We have previously highlighted a new album release by Emer Mayock, piper Mick O' Brien and fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain. Entitled Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts, the repertoire is drawn from original sources collected by Canon James Goodman in the mid 19th Century in his native province of Munster. From these manuscripts, Mick, Emer and Aoife have chosen music ranging from unusual versions of tunes in the modern repertoire to those apparently unique to the collection.

 The manuscripts, which since his death have been held in the Library of Trinity College provide unique insights into the evolution of Irish traditional music and are of great significance because they preserve much of the traditional music of the south of Ireland as it was sung and played in the years before traditional culture there was devastated by the Great Famine of the 1840s.

The CD was released in February and is available at Claddagh Records ( see link below ) Emer Mayock hails from Co. Mayo and began to play traditional music during her childhood on a range of instruments including the Flute, Low Whistles, Fiddle and Uilleann Pipes. She has produced two CDs: 'Merry Bits of Timber' in 1996 and 'Playground' in 2001- the latter continuing her interest in writing new music and containing mostly her own compositions.

These three musicians will come together in Emer's home town of Castlebar for a performance of music from this album and many other highlights. Their concert will take place in The Linenhall Arts Centre on 2oth June at 8pm.

Listen and buy claddaghrecords.com