''T with the Maggies'' is the debut album from Irish

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

supergroup T with the Maggies. It was released on 29 October 2010 in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

Music - T with the Maggies
official website and on 22 February 2011 in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Background

T with the Maggies, a group of individual international singers came together in 2007 to celebrate the life and music of

Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (; 7 October 1951 – 7 July 2006) was an Irish singer, guitarist, composer, and producer who was a major influence on Irish traditional music in the second half of the twentieth century. He is remembered for his innovat ...

, Triona and Maighread's older brother. The members, good friends for four decades, began touring together and started recording in July 2009. They began recording the album in An Bhráid,

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...

in 2010.

Development

The band travelled to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre creative retreat in Annaghmakerrig,

County Monaghan County Monaghan ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is part of Border Region, Border strategic planning area of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town ...

to come up with a sound different form their past projects and solo albums. There they met American artist Megan Marlatt, who would later send them a picture of similar-looking puppets that would become the album's front cover image. On 15 June 2010, Mairéad wrote the song ''Domhnach na Fola'' (), a few hours after the findings of the Saville Inquiry were read live on television around the world by

British Prime Minister The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister advises the sovereign on the exercise of much of the royal prerogative, chairs the Cabinet, and selects its ministers. Modern pri ...

David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...

. The music was co-written with fellow band-member

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill is an acclaimed Irish traditional singer, keyboard player, and composer. She is considered one of the most influential female vocalists in the history of Irish music. Throughout her career, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill has worke ...

. Other songs written on the retreat were ''Ógánaigh Uasail'' and ''Mother's Song''. They also arranged their own version of Richard Thompson's ''Farewell, Farewell''.

Track listing

About the tracks

* "Cuach Mo Londubh Buí" – Altan previously recorded and released this track as "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí" (3:02) on their (studio) album '' The Blue Idol'' (2002). * "Ceol An Phíobaire" –

Frankie Kennedy Frankie Kennedy (30 September 1955 – 19 September 1994) was a flute and tin whistle player born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was also the co-founder of the band Altan, formed with his wife Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. The popular '' Frankie ...

and

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (; born 26 July 1959) is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish folk music band Altan, which she co-founded with her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987. Ní Mhaonaigh is recognised as a leading exponent in ...

previously recorded and released this track as "Ceol A'Phíobaire" (3:50) on their second (studio) album '' Altan'' (1987). * "A Stór A Stór A Ghrá" – Altan previously recorded and released this track as "Stór, A Stór, A Ghrá" (2:51) on their (studio) album '' Blackwater'' (1996). * "An Mhaighdeán Mhara" – Altan previously recorded and released this track as "An Mhaighdean Mhara" (2:52) on their (studio) album '' Island Angel (1993).

Release

The album was launched in

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

on 29 October 2010 by actor

Stephen Rea Stephen Rea ( ; born October 31, 1946) is an Irish actor. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he began his career as a member of Dublin's Focus Theatre, and played many roles on the stage and on Irish television. He came to the attention of inte ...

. Friends of the singers in attendance included musicians

Luka Bloom Luka Bloom (born Kevin Barry Moore; 23 May 1955) is an Irish folk singer-songwriter. He is the younger brother of folk singer Christy Moore. Early life Kevin Barry Moore was born on 23 May 1955 in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. His p ...

, Neil Martin and

Paul Brady Paul Joseph Brady (born 19 May 1947) is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician from Strabane, Northern Ireland. His work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age. Initially popular for playing ...

and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan. On 6 November 2010, T with the Maggies held a special launch in Leo's Tavern (owned by Moya's father), Gaoth Dobhair in

Release history

Promotion

T with the Maggies appeared on

RTÉ (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...

's '' The Late Late Show'' October 29, performing the song ''Wedding Dress'' from the album. On 6 November 2010, they held a CD signing in Celtic Note, Dublin.

Personnel

The band

* ''T with the Maggies'' - producers, arrangers, writers *

Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill (; born 1955) is an Irish traditional singer from Kells, County Meath. She is known for her work with the short-lived, but very highly regarded Skara Brae and her collaborations with her sister Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, a ...

- Vocals, yardstick *

- Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Accordion, Whistle *

- Vocals, Fiddle, Hardanger Fiddle, Low Octave Fiddle, Handwritten Script (artwork) *

Moya Brennan Moya Brennan (born Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin on 4 August 1952), also known as Máire Brennan, is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist. She is the sister of the musical artist known as Enya. She began performing pr ...

- Vocals, Harp, Djembe

Additional credits

Manus Lunny Manus Lunny (born 1962) is an Irish producer and multi-instrumentalist from County Donegal, Ireland, best known as a member of Celtic music, Celtic supergroup Capercaillie (band), Capercaillie. He is the brother of multi-instrumentalist and prod ...

- Co-producer, mixer, engineering Guitar, Bouzouki, Programming * Jim Higgins - Additional Percussion * Tim Jarvis - Cover Design, Photography * Megan Marlatt - Cover Concept, Photography * Mella Travers - photography * Richard Robinson - photography

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control 2010 debut albums T with the Maggies albums Irish-language albums 2010 collaborative albums