Singer Barry Gleeson hails from Artane, Dublin and has been a stalwart of the Góilín singers’ club for many years. His strident rasp might not be the most mellifluous in the world, but it’s strong and confident all the same. He’s joined in glorious multi-part harmony on the choruses by a host of terrific singers, including members of the Voice Squad, Tom Crean and Antaine Ó Faracháin. Also notable is Grace Toland’s duet with Gleeson on ‘The Female Prize-Fight’, a song about Irish boxer Jane Murphy.
Accompaniment is kept to a minimum, with Peter Eades’ cello striking a lovely note behind the sentimental ‘Emmet’s Farewell’.
The commendably thorough booklet includes lyrics as well as the stories behind the songs, which are often fascinating in themselves.