Various Artists - Ulster's Flowery Vale

This my friends is Irish Traditional music as it should be. these tracks were recorded for two BBC radio programmes broadcast in 1968 and feature some of the best traditional musicians and singers of the time. These are the artists that first got my toes tapping as a child, especially Tommy Gunn, Sean McAloon and Barney McKenna. Barney seems to have slipped across the border to join in on this otherwise all Northern Irish affair. The album is flawless the songs are simply stunning and the tunes are even better..

Artists:
Sarah Makem from Keady, Co. Armagh - Grandmother, singer of a thousand songs.
Tommy Gunn from Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh - Fiddler, Hirer, dancer.
David Hammond from Belfast - Performer and producer.
George Hanna from Derrytresk, Co. Tyrone - Coalminer, head of a singing family.
Jerry Hicks from Armagh - Teacher, singer, poet.
Sean Maguire from Belfast - Musician extraordinary, virtuoso on the fiddle.
Sean McAloon from Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh - “Ireland's natural piper”.
Michael McCann from Dromore, Co. Tyrone - A delightful lilter.
Cathal McConnell from Ballinaleck, Co. Fermanagh - Flute player, quietly and totally comitted to music.
Barney McKenna from Dublin - “Banjo Barney”, lifelong student, superb instrumentalist

[First broadcast N.I.H.S. July and August 1968]

Side One

1. Mrs. McLeod's Reel - Sean McAloon (Uileann Pipes), Tommy Gunn (Fiddle) & Cathal McConnell (Flute)
2. The Lowlands of Holland - Sung by David Hammond
3. Jig: Drops of Brandy - Barney McKenna (Banjo)
4. Red Red Rose - Sung by Sarah Makem
5. Pair of Jigs: The Maid in the Meadow/The Battering Ram - Sean McAloon (Uileann Pipes), Tommy Gunn (Fiddle) and Cathal McConnell (Flute)
6. The Maid Behind the Bar - Lilted by Michael McCann
7. Old Arboe - Sung by George Hanna
8. Reel: The Mason's Apron - Barney McKenna (Banjo) & Sean Maguire (Fiddle)
9. True Lovers' Discourse - Sung by Jerry Hicks
10. Pair of Reels: O'Rourke's Reel/The Wild Irishman - Sean Maguire (Fiddle) & Barney McKenna (Banjo)

Side Two

1. Jig: Paddy's Return - Lilted by Michael McCann
2. Slow Air: Tá Sí Na Codhladh - Cathal McConnell (Flute)
3. Reel: The Maid Behind the Bar - Sean McAloon (Uileann Pipes)
4. Dobbin's Flowery Vale - Sung by Jerry Hicks
5. Pair of Jigs: The Lark in the Morning/The Wandering Minstrel - Sean McAloon (Uileann Pipes), Tommy Gunn (Fiddle) and Cathal McConnell (Flute)
6. The Lisburn Lass - Sung by George Hanna
7. Hornpipe: The Black Swan - Sean Maguire (Fiddle)
8. The Blackbird of Mullaghmore - Sung by David Hammond
9. March: The Pikeman - Cathal McConnell (Flute) and Tommy Gunn (Fiddle)
10. Sailor Cut Down in his Prime - Sung by Sarah Makem
11. Pair of Reels: Hunters' Purse/The Copperplate - Sean McAloon (Uileann Pipes), Tommy Gunn (Fiddle) and Cathal McConnell (Flute)

link to the free album

Various Artists - Ulster's Flowery Vale