An Raicin Alainn

Beautifully effortless sean-nós singing here from Inishere native and TCD graduate Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola, who’s confident enough in her voice to let it do its thing gently, without strident belting or stylistic tics. She’s got a lovely way of speaking, too: on the spine-tingling ‘Oileán na Teiscinne’, her quiet incantation of the words over a blend of guitar and gurgling wave sounds manages to transcend any suggestion of tweeness or cliché. Máire Breatnach’s production is flawless and the accompanying musicians are superb, including such stalwarts as Mary Bergin, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh – not to mention Breatnach herself.