Mike O'Laughlin is a leading author and publisher of Irish genealogy and history. His love for Sean Nós singing is well known to anyone that reads these pages.  He has organised and performed in many Irish language shows in the midwest and is at the heart of The Irish Roots Cafe which mixes books, songs and blogs. In his liner notes to this, his second album of traditional song, he gives some interesting background to its evolution.

“It is the first album that I have had mastered, being done in Dublin, Ireland in 2014. (My first album 'Irish Song: traditional and sean nós' was recorded complete in my living room, with no studio mastering.) The vocals for this new album were recorded at home on an iMac computer, with a Rode NT1-A mic. Then mastering and finishing touches, including instrumentation for some tracks, were added at the studio in Dublin Studio Hub with Larry Hogan.

Its a mixture of unaccompanied songs that feature Mike’s very distinctive vocal with some overdubs and accompaniment added on others.  Classic ballads such as Skibbereen, The Rambling Kerryman, An Raibh tu ar an gCarraig are included among the 10 tracks.

To purchase and listen to tracks visit www.cdbaby.com/cd/michaelcolaughlin3