MAEVE DONNELLY
Maeve Donnelly: fiddle, viola
Peadar O'Loughlin: flute
Aidan Donnelly: banjo
Declan Donnelly: fiddle
Mal Donnelly: accordion
Dermot Byrne: accordion
Steve Cooney: guitar
Geraldine Cotter: piano
Adele O'Dwyer: cello

Ever since East Galway fiddle player Maeve Donnelly came to the US for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration and recorded a few tracks on the album "Sailing Into Walpole's Marsh," she has had devoted fans who have ben waiting patiently for this very album. Donnelly recorded in the meantime on several albums, in particular with the band Moving Cloud, but this is in fact her first solo offering, and it was definitely worth waiting for. Donnelly's precise and intense playing, her crisp ornamentation and almost ferocious attack at times, are all on display in one cracking set of tunes after another. Music is obviously a Donnelly family affair, for the track where she is joined by her brothers on accordion, banjo, and fiddle, is among the best here. If that weren't enough, appearing as guest musicians are the great Clare flute (he also plays fiddle) player Peadar O'Loughlin and Altan's box virtuoso Dermot Byrne. Excellent accompaniments on piano and/or guitar, with a touch of cello here and there, round up the sound nicely.

Rating: *** 1/2

Price: $19.99
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Contents:
1.  Reels: Flax in Bloom / Beauty Spot / Counting the Coppers
2. Shrips Clog / Virtuoso Hornpipe
3. Jigs: Chicago / Planting Stick
4. Reels: The New Road / Yellow Tinker / Delia Crowley's
5. Descriptive Piece: Nora Criona
6. Reels: Miss Crawford / Little Kate Kearney
7. Jigs: Fr. Quinn's / The Nightingale / The Piper's Chair
8. Hornpipes: The Few Bob / Cronin's Rambles
9. Reels: The Braes of Busby / Chorus Reel / Braes of Busby
10. Waltzes: Uncle Stewart's / Waltz Jessy
11. Reels: Hughie's Cap / Kitty in the Lane
12. Air: Pegy's Dream
13. Jigs: Anthony Frawley's / I Love You Not and I Care Not
14. Flings: Willie's Fling / Mary Brennan's Favourite
15. Reels: Mullingar League / Ryan's Rant / Lavern's Favourite
See also:
    Maeve Donnelly: Flame on the Banks
   & Peadar O'Loughlin: The Thing Itself
    Ronan Browne & Peter O'Loughlin: Touch Me If You Dare
    Geraldine Cotter: Piano +
    Various: Eigse Dhiarmuidin