Fionnuala Maxwell

November session in Boyle

See you all Saturday for an extra special session. Traditional singer Fionnuala Maxwell will be our guest at the Boyle Trad Singers Session. We're looking forward to the night. See you there.

Niamh Parsons was our guest at the annual, special, Boyle Traditional Singers' Session, part of the Boyle Arts Festival 2015, on Thursday, 30th July. 

Niamh Parsons has come to be known as one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music. Growing up in Dublin, Niamh's music-loving parents brought herself and her sister to the local folk club in The Old Shieling Hotel in Raheny, where the sisters were exposed to songs and singing from the likes of The Johnstons, Emmet Spiceland, Sweeney's Men and many other musicians and singers.

"I don't remember a time in my life when I was not singing - I love songs."

Niamh has at least 7 albums to her credit and has appeared on many more.

Niamh ran a singing workshop (8-9pm) on the night, focussing on breathing and the control of nerves, before taking on her role as the special guest at the Singers' Session (9pm-). She sang beautifully each time she did a spot and I hope to do a full write-up - once this busy music season slows down.

 Niamh is currently preparing a new album, which should be released soon. 

The Boyle Singers Circle hope to be welcoming Niamh back to Boyle soon.

Boyle Singers, session 15 August

Next session, Saturday, 15th August, Dodds from 9.30.

Singing in Ballinaglera - Sunday 26th July. 5pm-

We've just received a message from Jim Bainbridge that there'll be songs, music, yarns & craic in Rynn's pub, Ballinaglera, Sunday, July 26th, 5pm ish onwards.

All singers, musicians, storytellers, very welcome to join in... Céad Míle Fáilte

Niamh Parsons - for the Boyle Arts Festival Special Traditional Singers' Session, Thursday 30th July.

Niamh Parsons will be our guest at the annual, special, Boyle Traditional Singers' Session, part of the Boyle Arts Festival 2015, Thursday, 30th July. Niamh will run a singing workshop (8-9pm) before the session (with herself as Special Guest) begins at 9.30pm..

Niamh Parsons has come to be known as one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music.Growing up in Dublin, Niamh's music loving parents brought herself and her sister to the local folk club in The Old Shieling Hotel in Raheny, where the young girls were exposed to songs and singing from the likes of The Johnstons, Emmet Spiceland, Sweeney's Men, Dolly McMahon, Danny Doyle and many of the other musicians and singers that were playing in Folk clubs at that time.

"I don't remember a time in my life when I was not singing - I love songs."

Niamh has at least 7 albums to her credit and has appeared on many more.

Bird Song Project Session 16 May 2015

"Tá an chuach 's an smólach ag freagairt a chéile ann,
An lon dubh 's an chéirseach ar gor os a gcomhair,
Tá'n 'goldfinch', 's an creabhair, 's an 'linnet' i g'cage' ann,
An naoscach ag léimnigh is an eala ón Róimh.
An t-iolar as Acaill, 's an fiach dubh ón gCéis ann,
An seabhac as Loch Éirne, 's an fhuiseog ón móin.
'S dá mbeifeá ann ar maidin roimh éirí na gréine,
Chloisfeá gach éan acu ag seinnimt sa 'ghrove'.

That's 13 for starters. Some had already made an appearance, with Breege Duffy:
Tá an lon dubh is an chéirseach, is an fhuiseoigín le chéile,
 Is an smóilín binn bréagach ina ndiaidh i ngach aird,
An chuach i measc an méid sin ag seinm dánta is dréachta
Do chúl trom tais na bpéarlaí is do mo chéad míle grá.

There were also, St. Brendan's Albatross (Seán), John's swallows were speeding to far off lands, Padraig McGinn's recitation based on 'If I were a blackbird', a turtle dove in Cardin's Wild Desmesne (Frank) - along with pheasant, grouse and partridge, and a few of the already mentioned species, My Singing Bird (a lark) ( Breege), Walking all the day (Paddy), Cuckoos, Moorcocks, Pheasants.

This twitcher lost count.
A great night and a great flock of songs.