![Celtic Vital Signs [Reels, Rhymes & Rebellion]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TAvrmY8LOsA/VVM5MGyp7_I/AAAAAAAAE1Q/-yejEU9LQgM/s1600/zooreka_celtic_river___updated_by_gypsyh-d2kyfm4%2B%25281%2529f.jpg)
The King of Ireland's Son is a children's novel published in Ireland in 1916 written by Padraic Colum, and illustrated by Willy Pogany. It is the story of the eldest of the King of Ireland's sons, and his adventures finding and then winning Fedelma, the Enchanter's Daughter, who after being won is kidnapped from him by the King of the Land of Mist. It is solidly based in Irish folklore.
A quality blend of Irish jigs with Scots Strathspeys and the usual diverse local arrangements is what most attracts me to the Cape Breton Traditional genre. Here Graham Townsend, fiddle ably accompanied by Glenn Paul, piano provide selections from this entire musical spectrum, Renowned Irish fiddlers Billy Crawford taught Townsend many of the Irish tunes on offer here. Although Graham is a prolific and talented composer Le two-step d’Armand is the only Townsend original to appear on this album which leaves room for him to pay tribute to the classic fiddle repertoire that has always been his first love in music.
Plymouth Lasses / Maggie Brown’s Fancy / Buttermilk Mary;
Celtic Fairy Tales is a collection of 25 folk and fairy stories from Ireland and Scotland selected and edited by Joseph Jacobs and read by LibriVox Volunteers. 
Denis Doody, born in Ballinahulla near Ballydesmond, was the grandson of the fiddler and contemporary of Pádraig O'Keeffe, Din Tarrant. He remembers hearing Pádraig O'Keeffe and Tom Billy play when he was a child, but it was the accordion that he picked up, largely teaching himself, and mostly playing alone. He struck up friendships with Johnny O'Leary and Denis Murphy. These players were to influence his playing enormously as he returned to the music of his home region, though for ornamental intricacy and rhythmic deftness he is, unmatched within the old-style Sliabh Luachra accordion tradition. This absolutely cracking unaccompanied album speaks volumes of his sheer virtuosity and unrivalled lightness of touch.
1. Johnny Cope's/Din Tarrant's [Polkas]
Recorded between 1964 and 1976 this album features Irish Traditional Fiddle player Julia Clifford, sister of Denis Murphy, her husband John on Accordion, and their son Billy on Flute. Much of it was recorded around a single microphone in Eric and Lucy Farr's kitchen, so the sound quality isn't brilliant, but the quality of the music shines through, and Julia Clifford's playing is, as always, a thing of immense beauty.
4. The Ballydesmond/The Knocknaboul [Polkas]
Trows are known in the Shetland and Orkney Islands, where they are also called Night Stealers or Night Creepers. They are squat and misshapen, with wild hair and sallow faces; they dress entirely in grey to blend in with the misty landscape. They are smaller than most human men. They are never seen in daylight, but go out during the hours of darkness to visit the islander's crofts, as soon as the humans have gone to bed. They like to warm themselves by the fire and are mortally offended to find a locked door keeping them out. To this day islanders leave their houses and possessions unlocked so as not to anger the trows.
Trows live inside the old burial mounds, or sometimes caves, where they keep their gold, silver and precious jewels. Inside the mounds they hold great feasts and are especially fond of music and dancing. Sometimes trows invite humans into their mounds, especially gifted musicians. They rewarded one fiddler with a magical trowie shilling, so that no matter how many times he spent it, it always found its way back to his pocket. However, the silly man boasted of this gift, and the trowie shilling vanished forever. The trows' great festivals are Yule and Midsummer when they leave the mounds and can be seen performing a lop-sided crouching and hopping dance called henking. Trows kidnap human children and leave changelings in their place: sickly looking trowlings. ’
The second solo album from Mick Hanly, once again excellently produced by Dónal Lunny, and featuring a number of very well-known musicians from the Irish Traditional music scene of the 1970s and 1980s, including Andy Irvine (hurdy-gurdy & voice), Seán Hanly (bodhrán), Matt Molloy (flute), Noel Hill (concertina), Paddy Glackin (fiddle), Declan Sinnot (electric guitar), and Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, synthesizer & voice). This 1982 release is even better than Hanly's first album, and his voice is absolutely magnificent. The jewel of the album, however, is Hanly's epic version of 'The Dewey Dens of Yarrow'. Hanly took a number of versions of this song from Child, and collated them to create a meaningful narrative, put to his own music. With Matt Molloy's lovely flute accompaniment, this is a hauntingly beautiful song, as is Hanly's version of As I Went Over Blackwater.
1. Jack Coughlin's Favourite [Reel]
Hugh Morrison is best known for his accordion playing, but here he adds his rough edged vocals to provide contemporary versions of Robert Burns songs. With drums, bass and electric guitar on some tracks it is a far cry from Kenneth McKellar [thank god]. This is a great release with Burns Night almost upon us] to be played in any pub… with ballads, foot stomps, and of course some fine sing-a-longs. Joining Hugh are Boston’s Street Dogs, Johnny Rioux and Marcus Hollar plus seasoned Celtic performers, Banchory’s Scottish Golden Fiddle Champion Judi Nicolson and from Virginia, Kendall Rogers. Houston’s Celtic Rockers Murder the Stout contribute with first class Bass & Drums from Jay Brooks and Andy Salmon respectively.
Ireland's greatest folk singer the late, great and very much missed Luke Kelly sings a selection of Celtic & World Folk songs for the workers, This much sought after album is no longer available so this is probably your only chance to get it. Luke was a mere 43-years-old when he died on January 30, 1984 but the impact he made has been far-reaching. A balladeer, musician and political activist, Kelly’s ability to sing his heart out with perfect diction bear testimony to the gift of his irreplaceable voice to stir and move the most hardened of souls with song and sentiment.....enjoy
Danny Kyle was a Scottish Folk singer-songwriter and a passionate supporter of Traditional and Folk music and a constant campaigner for its revival in Scotland. He was an important figure in the Scottish Folk Revival of the 1960's. For a man so popular it is surprising that he only recorded only two LP's Ah'll Get Ye in 1975 and Heroes & Soft Targets in 1998. This album is no longer available so grab it here and though the jokes are a bit dated the songs and sentiment are eternal..jpg)
A classic recording released in 1959 which brings vividly to life Childhood Memories of City Streets From Glasgow, Salford and Dublin. Ewan MacColl a major force in the Folk revival of the time is joined by Dominic Behan one of Ireland's greatest story tellers to bring you this treasure trove of fascinating and otherwise forgotten Folk history. A great listen, literally springs to life before your very ears
William [Bill] Lamey [1914-1991] was a renowned Cape Breton Fiddle player. Coming from a Scots/Irish background it was his mothers love of Scottish music that inspired him as a child.. He was a pioneer in recorded performances of this style of Celtic music. As an avid collector of rare tunes, he amassed one of the most comprehensive and valuable collections of written Scottish violin music. The tracks here are re-mastered recordings which were originally made between 1942 and 1952..jpg)
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The Boy in the Gap is a 1970 Irish Traditional album featuring tracks originating from Limerick and Clare. It has long been unavailable for purchase and Claddagh Records don't appear to have any plans to reissue it in the foreseeable future. So this may be your only chance to delight in the lovely playing from this West Limerick Flute player and composer of a number of well-known tunes. I believe this is the first album of Irish traditional music recorded exclusively on the Flute...enjoy
A very classy and mostly unaccompanied recording of the brilliant Ballinakill fiddle player Lucy Farr, released in 1991 to coincide with her 80th birthday. As you can imagine she is now no longer above the sod, which leaves us with this beautiful legacy. Lucy is joined on several tracks by a Concertina player, probably Roly Brown, who recorded the album.....enjoy
Muıntır Lewis or as you and i would call them the Lewis family are a musical family from East Galway, consisting of Breda Lewis [mandolin] and John Lewis [flute], and their two children Patsy Lewis [concertina] and Liam Lewis [fiddle]. Music mainly from their local area of Galway, including 3 of Paddy Fahey’s compositions. What you see is what you get - 4 musicians playing in various combinations, with no guest appearances, straightforward , simple arrangements of a fine selection of tunes , all at the very leisurely pace so common of East Galway - style players. A lovely album.
2. The Weeds in the Garden [Air]
Tommy Peoples' first commercial album, recorded live between October 1974 and January 1976. On several tracks there is a very quiet guitar accompaniment, provided by Finian de Brun, but much of the music is entirely unaccompanied, except for occasional outbursts from an understandably excited audience. The playing is truly magnificent, and while several sets will be familiar from other recordings Tommy made in the 1970s, the sheer exuberance and technical precision is rarely matched on any of his other albums. Particularly excelllent here are the versions of 'The Green Hills of Tyrol' and 'The Green Fields of Glentown', while 'Jenny's Welcome to Charlie' is an absolutely superb rendition, played with all the Donegal fire and brilliance for which Tommy Peoples so rightly became famous. Yet another wonderful recording that has yet to be re-released on CD [source Ceol Alain].....enjoy
This beautiful collection of Irish Traditional music was compiled from recordings made by RTÉ between 1948 and 1969, and unfortunately out of print. the album features Irish-American fiddler Andy McGann. Also featured on some of the recordings are other Sliabh Luachra luminaries, Murphy's own sister Julia Clifford, their teacher Padraig O'Keeffe, and local box hero Johnny O'Leary, as well as famous collector and piper Seamus Ennis. Sound quality is variable, as is to be expected, but the playing is, of course, nothing less than brilliant. Of particular interest is the Sliabh Luachra style rendition of 'The Turkey in the Straw', and the fluent Sligo style duet between Murphy and McGann, as well as the array of beautifully played slides and polkas.
