Reviews

Siobhan Long ~ The Irish Times ****

Rating: ****

His ability and appetite to play the music in all its bare-boned glory sets Ciarán Ó Maonaigh apart. Ceol a'Ghleanna/Music Of The Glen is a superb snapshot of his home place. Gathering a repertoire of tunes from his native Donegal was probably the easy part; airing them in all their spacious glory is what matters: and Ó Maonaigh lets the tunes do the talking, with minimum interference, apart from his inspired invitation to fellow fiddler Dermot McLauglin to join him on Loughisle Castle. Guitarist John Blake's accompaniment insinuates itself in between the cracks, and the rest is left to Ó Maonaigh's unhurried playing, particularly on the slow air, Iníon a'Bhaoghailligh. Heart and soul in abundance, bravado nowhere to be seen. www.claddaghrecords.com Siobhán Long