Biography

CIARAN O MAONAIGH
CEOL A' GHLEANNA - THE MUSIC OF THE GLEN
IRISH TRADITIONAL FIDDLE MUSIC FROM DONEGAL.

Catalogue number- SPINCD1008.
Release date- September 2004.

New recording of traditional Irish fiddle music released through Claddagh Records www.claddaghrecords.com Phone Dublin + 353 1 6778943.

Ciarán O Maonaigh, from Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal has released his first album of traditional fiddle music. Ciaran has just turned 21 but has already established himself as one of the most best and most talented young musicians in Ireland. The release of Ceol a'Ghleanna looks likely to firmly cement that reputation.

"Briseann an dúchas fríd shúile an chait" - Is a "seanfhocail" or proverb that Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh uses on the liner notes to Ceol a'Ghleanna, the new album from TG4 Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2004, Ciarán O Maonaigh. A literal translation in English is hard to render but essentially the meaning intended is that "Nature will out".
A grandson of Proinsias O Maonaigh, the highly regarded fiddle player and teacher from Gaoth Dobhair in the north west Donegal Gaeltacht, Ciarán was fortunate enough to grow up in a musical household. His aunt is Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, leader of the renowned traditional band Altan, who themselves draw much of their inspiration from the music of Donegal. Ciarán learned his first music from his grandfather. However he has also absorbed much of the music of some of the great names of the Donegal tradition. Echoes of the music of the Doherty's, Neillidh Boyle, Francie and Mickey Byrne, Con Cassidy, James Byrne can be heard in his playing on this recording.

Uncompromising, driving and always inventive fiddle music, steeped in a venerable tradition, distinguishes the music on this album. From the opening notes of Miss Patterson's Slippers Ciarán O'Maonaigh sets down a marker. This is sparkling music played with a technical ability that belies his young age and informed by a deep understanding of the nuances and repertoire of the great Donegal fiddle tradition that is his birthright. Ciaran is joined on the recording by guitar player John Blake and fiddle player Dermot McLaughlin.

A recent feature article on Ciarán published in The Irish Times finishes with the sentence "Ask him what his vices are, and he answers simply, "playing tunes".
Not a bad habit to have!

See also www.comfiddle.com for downloadable high resolution jpegs, biog and press quotes.
For further information please contact Tom Sherlock Management,
71 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Ph +353 1 2781090. Fax +353 1 2781093 email Sherlock@altan.ie