‘Dealán Dé’ [pronounced [DAL-AWN-DAY] is the new bilingual single from Cork-born, Belfast-based sixth generation fiddler, bilingual singer, and multi-instrumentalist Clare Sands. Clare, who is opening the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury Festival this month, has unveiled this tribal and anthemic single ahead of her performance.
Following on from her ‘bold and beautiful’ self-titled album, released in September 2022, the contemporary folk artist is back with four new songs, delivered in Irish and English, alongside four new collaborators. The four-part music and film project, ‘Gormacha’, [pronounced GUR-MA-KA] treads a musical path between the four most extreme geographical points in Ireland. Tracing the line between rugged land and stormy seas, Gormacha interweaves Irish folklore, language, and personal responses to our natural world.
Following on from Teasgal, featuring alt-folk songwriter Patrick O’Laoghaire (I Have a Tribe), Clare’s second release ‘Dealán Dé’ features the much celebrated and world-renowned Irish flute and whistle player from County Armagh, Brian Finnegan of the band FLOOK.
Weaving between Irish and English, ‘Dealán Dé’ – an ancient word from County Donegal meaning both butterfly and Northern lights – was recorded on and inspired by the most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head. Mysterious whistling, bluesy guitar, and sea shells invoke an alternative anthem for the Wild North West, echoing Plant and Krauss’ Raising Sands, before building to a driving flute solo and uplifting outro featuring Inishowen Gospel Choir.
A song full of hope, passion and spirit, this triumphant ode to language and landscape also took inspiration from the writing and poetry of Kerri ní Dochartaigh and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill. Clare Says, “Whilst roaming Malin Head, I learned that a certain species of butterfly found in the Donegal Bog is now protected and has been saved from the brink of extinction by conservation efforts. I wanted this song to convey that energy and journey from near extinction to survival and revival. If we can appreciate and protect what is around us, we will do just fine…”
The accompanying video, directed and shot by visual artists and twin sisters Liadain and Kasia Kaminska, captures the contrasting nature of nature itself. On discovering the unusual rock formations of Doagh Strand, the duo explain: “We were struck by the soft and harsh existing side by side – the rock and sand, the wild sea and calm meadow. We had this feeling of being in an Irish Western – the jagged, strange and harsh rock formations against soft sand, sea plants and meadows full of butterflies created a world of its own that we wanted to capture in the video.”
‘Dealán Dé’ is the second in a series of four songs that are deeply personal and universal, sensual and spiritual, ancient and new.
‘Dealán Dé’ is available on all major streaming platforms now.
