Altan - Altan

Frankie on flute, Mairéad on fiddle and songs

Founding members, the late Frankie Kennedy and his partner Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, lead singer and fiddler with the band, began their musical career whilst teaching in a school in Malahide in North County Dublin, playing music for fun and enjoyment not knowing that it would end up as their main way of life and bring them all over the world! Frankie and Mairead started out by playing with and meeting older musicians from the Donegal tradition, like John Doherty, Con Cassidy, James Byrne, Dinny McLaughlin,Vincent Campbell and Mairéad's own father Francie, who shared their music with them and most importantly, their friendship. The pair learned their music, tried to emulate their style and listened to their general philosophy of life, which, in retrospect was just as important as the music. Later it would be Francie who translated the beautiful Gaelic songs into English on all of the Altan recordings to date. Francie was also responsible for the translations of "Barbara Allen" and "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" on two projects with the legendary Dolly Parton which Altan were involved with. Frankie and Mairéad made their first forays into live shows in the USA in 1985, releasing two albums together as a duo; 1983's "Ceol Aduaidh" (Music of the North) and the self-titled "Altan" in 1987.

Tracks:
1. Highland And Reels: The Highland Man/The Cliffs Of Glencolumbkille/Old Cuffe Street 3:16 $0.99
2. An TSeanchailleach Gallda/Dermot Byrnes (Jigs) 3:08 $0.99
3. Ta Mo Chleamhnas A Dheanamh 5:16 $0.99
4. The Cat That Ate The Candle/Over The Water To Bessie (Reels) 3:14 $0.99
5. Ceol A'Phiobaire 3:54 $0.99
6. Tommy Peoples'/Loch Altan/Danny Meehan's (Reels) 3:29 $0.99
7. Rogha An Gabha/Charlie O'Donnel's (Reels) 2:44 $0.99
8. The Sunset (Slow Reels) 3:42 $0.99
9. Thug Me Ruide 4:26 $0.99
10. Humours Of Whiskey/The Fairy Jig/Humours Of Whiskey (Slip Jigs) 3:20 $0.99
11. Strathspey And Reels: Jimmy Lyons/Leslie's Reel 2:23 $0.99
12. Cita Na GCumann 3:59 $0.99
13. Highlands And Reels: Con Cassidy's Highland/Neilly O'Boyle's Highland & Reel 3:05 $0.99