Beyond the Mearing Wall: Traditional Irish Songs from Galway and Mayo

This Galway-based group takes its name from Amhráin Mhuige Seola, a collection of songs in Irish assembled by Eibhlín Bean Mhic Choistealbha at the beginning of the last century. Not surprisingly, material from that compendium predominates here, supplemented by a few instrumental numbers (including a wistful little tune composed for the group by Ger Fahy). Singer Bríd Dooley has a warm, emotive style that conveys the content of the songs better than any translation; harpist Áine Sheridan and flute/whistle player Caoimhín Ó Sé also contribute a fine duet on the bilingual ‘Slán Agus Beannacht le Buaireamh an tSaoil’, and trade lines with Dooley on ‘Thugamar Féin an Samhraidh Linn’. With Patricia Kelly’s violin and viola, Liz Barry’s cello and Jacqueline McCarthy’s concertina rounding out the lineup, the sound leans very much toward the gentler, more ‘classical’ side of trad. Garry Ó Briain was responsible for the superb production and plays guitar on a couple of tracks.