Experience Ireland

(December 2007) 40 tracks

This 2CD Irish music collection and accompanying guide were compiled and written by Geoff Wallis, co-author of the Rough Guides to Ireland, Dublin and Irish Music and regular contributor to Roots and Songlines magazines. The two CDs feature a wealth of musicians, ranging from lively contemporary bands such as Lúnasa, Téada and Solas, to solo performances by traditional luminaries such as uilleann piper Willie Clancy and fiddler John Doherty. There's plenty of songs too, including recently composed numbers by Karan Casey and Gráda, as well as traditional classics in both the Irish and English languages.

The accompanying 40-page guide highlights Dublin's must-see attractions as well as suggesting ten other key sights to visit across the rest of Ireland and pinpointing the best of the many music and arts festivals which provide an enthralling backdrop to any trip to the country. Plus there's plenty of background material and a host of tips to enhance your travel experience.

CD1: John McSherry & Dónal O’Connor (Rose in the Gap) * Cran (Erin Grá Mo Chroí) * Niamh Ní Charra (Johnny O’Leary’s / An Chóisir / Lios Uí Bhigín / The Hare I  the Corn) * James Carty (Siney Crotty’s / Piper’s Broken Finger) * Sarah McQuaid (The Parting Glass) * Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill (Colm Cille na Féile) * Ciarán Tourish (Molly Bán / Flowers of Edinburgh / Famous Ballymote) * Willie Clancy (The Old Bush / The Ravelled Hank of Yarn) * Skylark (The Little Pack of Tailors) * Ronan Browne (Danny Boy
) * Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (When I Was a Fair Maid) * Éilís Ní Shúilleabhain (An Hide & Go Seek) * Lúnasa (The Dingle Berries) * Liam Weldon (Smuggling the Tin) * Karan Casey (When Will We All Be Free) * Chris Droney (Cooley’s / Cronin’s) * Clannad (Dúlamán) * Séamus McGuire & John Lee (Old Mickey McKiernan’s / The Camber Lasses / The Old Schoolmaster / Over the Bridge to Peggy) * The Bothy Band (Patsy Geary’s / Coleman’s Cross) * Tommy O’Sullivan (The People of West Cork & Kerry).

CD2: Solas (Newry Highwayman) * Mick, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy (Gathering Sheep / Lad O’Beirne’s / Paddy’s Gone to France) * Matt Molloy, Paul Brady,Tommy Peoples (Munster Buttermilk / The Connachtman’s Rambles) * Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola (An tAmhrán Bréagach / The Song of Lies) * Seán Tyrrell, Kevin Glackin & Ronan Browne (The Man for Galway) * Tony Mac Mahon & Noel Hill (The Maids of Castlebar / The Collier’s Reel) * Séamus Quinn & Gary Hastings (The Kiss Behind the Door / Bonnie Annie / The Granny in the Woods) * Róisín Elsafty (Alí: Dileachtín gan bhrí) * John Doherty (Bonnie Kate) * Andy Irvine & Paul Brady (Arthur McBride) * Mick McAuley & Winifred Horan (The Ballygar Jigs) * Mary McPartlan (As I Roved Out / Joe O'Dowd's Barndance) * Marcas Ó Murchú (Josie McDermott's Reels) * Meaití Jó Shéamuis Ó Fátharta (An Caiptín Ó Máille) * Téada (The Tenpenny Piece / Comb Your Hair & Curl It / Larry McDonagh’s) * Máirtín O'Connor (The Jolly Tinker) * Dolores Keane & John Faulkner (Galway Bay) * Niall Vallely, Paul Meehan, Caoimhín Vallely (Longnancy’s / Winnie Hayes’ Jig) * Gráda (Isabelle) * Kevin Burke & Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (The Promenade).