Album Notes

Full Gael’s repertoire includes energetic jigs, reels, and hornpipes, as well as rousing sea chanteys, songs, and ballads. They have been featured at many venues in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, including Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots Festival, Old Sturbridge Village, and the Portsmouth Arts Festival.

This is their debut CD and it provides a small glimpse of the variety of styles this trio is capable of performing live on stage. You will hear traditional tunes on fiddle and flute along with ballads and contemporary folk songs from the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

The driving force behind the group is multi-talented Will O’Hare. He specializes in wooden flute, whistles and Scottish bagpipes as well as string accompaniment on mandolin and octave mandolin. Will is well known in the southern New England Celtic music scene, having hosted “The Celtic Session” on WECS radio for many years. He is presently completing a second apprenticeship program with master flute player Skip Healy.

Gary Palmer is the group’s guitarist and lead vocalist. His love of sea music began over 35 years ago while climbing the rigging as a cadet in America’s Tall Ship, the Coast Guard Barque Eagle. Since then he has commanded several Coast Guard cutters, and retired from active duty as a Captain with over 30 years of service. Gary also sings harmonies, and tells the occasional sea story. He has studied with Celtic guitarist Paul Oorts.

Fiddler Jeanne Freeman is accomplished as both a classical player and a traditional fiddler, and also provides back-up vocals. Jeanne has performed in Colonial Williamsburg, and on the historic waterfront in Portsmouth, Virginia. She has studied and performed with well-known Irish fiddler P. V. O’Donnell, and appears as a guest artist on his most recent recording.