Lynn Saoirse is an award-winning Irish harper who now lives in County Waterford, in the south-east of Ireland, after many years of living in Connemara. Her repertoire is based around traditional Irish music: from lively dance music like jigs & reels to the haunting slow airs of ancient times. She has recorded two albums of her own as well as being a featured artist on 3 other recordings. She has performed throughout Europe & the USA, as well as the Caribbean, Argentina & Nepal.
Her most recent album, "On the Bright Road" was released in September 2002 to critical acclaim. To quote the review in Irish Music magazine: "Lynn Saoirse's harp playing has soul and feeling... and is a joy to listen to."
Dirty Linen, the US Folk music magazine, said of her first album (Champions of Ireland: The Harp) "Saoirse's harping is always engaging, rhythmically precise and clear in tone."
The late great harpist Derek Bell of the Irish traditional group The Chieftains also wrote about Lynn: "There is an exquisite delicacy all through her playing."
Together Lynn and the late Barbara Callan were members of the group Cluain, and in her last few years Barbara wrote a number of heart-breakingly beautiful songs, many of which are on the CD "On the Bright Road". The noted BBC folk music presenter Mike Harding had this to say about her:
"The old Tate and Lyle syrup tins used to have a picture of a lion on them and the motto: "Out of sweetness, strength." Anyone who had the privilege of spending time with Barbara Callan will know what that means because if ever there was a mixture of sweetness and strength, she was it. A fighter of a woman who managed to make her influence felt in the sweetest way, she was also a fine musician and songwriter. I'm one of the lucky people Barbara touched with her life and like many others I feel honoured I knew her. This CD is a loving tribute to a great woman."
Albert Einstein said, "There are only two ways to live your life; one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle." Barbara always looked for the miracle.
Musicians on the CD besides Lynn & Barbara are:
Garry O'Briain: mandocello & guitar, Mairtin O'Connor: accordion, Jesse Smith: fiddle & viola, Tommy Hayes: percussion, Liz Kane: fiddle, Colm O'Donnell: flute, Rosanna McCafferty: vocals, Harry Bent: vocals, Eddie Lee: acoustic bass, Leon Agnew: flute, Rob Thornburgh: fiddle & hammer dulcimer, Dave Hogan: low whistle, James Sheridan: mandolin, Mary Finn: accordion.
NOTES ON THE CD:
1.GRANUAILE
Much has been written about Granuaile, the 17th century "Pirate Queen" who was based off the Mayo/Connemara coast. In reality she was a Gaelic chieftain living in a time of transition to English ways...she did not recognise Queen Elizabeth's sovereignty over her fief, and when she saliled up the Thames to meet Elizabeth I, she stood before the English queen as an equal and refused to bend her knee. This is a song of her sailors, whose fierce spirits perhaps still follow the ocean paths.
Rosanna McCafferty: vocals
Garry O'Briain: guitar
Mairtin O'Connor: accordion
Jesse Smith: fiddle
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Tommy Hayes: djembe
Eddie Lee: acoustic bass
Harry Bent: harmony vocals
2. JOE SKELTON'S/ THE SMELL OF THE BOG (trad. hornpipes)
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Colm O'Donnell: flute
Tommy Hayes: bodhran
3.INIS BO FINNE
A song Barbara wrote about the legend of the origin of the island of Inishbofin off the Galway coast: the name of the island translates from the Irish as "the island of the White Cow", this being a reference to a powerful Celtic Goddess.
Barbara Callan: vocals & guitar
Mairtin O'Connor: accordion
Jesse Smith: viola
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Tommy Hayes: chimes
Eddie Lee: acoustic bass
4. THE HELEN'S KITCHEN WALTZ
Written by Lynn after one of those perfect nights of endless music & craic at Clifden Arts Week which started in Helen Geoghegan's bounteous kitchen and ended back there again at 5am with a waltz around the kitchen to Dolores Keane singing "Galway Bay." Dedicated to those best of woman friends who were there: Carmel Dempsey, Michelle Mulhaire, and, of course, Helen herself. They each embody grace, kindness and generosity...as well as serious doses of hilarity.
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Mairtin O'Connor: accordion
Garry O'Briain: guitar
Liz Kane: fiddle
Eddie Lee: acoustic bass
5. AN FEILEACAN (The Butterfly)
A song Barbara wrote in Irish about the butterfly.... the ancient Irish, like many other cultures, saw the butterfly as a symbol of the soul. There is still a tradition that a butterfly entering your home is a visit from a dead loved one.
Barbara Callan: vocals & guitar
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Rob Thornburgh: hammered dulcimer & fiddle
Dave Hogan: low whistle & bodhran
6. QUADRILLE RUMLE (trad. Danish)
A plucky version of a terrific tune!
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Garry O'Briain: mandocello
James Sheridan: mandolin
Jesse Smith: viola
7. NA BEANNA BEOLA (The Twelve Bens)
A praise song which Barbara wrote for the mountains at the heart of Connemara.
Barbara Callan: vocals
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Tommy Hayes: Tibetan singing bowl
Jesse Smith: viola
8. LEITRIM FANCY/ AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES (jigs)
The first one is traditional and the second one is composed by Lynn.
Colm O'Donnell: flute & tin whistle
Liz Kane: fiddle
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Tommy Hayes: bodhran
9. OILEAN CHOILL DARA (The Island of the Oakwood)
A love song written in Irish and sung in a macaronic version with Harry singing the Irish and Rosanna singing the English translation.
Rosanna McCafferty: vocals
Harry Bent: vocals
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Jesse Smith: viola & fiddle
10. THE TAR ROAD TO SLIGO/ CALLIOPE HOUSE (trad/Dave Richardson: jigs)
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Leon Agnew: flute
Tommy Hayes: bodhran
11. MO GHRAGHAEL (My Bright Love)
A slow air written by Lynn.
Lynn Saoirse: harp
12. THE FLOWER OF KILLARY BAY
Barbara based this song on a true story of two lovers who lived (and eloped!) in the early 19th century. A new song to add to the "follow your heart, not your purse" genre of traditional ballads.
Rosanna McCafferty: vocals
Harry Bent: harmony vocals
Garry O'Briain: guitar
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Leon Agnew: flute
Eddie Lee: acoustic bass
13. THE SWEETHEART/ THE LAUREL TREE/ THE CHICAGO (trad. reels)
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Mary Finn McCrudden: piano accordion
Garry O'Briain: mandocello
14. SUMMER OF MACHA
Barbara wrote this song inspired by her visits to Macha Nocht, the local Connemara name for one of her favourite mountains. In Irish it means Naked Macha, and is named for one of the more wild Irish Goddesses.
Rosanna McCafferty: vocals
Lynn Saoirse: harp
Jesse Smith: viola
Tommy Hayes: chimes
Read more...