation: hope, hunger, pride, death, survival and pain. The 15 musicians on this album come from the counties Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Cavan.
| The Musicians | |
| Harp: | Michael Rooney, Catherine and Margaret Rhatigan. |
| Fiddles: | Damian O'Brien, Maggie Mc Govern, Oisín and Cormac Mac Diarmada. |
| Flutes: | Eileen Kennedy, Michael Rooney. |
| B. Accordion: | David Sheridan. |
| P. Accordion: | Oliver Loughlin. |
| U. Pipes: | Pauric Mc Govern. |
| Concertina: | Michael Rooney. |
| Guitar: | Patrick Donagher. |
| Percussion: | Seamus Gallagher, Prannie Rhatigan. |
| Vocal: | Collette Mc Devitt. |
| Order of Tracks: | |
| 1. | Launching the Boat / Gerry Cronin's (Reels) - 3:30 |
| 2. | An Buachaill Dreoite Set (Jigs) - 3:20 |
| 3. | The Ash Plant / Dan Breen's (Reels) - 2:06 |
| 4. | The Palm Tree Set (Reels) - 2:54 |
| 5. | Reel Gan Ainm / Crawford's Reel (Reels) - 3:20 |
| 6. | The Good Natured Man / Miss Galvin's (Hornpipes) - 2.36 |
| 7. | Tommy Maguire's, The Queen of Mayo (Charlie Lennon), Fahy's (Jigs) - 3.15 |
| 8. | The Spey in Spate / Kilcoon (Joe Liddy) (Reels) - 2.32 |
| 9. | Reel Gan Ainm, The Old Road to Charlestown (Brendon Tonra) (Reels) - 3.20 |
| 10. | Port Gan Ainm / The Doberman's Wallet (Jigs) - 2.53 |
| 11. | The Castle Set (Reels) - 3.05 |
| 12. | Paddy Canny's (Charlie Lennon), The Donegal Reel (Slow Reels) - 3.16 |
| 13. | Reel gan ainm, The Lads of Laois, The Furze Bush (Reels) - 3.26 |
The north Connaught region consisting of Counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and part of Mayo, has always been a rich storehouse of traditional music and has produced some of the finest musicians in the history of Irish traditional music. During the latter years of the last century, and the first half of this century, there were more traditional musicians per square mile in this region than anywhere else in the country, mainly fiddlers and flute players.
This great musical tradition has continued and I'm delighted to introduce four exceptional young musicians, two from Co Sligo and two from Co Leitrim. I have had the pleasure of working with them as their music teacher and mentor since they were young children. I have witnessed the development and blossoming of their wonderful talents over what seems a short length of time.
The Musicians| • | June Ní Chormaic, from Sligo, plays the flute. Her lovely, rich tone and fluency adds charm and colour to the music. |
| • | Damian O'Brien, from Co. Leitrim, produces a lovely, sweet tone and flowing style in his fiddling. |
| • | Oliver Loughlin, also from Leitrim, is one of a very few people who has mastered the piano accordion in Irish traditional music. He has a great sense of excitement in his playing. |
| • | The lovely, tasteful, sensitive accompaniment is provided by Kevin Brehony, from Co Sligo, on piano and keyboard. |
Guest Musicians
| • | Michael Rooney - Harp |
| • | Junior Davey - Bodhran |
| • | Darragh Kelly - Drums |
| • | Gerry McMahon - Guitar |
All of them display great command of their instruments and the music and produce great feeling, exuberance and passion in their playing. I look forward, eagerly, to hearing a lot more from them in the years ahead. Enjoy this lovely music.
| Order of Tracks: | |
| 1. | Reavy's / The Milliner's Daughter - 3:25 |
| 2. | Bímis ag Ól / The Lark on the Strand - 3:31 |
| 3. | The Pleasures of Hope / The Letterkenny Blacksmith / The Carraroe Reel - 6:15 |
| 4. | Aghaidh Jhanuis - 4.47 |
| 5. | Farewell to Erin / The Morning Star - 2:41 |
| 6. | Munster Grass / The Peacock's Feather - 4.37 |
| 7. | The Humours of Kilclogher / Tell Her I Am - 4.28 |
| 8. | The Blue Ribbon / Church Street Polka - 3.14 |
| 9. | Tigh Rabhartaigh / Gort na Móna - 3.10 |
| 10. | The Pride of the Bronx / The Humours of Scariff - 2.47 |
| 11. | Spórt - 2.53 |
| 12. | Tom Maguire's Fancy / The Flogging Reel - 3.12 |
| 13. | Tommy People's / Michael Dwyer's Jig - 3.00 |
| 14. | The Funny Reel / Billy McComiskey's - 3.51 |
| 15. | The Mason's Apron / Fred Finn's - 3.30 |
| 16. | Jimmy McHugh's / The Humours of Trim - 3.35 |
| 17. | Caher Rua / Miss Lyon's Fancy - 3.55 |
...a variety of moods and tunes, expressed with great feeling and sensitivity by three young musicians of exceptional talent and skill. Their deep respect and love for the music, their perfect tone clarity and highly personal styles make for compelling listening.
The well-conceived arrangements enhance an exemplary selection of tunes...a fine record.
Albam de cheol binn, blasta den scoth ó thriúr cheoltóirí óga go bhfuil a gcáil ag méadú gach lá. Tá idir cheol nua-chumtha agus sean-chlaisicigh le cloisteáil ar an taifeadadh. Is ríléir go bhfuil talann faoi leith ag an triúr cheoltóirí, gach duine acu lena stíl phearsanta fhéin, agus tuiscint chuimsitheach acu ar an gceol.
This is an album of pure, sweet wonderful music, with newly composed tunes as well as some of the 'classics', from three young up-and-coming musicians. It is overwhelmingly clear from this album that these three musicians each possess tremendous talent, accompanied by very individual styles of playing, and they demonstrate an in-depth understanding of traditional music.