Our Dear Dark Mountain – CD Launch

Venue: The Old Ground Hotel

Address: Station Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

Admission: Free

About

Described as “a fascinating musical project … beautifully rendered” by Irish Echo columnist Dan Neely, ‘Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky Over it’ is the musical culmination of PhD research by Téada member, Seán McElwain.

Focusing on the musical heritage of the Sliabh Beagh Region of counties Monaghan and Fermanagh, this unique recording reunites material collected in the region during the 19th and early 20th century with some of the region’s current traditional musicians including: Dónal McCague (Tg4 Young Musician of the Year 2013); Conor McCague (banjo); Darren Breslin (button accordion); Laura Beagon (fiddle); Michael Rooney (concertina); Eamonn Curran (uilleann pipes); Michael McCague (guitar / bouzouki); Brian McGrath (piano); Monica Beagon-Treanor (traditional singing), Caitríona Sherlock (traditional singing).
 
Among the collections from which this recording draws, are those of James Whiteside. Described by Capt. Francis O’Neill as “genius” in equal parts ‘scholar, poet, musician and composer”, Whiteside’s collection of music, which in the estimation of Leo Rowsome represented  “a great asset to the Nation”, is explored for the first time on this recording.

http://www.ourdeardarkmountain.com
https://www.facebook.com/ourdeardarkmountain

 
Reviews

“A fascinating musical project … beautifully rendered … the reflection of a musical community rallying around and exploring a shared and underrecognized identity” (Dan Neely, Irish Echo)“Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky Over It has a charm and depth that’s incomparable. It’s easy to hear the musicians’ emotional attachment bursting through on this very important collection.” (John Carty, TG4 Musician of the Year 2003)”Musically it is a revelation and could quite easily become album of the year … An outstanding recording of traditional music.” (Tony Lawless, TradConnect)

“A revivified local accent and an intensely populated repertoire underpin this finely executed collection: a feast for local and curious eared visitor alike.” (Siobhán Long, The Irish Times)