1. Johnny Og Connolly & Brian McGrath: The Carraroe Jig /Homage to Rooney.
2. Marcas O'Murchu: The Coalminer's Reel.
3. Paddy Canny: The Gallowglass /The Rakes of Clonmel.
4. Marcus & PJ Hernon: The Golden Plover /The Bobbing Sandpiper.
5. Gabriel McArdle: Flora.
6. Catherine McEvoy: The Haunted House /The Banshee's Wail.
7. Johnny Connolly: The Swallow's Tail.
8. Joe Ryan: The Old Torn Petticoat/Rakish Paddy.
9. Charlie Piggott & Gerry Harrington: James McMahon /Paddy Mullin's.
10. Eilis Ni Shuilleabhain: Hide & Go Seek.
11. Sean Hernon: Dwyer's / Billy Bocker's Reels.
12. Johnny Og Connolly & Brian McGrath: The Happy Hornpipe / The Souvenier.
13. Marcas O'Murchu: Farewell to Kennedy / The Man in the Bog / Johnny Henry's.
14. Ben Lennon & Friends: Mick McNamara's /Touch Me If You Dare.
15. Peadar O'Ceannabhain: An Rogaire Dubh / Na Ceannabhain Bhaina / Paidin O'Raifeartaigh.
16. Johnny Connolly: That's Right Too /The LeadingRole.
17. Paddy Canny: The Daisy Field / Molly Bawn.
18. Marcus & PJ Hernon: The Linnet's Chorus / The Beautiful Goldfinch.
19. Catherine McEvoy: The Duke of Leinster /The Ladie's Pantalettes.
20. Charlie Piggott & Gerry Harrington: The Rakish Highlander / Toss the Feathers.
21. Gearoidin Breathnach: An Drioghnean Donn.
22. The Bridge Ceili Band: The Gravel Walks / Jackson's / Martin Fallon's First Night in America.

Brace yourself for a feast of musical styles, all decidedly traditional, as well as sean nos songs from Connemara, Donegal and Cork, and an English song by Gabriel McArdle. The Clare fiddling styles are well represented as well as the dance driven sound of the Connemara accordion. You get a taste of the Sliabh Luarchra style, and the North Connaught style of flute playing, all well rounded off by the Bridge Ceili Band's set of reels.The bronze figure on the cover, entitled Fiddling in Spiddal, is by Westport artist, Anthony McNamara. Each trach abounds with musical genious, something which is a definite hallmark of Clo Iar Chonnachta's music. Caise Ceoil will have you calling for MORE!

Press Reviews

Irish Music Review.com Established in 1985 as a cottage industry in the Connemara gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area), Cló Iar-Chonnachta has developed into one of Ireland's most prolific music publishing houses, issuing more than 200 books and almost 150 albums. Initially, CIC drew upon Connemara's strong musical traditions and most of its early releases were recordings of sean-nós (literally, 'old style'), unaccompanied singing in Irish, including classic albums by Seán 'ac Dhonncha and Johnny Mháirtín Learaí. However, its output over the years has diversified to include other regional singing and musical styles.. Caise Ceoil ('Cascading Music') is a glorious reflection of this development, covering the years from 1995 to 2000. Lovers of sean-nós will be surprised to see only two examples of the art included, though both are sublime, especially the Donegal singer Gearóidín Breathnach's heart-rending rendition of An Droighneán Donn ('The Brown Cow'). Nevertheless, the breadth of the rest encompasses musicians as diverse as fiddlers from West Clare (Joe Ryan), Leitrim (Ben Lennon) and Kerry (Gerry Harrington), while differing flute styles are represented by the dynamic Marcas Ó Murchú (from Belfast) and the lyrical Catherine McEvoy, exemplifying the North Connaught style. The spirit of Connemara is present too, most notably in the masterful melodeon-playing of Johnny Connolly, one of Ireland's best dance accompanists. All told, this is a mouth-watering taster of the treats on offer from CIC.

Musical Traditions Web Site

One of the perks of this job is that I get to review, and keep most of the English and all the Italian CDs which come in for review. I also tend to hang on to those Irish records which take my fancy, and about which I can find something worthwhile (in my opinion) to say. No small number of these have been on Connemara's Clo Iar Chonnachta label, and this compilation of their finest I'm pleased to see that a number of my selections have turned up as house choices. This excellent record, is available from Copperplate Distribution/ Mail Order. Rod Stradling