Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich from the cover of his 1987 debut album.
Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich's Debut Album Re-Issued
Gael Linn have re-issued Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich’s 1987 debut solo album, Seana Choirce, totally re-mastered and re-packaged.
This idea of a re-issue came about after Ó Beaglaoich performed at one of Gael Linn’s Bewleys@6 gigs in 2011 (a new autumn season of Bewleys@6 is starting up again on 25 September coming with Donegal singer Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, accompanied on keyboard and fiddle by Ciarán Coll), and then acted as an adjudicator at last year’s Gael Linn Siansa (won by Sligo group Teaspach). After these fresh contacts with Ó Beaglaoich, Antoine Ó Coileáin of Gael Linn committed to the idea of reviving the recording which had never made the transition to CD.
The track list is as follows:
1. I’ll Puck You With My Horn O / Gan ainm / Gan ainm (slides)
2. An Gallope / I Have A Donkey, He Wouldn’t Go (polkas)
3. The Gypsy Princess (hornpipe)
4. Cois Laoi Na Sreabh (air)
5. The Heather Breeze / The Pure Drop (reels)
6. Johnny Leary’s I / Jack Ryan’s / Johnny Leary’s II (polkas)
7. Gan ainm / Gan Ainm / The Labyrinth (slides)
8. Beauty Deas An Oileáin (air)
9. Pádraig Ó Caoimh / Dálaí / Julia Clifford (polkas)
10. Frisco’s / Walshe’s (hornpipes)
11. Patsy Baker / Johnny Ghabha / Downey (polkas)
12. Caoineadh Uí Dhomhnaill (air)
13. Port Mhoss Martin / Síos Chun na Trá (jigs)
14. Poírt Phádraig Uí Chaoimh (jigs)
15. The Kerry Hills (air)
In the text of the original sleeve notes, Ó Beaglaoich gives thanks to the composers and musicians who contributed to his musical upbringing: ‘I always thought that theirs was the music of truth, of the mountains and the islands with the gentleness of the sea running through it.’
In a new sleeve note, Ó Beaglaoich gives his thoughts on the power of music: ‘Regardless of how good the musician is, it’s good for his health for him to play, whether he is sad or happy or deep in thought. Music is a language that brings one to a great sense of awareness without the need for words.’
Peadar Ó Riada emphasises how much Ó Beaglaoich got from Sliabh Luachra box player Johnny O’Leary, and praises Ó Beaglaoich’s playing of slow airs which he attributes this to his fine singing voice.
Ó Coileáin says: ‘When I had the original tapes re-mastered, I was amazed by the freshness and vitality of the music – it was a revelation. I am sure that Breanndán’s many fans will be surprised and delighted to find this gem from twenty-five years ago.’
