Among the many new recordings being promoted around the Willie Clancy Summer School this week is the debut solo album from Caitlín Nic Gabhann, one of the tutors at the School.

Nic Gabhann is a three-time All Ireland Fleadh winner from Co Meath who plays and has played with a number of groups including the trans-Atlantic NicGaviskey with her sister Bernadette, Baltimore accordion player Sean McComiskey and Detroit flute player Sean Gavin.

Nic Gabhann learned most of her music from her father, fiddler Antóin MacGabhann and took lessons on concertina from Meabh Ní Lochlainn. At the same time, she learned her dancing from her mother Bernie Murphy who is ‘from a long line of set-dancers from Co Clare’, and says her music and dancing is influenced by the styles of Willie Keane, Aidan Vaughan and Tommy Browne.

The album features six tunes, including an air, written by Nic Gabhann herself, others by Vincent Broderick, John Dwyers, and John Martin; and the rest are arranged by Nic Gabhann and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail who provides very delicate accompaniment on many of the tracks the album. A few tracks include the sound of Nic Gabhann’s dance steps.

The tracklist is as follows:
The Rookery / Joe Cooley’s Morning Dew / the Edenderry Reel
Mrs. Galvin’s / Coleman’s Cross / Baitheadh Bhruclais
Lucky in Love / the Little Bag of Spuds
Heartstrings
Bo Na Leath-Adhairce / the Morning Lark / the Bohola
Master’s Return / the Mill House
Up Leitrim / a Tune for Bernie
Sunday’s Well
Flying Column / the Eel in the Sink / the Shallow Reel
O’Flaherty’s / the Wily Old Bachelor / the Japanese Hornpipe
Elevated / the Shepard’s Daughter / the Strawberry Blossom / the Blackberry Blossom
I Was Born for Sport / Anthony Frawley’s / Repeal of the Union
The Leeside Sessions / the Reel With the Beryl / John Naughton’s Green Field’s of America
Cill Dheagláin
Jim Coleman’s / Jimmy McGettrick’s / John Dwyer’s

caitlin.ie