Legacy

Born in London to West Kerry parents, guitarist and singer Tommy O’Sullivan was based in Copenhagen for a number of years (he still tours regularly with the Danish band Ash Plant) before relocating to his childhood homeplace of Lispole, Co. Kerry. Legacy is his first solo album, and it makes a lovely listen. O’Sullivan’s guitar interpretations of classic tunes like ‘The Star of Munster’ and ‘The Blarney Pilgrim’ are elegant and neatly paced; there’s also a small selection of nifty original compositions in a traditional vein that leave one wishing for more. His a cappella rendition of ‘The Factory Girl’ isn’t the familiar Bothy Band favourite, but rather an Appalachian mountain song that suits O’Sullivan’s not unpleasantly nasal voice perfectly. Other vocal tracks include ‘The Maids of Culmore’, ‘The Water is Wide’ and Tony Small’s ‘The Welcome’.