Martin O'Connor - Connachtman's Rambles

Máirtín O'Connor is an Irish button accordionist from Galway, who began playing at the age of nine, and whose career has seen him as a member of many traditional music groups that include Skylark, Midnight Well, De Dannan, and The Boys of the Lough. A traditional Irish musician, O'Connor was one of the major forces of the music in the world-renowned Riverdance. His first solo album A Connachtman's Rambles relweased in 1979 established him as a solo musician and proved a major critical success. O'Connor has released three albums since; Perpetual Motion, released in 1990, Chatterbox, released in 1993, and The Road West, released in 2005.

The Jolly Tinker [Reel]
Munster Buttermilk / Port An Bhrathar [Jigs]
The Rattlin’ Bog / The Glenside / Martin O’Connor’s [Polkas]
Hornpipe
A Stoir Mo Chroi [Slow Air]
Mother’s Delight / The College Groves / Jenny’s Chickens [Reels]
John Kelly’s / Jenny Picking Cockles [Reels]
Larry O’Gaff / The Castletown Connors [Jigs]
Lord Gordon’s / The Chicago / St. Anne’s [Reels]
The Connachtman’s Rambles / My Darling’s Asleep [Jigs]
Mo Giolla Mear [Air]
Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part / Delaney’s Drummers [Jigs]

link to the free album

Martin O'Connor - Connachtman's Rambles

Joanne McIver & Christophe Saunière - Ecosse De Glenfinnan à Glasgow

The landscapes and memories of a nation provide a solid inspiration for the compositions of Joanne McIver and Christophe Saunière, which are strongly linked to the musical traditions of the west coast of Scotland. The poignant songs tell of the harsh reality of Scotland’s arduous past. Joanne also offers us lively dancing music on the bellows-blown small pipes and flutes, leaning more towards Ceol Beag [light music] than the more classical Ceol Mor [great music] typically associated with the great highland bagpipe. Christophe Saunière’s technique on the concert harp shows proof, as always, of a passionate inventiveness, and his arrangements exploit all the possibilities of his instrument. These two musicians have produced an album of astounding musicality.

01. The Herring Fishers 3'39

02. Scottish Inventors 6'00

03. The Whaler 4'15

04. Cottiers 3'16

05. Glenfinnan To Glasgow By Night 5'15

06. Corrie Capers / Brodick Highland Games 4'50

07. The Land And The Crops 3'15

08. The Clearances Lullaby 2'22

09. The Claddach Bay Seals 2'29

10. The Illegal Distillery 2'21

11. Blantyre 1877 5'29

12. Sauchiehall Street 4'05

13. The Clydeside Dockyards 3'12

Joanne McIver : grande cornemuse, petite cornemuse, tin whistle, voix, flûte traversière, piccolo
Christophe Sauniere : harpe, basse, guitare, piano, voix, perussions

link to the free album

Joanne McIver & Christophe Saunière - Ecosse De Glenfinnan à Glasgow

Ewan Maccoll & Peggy Seeger - Classic Scots Ballads

The recording [1959] is admittedly a bit dated now, but the passion is definitely still there. Ewan MacColl contributes the main part of the vocals, with able support from Peggy Seeger, whose guitar and banjo provide a sparse but solid backup. Amongst the fourteen offerings, you'll find excellent versions of "Aikendrum" and "The Banks of the Nile."

1. Aikendrum
2. The False Lover Won Back
3. The Gairdener Chyld
4. The Maid Gaed To The Mill
5. The Elfin Knight
6. The Banks Of The Nile
7. Hughie Graeme
8. Johnny Lad
9. Mormond Braes
10. Glasgow Peggy
11. The Monymusk Lads
12. The Trooper And The Maid
13. I Loved A Lass
14. Lord Thomas And Fair Annie

link to the free album

Ewan Maccoll & Peggy Seeger - Classic Scots Ballads

Fannigan's Isle - Rambles of Spring

Fannigan's Isle is an American act carrying on the tradition brought to America's shores by the Clancy Brothers, the Irish Rovers, and the man they credit as their 'founding inspiration, Tommy Makem. Based in Dayton, Ohio, Rick Fannin and Tom Scheidt, collectively known as Fannigan's Isle, have been entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest with their masterful command of the Celtic tradition for the last thirteen years. Between Tom and Rick, 13 different instruments appear on their albums, including guitar, banjo, bagpipes, tin whistle, bodhran, cittern, and many more.

1. The Rambles of Spring

2. Brennan on the Moor

3. Flower of Strabane

4. Botany Bay

5. Dear Boss

6. The Moonshiner

7. The Rocky Road to Dublin

8. Servikos Dance

9. The Lowlands of Holland

10. Follow Me Up to Carlow

11. The Witch of the Westmoreland

12. Johnny McEldoo

13. Whiskey in the Jar

14. The Green Fields of France

15. Bagpipe Medley

16. The Parting Glass

link to the free album

Fannigan's Isle - Rambles of Spring

Martin Mulvihill & Mick Moloney - Traditional Irish Fiddling from County Limerick

An absolute gem of an album, and a real testament to the magic and beauty of the old West Limerick fiddle style. The sweet tone and fluidity of the West Limerick fiddle style, as well as its absolute rhythmic solidity, seems distinct from the more heavily accented sound of the wider Sliabh Luachra region, with which the music of West Limerick shares a number of stylistic features, as well as a great deal of the repertoire. Although Martin Mulvihill spent most of his life abroad in England and the USA, he retained the regional style in which he was immersed as a young player for the rest of his life [source Ceolalainn].

1. The Road to Abbeyfeale/Lord Kitchener's Pipes [Jigs]

2. The High Road to Glin/The Low Road to Glin [Reels]

3. Limerick is Beautiful [Air]

4. Paddy Scanlon's/Buddy Furey's/The Kinard [Polkas]

5. McAuliffe's/Maggie Shanley's/Denis Enright's [Slides]

6. Flynn's (Behind the Ditch in Páirc Anna)/Dillane's [Hornpipes]

7. Bridget Flynn's/The Star of Munster [Reels]

8. The Rathcrogan (The Floating Crowbar)/The Bag of Spuds/O'Connell's Trip to Parliament [Reels]

9. The Pride of Moyvan/The Cross at the Wood [Reels]

10. Breen's/The Hangman's Rope [Hornpipes]

11. The Ballyloughlin/Seán Duine Dóite [Jigs]

12. Mulhaire's/The Morning Mist [Reels]

13. The Vales of New Direen [Air]

14. The Queen of the Fair/Langstrom's Pony [Jigs]

15. Con Mullane's/Dando Dillane's (The Banks of the Ilen) [Reels]

16. Wallace's Cross/Tarmon's/Pat Enright's [Polkas]

link to the free album

Martin Mulvihill & Mick Moloney - Traditional Irish Fiddling from County Limerick

Jamie McMenemy - The Road to Kerrigouarch

A founding member of the Battlefield Band, Jamie McMenemy has continued to influence modern Celtic music with his distinctive vocals and bouzouki, mandolin, and cittern playing. Since moving to Brittany in 1979, McMenemey has served as frontman for two groundbreaking Celtic bands: Breton-based traditional folk band Kornog, from 1981 to 1987, and Belgium-based Celtic/Balkan band Orion since 1987. The Road To Kerrigouarch was the first solo LP by Scottish folk singer Jamie McMenemy. The album was released in 1981 soon after he left the Battlefield Band.

Musicians;
Bodhrán, Vocals – Isabelle McMenemy
Fiddle, Concertina, Vocals – Brian McNeill
Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar – Christian Lemaître
Guitar, Cittern – Soig Siberil
Vocals, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Cittern, Whistle, Guitar – Jamie McMenemy

01 - Wampy's - The Broom Blooms Bonnie

02 - The Fisherman's Wife

03 - Krivo Sadovsko Horo

04 - The Demon Lover

05 - Ladie's Fingers Jig

06 - The Lochmaben Harper

07 - Laride -  Reel (The Musical Priest)

08 - Bonnie Jean Cameron

09 - The Forfar Sojer

10 - War Hent Kerrigouarch - Sheriffmuir

link to the free album

Jamie McMenemy - The Road to Kerrigouarch

Johnny Mooring - Fiddlin' Fun With Johnny Mooring

Johnny Mooring, was the only fiddler in the long history of the North American Fiddling Championship to win the title 3 years in a row.  1964, 1965 and 1966 saw Johnny sweep to victory over stiff competition, an achievement which will be hard to equal. Mooring learned the rudiments of playing the fiddle from his mother - and from the time he first picked up the instrument it became an extension of the man for the rest of his life. At the age of 12, Mooring started playing the fiddle for parties. He remembered his early beginnings and humble ancestry by carrying with him throughout his life the first payment he ever received... 35 cents. He became one of the most respected fiddle players in North America. No such happy ending to the story as Johnny Mooring was beaten to death by a jealous Husband on March 28, 1974 aged 47.

Pembroke Reel

Blind Man’s Reel

Draggin’ The Bow

Dauphin Waltz

Wild Colonial Boy

Duke And Duchess Of Edinburgh Reel

Fiddlin’ Red Waltz

Black Velvet Waltz

Chateauguay Reel

Rockin’ Alone In An Old Rocking Chair

link to the free album

Johnny Mooring - Fiddlin' Fun With Johnny Mooring

Tommy Makem - From The Archives

From The Archives album by  "The Bard Of Armagh" Tommy Makem was released in 1995 on the Shanachie label. Tommy Makem has always been considered one of the major forces on the Irish music scene. Best known for his work with the Clancy Brothers, he became one of Ireland's premier balladeers and folk singers. This release is a collection of some of his early recordings that have been unavailable for many years and gives you a chance to hear rare and inimitable performances of over 20 Celtic classics.

1 Henry Joy
2 Leatherwing Bat
3 The Bard of Armagh
4 Erie Canal
5 The Butcher Boy
6 Farewell to Nova Scotia
7 Winds of Morning
8 The Little Beggarman
9 Four Green Fields
10 Sally O
11 True Love and Time
12 Galloway Hills
13 Better Times
14 Song of the Wandering Aengus
15 Killyburn Brae
16 Bonny Love
17 Venezuela
18 Vancouver
19 New York Girls
20 My Lagan Love
21 Lolly Toodum
22 Going Home to Mary
23 As I Roved Out Tommy Makem

link to the free album

Tommy Makem - From The Archives

Jim McKillop & Josephine Keegan - Jim McKillop Irish Traditional Music

Irish Traditional Music from Cushendall the Heart of the Glens of Antrim. Jim McKillop is an Irish master fiddler and fiddle maker. Everyone loving traditional Irish jigs and reels should know and love his work. His accompanist on piano is Josephine Keegan another artist who needs no introduction. I grew up listening to these very fine artists and would recommend this fine blend of Irish & Scottish traditional tunes to any Celtic music fan.

01 Miss Monaghan/Spey in Spate  
02 Mist in the Glen/The Knights of St. Patrick
03 Fahey's/The Dawn          
04 Nellie Murphy's        
05 The Sally Gardens/The Skylark        
06 The Frieze Britches                
07 Maeve's Reel/The Fisherman's Island/Farewell to Cailroe        
08 Lord Gordon's              
09 McKillop's              
10 Carmel Mahoney Mulhaire      
11 Strike the Gay Harp          
12 The Donegal                      
13 McDermott's/The Eclipse      
14 Aughamore/The Silver Spire/The Dairymaid

link to the free album

Jim McKillop & Josephine Keegan - Jim McKillop Irish Traditional Music

Carreg Lafar - Hyn

Carreg Lafar are a traditional Welsh folk band. Formed in Cardiff by Rhian Evan-Jones, Antwn Owen-Hicks, James Rourke, Linda Owen Jones, and Simon O'Shea, Carreg Lafar means "a speaking stone", or "echo stone". Carreg Lafar is one of the bands that has been at the forefront of the Welsh traditional music scene. The group uses a mix of traditional and original music to convey a contemporary and fresh approach, whilst staying firmly rooted in the language and tradition of Welsh song and dance music. The material is arranged for traditional and contemporary instruments including fiddle, flute, pibgorn (hornpipe), bagpipes, and guitar, together with dynamic vocals. The group has made three albums, Ysbryd y Werin (Spirit of the People), Hyn (This) and Profiad ( Experience). Hyn, was released in August 1998 and received rave reviews in folk and roots music magazines in the UK and North America. Living Tradition called it "Welsh folk music at its best."

1 Yr Hen Ferchetan/Ffair Y Bala

2 Os Daw Fy Nghariad

3 Blewyn Glas/Gwas Y Neidr

4 Lisa Lan

5 Cariad Cywir

6 Afon Yr Haf

7 Mari Lwyd

8 Llef Harlech/Aberdulais

9 Aberhonddu

10 Dau Rosyn Coch/Mynd Am Dro

link to the free album

Carreg Lafar - Hyn