Host Brian Hart presents the traditional songs and dance music of Ireland, as well as the contemporary sounds and styles of this rich, living musical legacy.
| Calico |
Flook |
Flatfish |
Flatfish Records |
| Some peppy reels to start the show. These guys can totally change my mood within eight bars! HUP! |
| The Galtee Hunt |
Clannad |
Dúlaman |
Shanachie |
| Yes, they're a famous family but did you know they are also instrumentalists? A brilliant hornpipe with lovely bounce. |
| Slán agus Beannacht |
Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh |
Slán agus Beannacht |
Errigal |
| This recording is dubbed from the vinyl. Can you tell?! Seoirse's arrangements and singing are so relaxing and nostalgic. He's also a visual artist and dapples in film as well. |
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| Bobby Casey's/The Portarlington Jig/Mac Callum's |
Castle Céilí Band |
Castle Céilí Band |
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann |
| One of the great, All-Ireland winning céilí bands of 1970s. |
| Around the House (set) |
Danú |
When All Is Said And Done |
Shanachie |
| There's something very Binny McCarthy about this track. Perhaps an early preview of his Rattle The Floorboards phase? |
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| Puirt-a-beul |
Dòchas |
An Darna Umhail |
Macmeanmna |
| Scottish mouth music to enliven the set. These songs are both tongue twisters and dance tunes. Julie Fowlis got her start with this band before moving on to a very successful solo career with her hubby from the Irish group, Danú. |
| Lámhín Mharbh |
Joe Ryan & Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin |
Gugalaí Gug |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| This is a game played by the children of S. Conamara. It literally means 'a dead hand' but is something more akin to our hand clapping games here in the States. Whomever finished the rhyme the quickest gets to slap the loser in the face! |
| Válsai/Dé Sathairn |
Seán Ryan |
Súil Uait |
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| Chan Eil Mi Gun Mhulad Orm (Clapping Song) |
Bannal |
Waulking Songs |
Greentrax |
| A playful song with lines improvised by the main singer and the chorus sung by a roomful of women. It's a clapping song, which is the song sung after the waulking song. The clapping is really made by the act of fluffing the wool after it's been seasoned. |
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| Lord Inchiquin |
Dónal Clancy |
Close To Home |
Compass Records |
| One of the younger generation of the Clancy clann making his way back to his roots. Dónal is one of the few who play dance tunes on the guitar. His settings on slower pieces are impressively rich. |
| Dark Is The Colour |
Seán 'ac Dhonncha |
An Spailpín Fánach |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| Seán's version of this well-known ballad is the definitive one! He sings like a piper and draws you into the emotion of the song. |
| The Blackbird (set dance) |
Crowe, Gould & Goodfellow |
Collected |
Self release |
| CANADIANS! This trio had some great music making going on in the mid 1990s. The majority of songs from this album were collected by early folklorists, which Catherine found in the National Canadian Archives. The Blackbird is a classic set dance. |
| Ríl An Mhianadóra Ghuail/Bláth Na Sméar Dubh |
Conal Ó Gráda |
Éigse Dhairmuidín |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| Conal is an amazing flute player from Cork. I wouldn't be surprised if he blows the foot off of his flute fairly often. This track was recorded live at Éigse Dhairmuidín-held in commemoration of Dairmuid Ó Súilleabháin, a great singer from Cúil Aodh. |
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| The Two Brothers |
Belle Stewart |
The Voice Of The People |
Topic Records |
| A great Scottish singer from the traveling people who spent time in Ireland as well. This ballad is haunting and heart-wrenching and one of my favourites. |
| Collier's Reel |
Alan Morrisoe & Iris Nevins |
Old Irish Melodeon Masterpieces |
Self release |
| Alan hails from Co. Mayo and when Irish from the Irish American Association of Northwest New Jersey invited him to play at their center in Rockaway Township, NJ he made it a night to remember with numerous stories and tunes seldom heard in the traditional music circles of today. |
| Wellington's Medal (lilting) |
Eddie Butcher, Joe Holmes & Len Graham |
Chaste Muses, Bards and Sages |
Free Reed Music |
| This track comes from one of two vinyl albums combined and transferred to cd format featuring the then young Len Graham with his partners in crime- Eddie Butcher (RIP) and Joe Holmes (RIP). |
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| Bríde Ní Scannláin |
Eilís Uí Shúilleabháin |
Cois Abhann na Séad |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| Eilís gives her all to the preservation and promotion of songs from the Muskerry Gaeltacht (Kerry/Cork border). Her brother, Dairmuid, was also a great singer but was killed in a road accident. Éigse Dhairmuidín is organized by Eilís and is held in is honor every November. |
| Allistrum's March 1/Allistrum's March 2/Johnny Loves Molly |
Niall & Cillian Vallely |
Callan Bridge |
Compass Records |
| These brothers are at the tops in my book. Besides being fantastic musicians, these guys compose an awful lot of their own tunes which are played in many a session today. |
| Christmas In Spiddal/Twelve To The Bar |
Johnny Óg Connolly & Brian McGrath |
Dreaming Up The Tunes |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| These are some great waltzes played by, famed melodeon master, Johnny Connolly's son. The box and banjo are a great combination for dancing. |
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| Amhrán Mhaínse |
Patsy Ó Ceannabháin |
Fear Múinte Mánla |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| This song is one of the best songs I've ever heard. Maínis is an island just off the shore between Cill Chiarán and Carna in South Conamara. It's basically the last wishes of a woman who has fallen ill and anticipates her demise. Patsy's brother, Jimmy, lived in Chicago for many years and taught me a song or two. |
| Girseacha Bhaile Átha Cliath/An Duilleog Eidhneain |
MacDara Mac Donncha |
Cois Mara Thoir Sa Rinn |
Cló Iar-Chonnachta |
| This set of reels played for a festival in the Ring Gaeltacht of Co. Waterford. This particular festival commemorates Nioclás Tóibín, a seminal figure in the sean-nós singing tradition there. |
| The Skillet Pot |
Dolly McMahon |
Dolly |
Claddagh Records |
| Dolly was the wife of Ciarán Mac Mathúna, who passed away in December of 2009. She's a great proponent of the East Galway tradition. This song is as fanciful and airy as it is nostalgic. Boxty...mmm...blásta! |
| The Old Concertina Reel/Come West Along The Road |
Tony McMahon & Noel Hill |
In Knocknagree |
Shanachie |
| This famous duo get people on their feet and dancing. If you listen closely you'll hear the set dancers' battering steps. Classic! |
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