Between the mountains and the sea

Growing up in Caherciveen, Co. Kerry, Tim Dennehy often heard songs penned by another illustrious denizen of the area – Sigerson Clifford (1913-1985), whose powerful ballad ‘The Boys Of Barr na Sráide’ has become a classic of the tradition. Dennehy’s fifth solo album is a tribute to Clifford and his work, featuring swift-paced humorous numbers like ‘Lenihan’s Big Bazaar’ alongside heavyweights like the tragic ‘Ballad of the Tinker’s Daughter’. Between multi-instrumentalist Garry Ó Briain’s spare production, Dennehy’s resonant voice, and the generous, informative and beautifully illustrated 48-page booklet, Clifford’s songs get their due. Dennehy himself wrote the title track as he made his way home from Clifford’s funeral – a fitting homage to a great songwriter and poet.