The great collector of Gaelic song, Henry Morris, once observed “I have heard Irish singing in or from every county where Irish still lives, but the recollection that remains as the sweetest thing my ears have heard is the singing in unison of Eamonn and Nancy Tracey on the side of that remote glen (Beann na bhFraochán) in Tyrone.” Morris’s love of the singing of that brother and sister almost one hundred years ago bore witness to the uncanny musical sympathy and intuitive fellow feeling which can be heard best in the voices of siblings. With the voices of Maighread and Tríona Ni Dhomhnaill, their individual musicality and gift for song is strengthened and deepened and rooted in their shared blood and rearing. They swell and blossom in unison and in harmony. From their mother Bríd comes a love of song of all kinds reflected in the dedication of this recording to her; from their father Aodh (Hiúdal) a rootedness in the music of Rannafast, Co. Donegal, where his family and especially his sister Neill, gave inspiration and most of the songs they sing. That kindred spirit is shared with Dónal Lunny whose mother, Mary Nic Ruairí, also comes from Rannafast and with whom Tríona and Maighread have had many musical alliances. Together here, and with friends and relatives, they sing many songs which may well have been known to Eamonn and Nancy Tracy. The versions of the songs and their treatment may have changed, but their origins and essential nature have not.

“Bionn cúig insint ar gach scéal ach bionn dhá ghabháil déag ar gach amhrán.” As tobar domhain fairsing an cheoil ghaelaigh a tarraingiodh na gabhálacha seo de cheolta a dheimhnionn firinne an tseanrá sin. Ceol é seo ar gineadh a bhunús i Rann na Feirste in jochtar na Rosann i dTir Chonaill, ait dhúchais athair Mhaighread agus Thriona, Aodh Ó Domhnaill, agus máthair Dhónal, Mary Nic Ruairí. Tá dáimh ar leith ag an triúr seo lena muintir féin sa taobh sin tíre agus ómós acu do na ceolta a tháinig anuas chugainn ann. Ach thar aon rud, tá dáimh acu le chéile agus cluas acu do cheol a chéile ar bhealach a bheireann úire agus fuinneamh do na hamhráin seo gan baint dá ndúchas ná dá nádúr. Is fada fairsing an aithne atá acu ar a chéile agus is fada iad ag caint ar thaifeadadh mar seo a dhéanamh: más mall is mithid.

1. Spanish Lady
2. Liostáil Mé Le Sáirsint
3. Dónall Óg
4. The Banks Of Claudy
5. Bruach Na Carraige Báine
6. Níl Sé Ina Lá
7. Méilte Cheann Dubhrann
8. Ar A Ghabhail Chun An Chuain Dom
9. Foireann An Bháid
10. Faoitín
11. Pill, Pill A Rúin
12. Tidy Ann