Treasa Ni Mhiollain: Lan Mara
(Teresa Mullane: Full Tide)
With
Saileog Ni Cheannabhain, fiddle, viola, piano
Diarmaid O hAlmhain, uillean pipes, flute
Freda Nic Giolla Chathain, harp, concertina
Neil O'Loghlen, olldord
Locko Cullen, guitar
Deirdre Ni Chonghaile, fiddle
Renowned sean-nos singer Treasa Ni Mhiollain launches new album Lan Mara
In May 2019, the renowned sean-nos singer Treasa Ni Mhiollain from the Aran Islands, Co. Galway, will release a long-awaited new album on the Clo Iar-Chonnacht label. The double-CD Lan Mara [Full Tide] features 19 traditional songs in Irish and English. It includes 8 songs from Treasa's native Inis Mar, many of which have never before been commercially released. It has been 30 years since Treasa last released a solo album, her 1989 cassette An Clochar Ban. In that time, she has reaffirmed her reputation as one of the finest exponents of the traditional song of Ireland. Throughout her career of over 45 years, she has performed nationally and internationally. She has also remained dedicated to teaching sean-nos singing to schoolchildren in all three Aran Islands, commuting by ferry and by air in all weathers to help ensure the future of local music traditions. Her new album marks the achievement of a life's work in song and celebrates her lasting legacy to Aran and to traditional singing. The majority of the songs on Lan Mara were specially recorded in the oldest church in Inis Mar, Seipeal Eochla, by Jack Talty. While sean-nos song is typically performed unaccompanied, 6 tracks feature musical accompaniment by Saileog Ni Cheannabhain, Diarmaid O hAlmhain, Freda Nic Giolla Chathain, Neil O'Loghlen, Locko Cullen, and Deirdre Ni Chonghaile. Famed for her clarity of diction and committed performances, Treasa Ni Mhiollain has made songs like An Spailpin Fonach and COirt Bhaile Nua her own. Celebrating an utterly unique and distinctive artistic talent, this album will be welcomed far and wide. Speaking about the project, producer Deirdre Ni Chonghaile said: "It has been a huge honour and a great pleasure to collaborate with Treasa on this album. I'm grateful to all of the artists who contributed their understanding, creativity and professionalism to it, to the community in Arainn who supported us throughout, and to the project funders including the Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Galway County Arts Office and Ealain na Gaeltachta." Also inclues a 32 page informative booklet.
Biography: Treasa Ni Mhiollain Since the late 1960s, Treasa Ni Mhiollain has been blazing a trail for sean-nos song and for the music of the Aran Islands. She was the first islander to make a name for herself as a professional musician, touring in Europe with De Danann, Clannad, Seamus Creagh and Jackie Daly in the 1970s. She won the first-ever Corn U1 Riada in 1972, and won that competition again in 1979. Her other awards include: Comortas na mBan twice, three Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann titles, three Fleadh Cheoil na Breataine titles, Gradam Shean-Nos Cois Life, Gradam Chumar, Gradam Cuimhneachain Tom Phaidfn Tom, and Gradam Fheile an Fhomhair (Inis Ofrr). In 2010-2011, she served as Sean-NOs Singer in Residence at the Centre for Irish Studies in NUI Galway. In 2012 she toured internationally with Druid Theatre Company on their production of Tom Murphy's Famine. For nearly 35 years, she has been teaching sean-nos in the Aran Islands and beyond.
Audio
Track 1: Siuil a Run
Track 2: Aill na nGlasog
Track 3: Donall Og
Track 4: An Spailpin Fanch
Track Listing
- Disc 1. Track1: Baile an Roba
- An Boc Ban
- Amrhan Tigh Sheain na Creige
- Aill na nGlasog
- Siuil a Run
- Bailead an Phiolota
- Tiocfaid an Samhradh
- An Craipi Bocht
- Aisling an Phiarsaigh
- Bothat an Gharrai Nua
DISC 2
1. Oilean Glas Arann na Naomh - 2. Ceard a Dheanfas Tu a Ghra?
- 3. Donall Og
- 4. Lord Gregory
- 5. Cailleach an Airgid
- 6. Coaineadh na dTri Mhuire
- 7. Cuirt Bhaile Nua
- 8. An Spailpin Fanach
- 9. Trathnona Beag Areir
Press Reviews
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| TREASA NÍ MHIOLLÁIN - Lán Mara Cló Iar-Chonnacht CICD208 |
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| Cló Iar-Chonnacht can be relied on to do a good job producing recordings of sean nos singers, and this time they’ve excelled themselves. I first heard Treasa about 30 years ago and was bowled over by the quality of her singing and her songs, and nothing’s changed. This double CD is, unbelievably, only her second solo recording, but its 19 tracks span her 45-year career and give a fine representation of her repertoire.
Her voice has a youthful energy and a clarity in pronunciation that enables even a southern saxon to follow the story (and all the words appear in an excellent booklet, complete with a bit of background in both languages). Variety is provided by the addition of musical accompaniment on some tracks, by duetting on two more (both feeling very natural), and by a couple of songs in English. These last ones demonstrate how versatile a singer we have here; both the macaronic Siúil A Rún and Lord Gregory are fine examples. Nearly all the songs in Irish are from her native Aran Islands, the subjects ranging from historical drownings and the humorous vagaries of an early 20th century road building scheme to an air crash in more recent times, and give an insight into the breadth of this island culture – you come away from this recording feeling you’ve had an overview of one aspect of a culture, one that Treasa’s done a great deal to nurture and preserve through a lifetime of dedication. No wonder she’s so highly regarded by the entire Gaelic community; this recording can only enhance an already impressive reputation. John Waltham |
