BAND discography.

The first band which resulted in a recording was when I was a member of Donal Lunny’s Celtic Orchestra in 1985. We did one recording, that was for the Pan Celtic TV (RTÉ) Programme. Out of this came The Donal Lunny Band in 1987. This band was put together to take part in the ÓRiada Retrospective in April 1987 in the NCH and it was also televised live. The album (22mins) was also released under the Gael Linn label. Others who featured in the band were Arty Mc Glynn, Nollaig Casey, Manus Lunny (Capercaillie), Steve White, Sean Óg Potts and Damien Quinn (Cian)

We took part in the Heffernan Brothers’ TV Series, The Session, that year, when the band was given a whole programme. Guests included singers Elvis Costello and Iarla Ó Lionaird, Matt Molly, Noel Eccles (Riverdance U.S). The band then disbanded.

I then set up my own band in late ’87 to early ’90, which featured Máire Breatnach, Niall Ó Callanain and Steve White. We issued one four track recording. We were on various TV programmes of the time, The Late Late, Nighthawks, Live at 3, etc. We toured Finland twice and Estonia.

In 1983, another band formed, which resulted in a two album deal with STARC Records. The band split up after Alan Connaughton’s untimely death in May ’96 (owner of STARC). Two albums were released: The Long Long Note (SCD 193) in June ’93. Launched by the newly appointed Minister for Arts Micheal D. Higgins, TD.

"Deiseal’s debut CD, The Long Long Note is one of the most intriguing and innovative recordings to come out of Ireland in recent years…" (Irish Voice, U.S.)

The second, Sunshine Dance, (SCD 596)- Deiseal Mark 2- with saxophonist Richie Buckley, drummer Conor Guilfoyle and French jazz singer Mirabelle de Nuit wasn’t actually launched for the reason already explained.

Three tracks from The Long Long Note are licensed out to two U.S. recording companies: NARADA Records (Sí Beag, Sí Mór on Celtic Legacy and Lord Inchiquin on Celtic Treasure) and HEARTS OF SPACE (Sean Ó Riada’s slow-air Mná na hÉireann). WE appeared on various TV and radio programmes. The album was reviewed on The Arts Show (RTÉ Radio 1) . We were invited to play on the BBC’s special programme on Irish music the Irish Film Centre (March ’94) with Frances Black, Jimmy MacCarthy and various actors. We toured the U.K., Scotland, France, Germany, Belgium, the Azores to name but a few countries.

From Sunshine Dance, our version of another slow-air, Marbhna Luimnigh (Lament for Limerick) features on WINDAM HILL RECORDS (BMG) Celtic Christmas 2 (Dec.’96) under license. We toured the UK in 96. We played at the Celtic Connections Festival (twice) in Glasgow in Jan., ’96.

Cormac Juan Breatnach - "Musical Journey"

Cormac has been playing whistles and the timber flute for over 20 years now. He was born in Dublin 35 years ago and was brought up in an Irish and Spanish speaking household. He now concentrates on playing plastic and low (aluminum) whistles.

Described as The Fresh Prince of Jazzy Jigs (The Irish Voice, October 94) Cormac was described as …. "not the first musician to add modern rhythms and jazzstyle improvisations to Irish traditional music but he has taken the concept further than anybody else."

Drawing on his native Irish and Spanish speaking background, Cormac recorded his own album last year with producer Garvan Gallagher (formerly of the Mary Black Band) in which he sings for the first time two songs, one in Irish and one in Spanish. Featuring 11 tracks with 20 contributors, combining traditional with modern jazz inflections, he has recorded some of his new compositions with others from Donal Lunny and Niall Ó Callanáin. This new album "Musical Journey", totally self-financed is the first to be released on Mandala Records by Cormac and is available for licensing or leasing.

Máire Breatnach, (no relation) the well known musician/composer/arranger/producer on hearing the album for the first time says: …. "To him it has been given to bridge and thus unite, many realms, most clearly observed here in the ease with which head and heart effortlessly co-operate, achieving a breathtaking balance between technical brilliance and emotional honesty. This is indeed a unique album."

Cormac was offered a track on WINDHAM HILL’s Celtic Christmas 1 album in 1985 which was released worldwide in late ’95. His composition, Nollaig na mBan, (Women’s Christmas) was chosen by the company from the whole album (which featured Luka Bloom, Nightnoise, Altan etc.) along with other tracks from other albums to promote their new autumn/winter catalogue. This composition has featured on three Compilation Albums selling 0.5 Million copies so far:- 1178 - Celtic Christmas (release date 09/12/95); 5006 - Wachovia Premium (release date 01/01/99; a giveway through Wachovia Bank); 1476 - A Celtic Christmas Celebration (release date 08/10/99; for a retail store called "Target").

Since then, he has been concentrating on other matters, releasing his album, Musical Journey (Dioscaí Mandala, CD001), moving house where he now lives outside Larragh, Co. Wicklow beside the picturesque and ancient Glendalough. He is now rehearsing and recording with Cork guitarist Martin Dunlea (teaches guitar in Ronan Guilfoyle’s School of Music, Newpark, Blackrock). They are interpreting some of the album melodies and introducing new compositions, also form Martin himself. They hope to introduce singing also to their repertoire.

Their approach to the music would be along similar lines of two other duos, well known in the music business and full time musicians: The first of these is Karen Tweed (piano-accordion player who appears on Cormac’s album) and Ian Carr (guitar) both based in the UK. The other duo is Martin Hayes (fiddle) and Dennis Cahill (guitar), both based in the US.