The Pure Drop

from The Newry Reporter by Tommy Fegan
A weekly round up on Irish Traditional Music.

This is an unapologetically Ulster CD in the finest singing and piping traditions. Stephanie Makem's pedigree is suggested by her name and apparent by her performance. The grand-daughter of Sarah Makem whose store of songs found world wide expression and acclaim through Tommy's collaboration with the Clancy Brothers, it's clear Stephanie was born to sing, and sing she does, with great style and elegance. Tiarnán got the piping passion from Ulster's custodians of the ancient art - the illustrious and industrious Armagh Pipers' Club. He was a member of a Ceili Band in Dundalk, Ceoltóirí Óga Oirghiall and a member of Dorsa, along with Bessbrook fiddler Paul Bradley and others.

Big Ulster songs, like Úrchnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte and Lough Erin Shore, intersperse naturally alongside great Northern (with a generous dip into the Donegal wells) tunes delivered in a strong Ulster "accent" on Tiarnán's sweet and crisp pipes. Stephanie's obvious love affair with Ulster Irish ensures that she does full justice to the songs, and no where is this more obvious than in her haunting delivery of Peadar O'Doirnin's classic. Here her diction is worthy of O'Doirnin's lyrics. Eithne ni hUllachain would have been proud of Stephanie's treatment of the Eddie Bucher's Lough Erin Shore. Ril an Eirgall, Tommy Peoples’ and The Glen Road to Carrick are just a sample of Tiarnán's selection which more than hints at the Monaghan man's favourite second county. The only irritating thing I can find about this recording is Tiarnán's incredible mastery of tight, clean triplets; it irritates me than I can't get anywhere near the same effect, no matter how hard I try.

Visit www.tiarnan.ie to learn more about and buy this album of passion, beauty sensitivity, excitement and fun.