Francis and Áine O' Connor They Didn't Come Home Until Morning
I picked up this newly release cd from Francis at the Tesco car park in Newcastlewest last Friday (17 January,2020) on my way to Killarney with my daughter for an appointment with Tim from Killarney Harps.
I didn't get a chance to hear it til Sunday on the road to Dublin when Nancy Ní Choisdealbha gave it a good airing on R na G and I was immediately taken by the purity of a style which can only be associated with Sliabh Luachra.
Francis comes from west Limerick, an area steeped in great music and his guiding lights would have been the likes of Moss Murphy and John Joe Harnett.
Áine was immersed in the Sliabh Luachra musical lake under the direction of her father, the great Connie O' Connell from Cill na Martra and Denis McMahon.
Áine and Francis have done a great service to the music of their region with tunes which are instantly recognizable as belonging to the rich historical thread of which they are loyal and able servants to.