Raelach Records is honoured to be launching a new recording from master musicians, Tony Mac Mahon and Steve Cooney. The album is called ‘Scaoil Amach an Pocaide’, and it is a live recording of a concert Tony and Steve gave some years back in Spiddal, Co Galway. It features 10 tracks: 

1  Cúnla, Na Ceannabháin Bhána, Cailleach an Airgid

2  The Plains of Boyle, The Friendly Visit

3  The Rolling Wave (An Tonn Reatha)

4  Caoineadh Eoghain Ruadh

5  Port an Bhráthar, Port Shean tSeáin

6  The Battle of Aughrim (Cath Eachroma)

7  The Wounded Huzzar

8  The Garden of Daisies (Gairdín na Nóiníní)

9  The Humours of Drinagh, A Trip to Athlone

10  O’Neill’s March (Máirseáil Uí Néill)

It is a very special recording for a number of reasons, primarily because Tony is unlikely to be recording again. Sad to report, he has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and it has of course affected his playing. Happily there was this and one further recording already “in the can”. (The second is a selection of solo slow airs recorded a few years ago, and Raelach Records is working on making that final album ready for 2015.)

Meanwhile, ‘Scaoil Amach an Pocaide’ is here to reveal the energy, passion, depth and sensitivity these two great musicians shared with so many audiences in their intimate kitchen concert series of recent years. As Martin Hayes writes in the sleeve note to the album: “What could be better than hearing the combination of these two iconic musicians. This is a beautiful and profoundly heartfelt recording that anybody interested in Irish music should own.”

https://raelachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/scaoil-amach-an-pocaide-live-in-spiddal