1. Reels: An tAiseiri The Ressurection (The Bucks of Oranmore / Sally Gardens)
These two tunes were very popular when I was young. However, their over-popularity contributed to their demise. Hopefully they are coming back the full circle again. These are for Michael Slattery, one of the best listeners in Ennis.
2. Jigs: Macs Weirs (The Nightingale / The First Trout* )
The Nightingale is one of Sean Ryans and I rate it as one of the finest tunes around. I composed The First Trout in 1998. 'The First Trout' was caught on The Fergus at Macs Weirs. This Selection is dedicated to Mick McNamara.
3. Hornpipes: Kellehers Kitchen (Galway Bay I Garrykennedy Castle)
I first heard Galway Bay on The Liffey Banks by Tommy Potts in 1985. This album is one of my all-time favourites. He played the Drunken Sailor after it, an incredible piece of music. The first time I played Garrykennedy Castle (one of Paddy O'Briens) was in Ennistymon with Michael Kelleher in
his Kitchen, a real University of Irish Music.
4. Jigs: Two Magpies (Banish Misfortune I Bobby Caseys)
Banish Misfortune has many different interpretations. I like to use F naturals at the end of the run. Bobby Caseys sounds like a Jig version of Eileen Currans Reei.
5. Air: Miltown Dawn (Air to A Star mo Chroi)
Air from the Song A Stor mo Chroi, which is a very popular emigration Song. It tells the other side of the emigration tragedy: The lonesomeness of the people left behind. Whenever I play around Miltown, Catherine & Aidan Looney always call for this slow air around Dawn, just before the 'last' set of reels.
6. Reels: The Slow Lane (Lane to the Glen I The Blockers )
Lane to the Glen is one of Reaveys finest, played with The Blockers which is from Sean Ryah. There is a lot of sweetly composed music in these two tunes, best suited to the 'Slow Lane'.
7. Strathspeys: Smokey Keyboard (The Laird of Drumblairl/Drumnagarry)
I heard Tommy & Siobhan Peoples playing these years ago I changed Drumnagarry to the key of C. You wouldn't want to have cold fingers when playing ,these two.
8. Reels: My Left Hand (Hanlys Tweed I Faheys )
These tunes are played without any accompaniment, except the natural accompaniment of the left hand
9. Air/Jig/Reel: The Scource (Air / Jig -Caoinleach Glas an Fhomhar/Reel: The Killarney Boys of Pleasure) Johnny McCarthy
After many approaches Johnny McCarthy, My Father and teacher, eventually agreed to record a track. He walked into the Studio, took out his box, played his selection once and said "Good Luck Now." It made our four hours work so far (with no tracks recorded), seem worse. Thankfully, he brought luck and we had nine tracks recorded that evening. In memory of our uncle, Anthony Murphy, Friend, Sportsman and Musician.
10. Song: Voicebox (Sliabh Gallion Braes)
Vocals by Alph
This Northern Song tells the sad story of emigration, the lands and the people our ancestors had to leave behind them due to the 'Cruel-Hearted' landlords. We use just the 'Box' and the
'Voice' for effect.
11. Reels: O'Oowd on the Double to the
Doctor (O'Dowds / Dr. Gilberts)
I prefer to play O'Dowds as a Double Reel, I have paired it with Dr. Gilberts, one of those reels that seems to have a mind of its own. Before the tunes were decided for the recording, Alph said "anything but Dr. Gilberts" so I couldn't resist!
12. Air: A Mother came calling (Air to The Fairy Child)
When a child died, it was understood that the fairies put a changeling in its place. The Great Mick Flynn, I heard singing this song. A mother calls to the fairies to ask why they took her young boy.
Mick recorded this song in his captivating Album A Singers Dozen
This air is dedicated to my Son, Peter McCarthy RIP
13. Reels: The Butcher Brennan (Paddy Lynns
Delight / The Ceilier / Paddy Faheys)
Paddy Lynns Delight, a simple but catchy reel, starts this selection followed by The CeiJier which is one of Ed Reaveys. To 'make your Ceil' in the Cavan area means to pay a visit on a neighbour, hence the name Ceilier. The last tune is one from
the huge collection of Fahey tunes. These tunes are for Tommy & Frances Brennan.