Born in France, Tom Delany has been playing Irish traditional music since the age of 12, when his father Rory, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1980’s taught him to play the tin whistle.
By thirteen, Tom had picked up the Uilleann pipes, and was already performing regularly around France. Inspired by the travelling style of piping which he encountered in recordings of Johnny Doran, Paddy Keenan and Davy Spillane. Tom’s music was later greatly influenced by the playing of Mickey Dunne, John McSherry and Blackie O’Connell.
Since his first of many visits to County Clare, Tom has developed a particular fondness for the music of the west of Ireland. A founder member of the band Four Winds alongside Daoiri Farrell, Tom plays in duo with Caroline Keane and is a member of the transatlantic collaboration Coast to Coast.
Tom says; “I’ve been toying with the idea of making an album for a few years. The more time I spent playing with people around the world the more I realised how many ways there are to interpret Irish Music and that’s the beauty of it. Personally, I grew up listening to the music of the 70’s- bands like the Bothy Band, Planxty or the Chieftains heavily influenced my approach. So once I started putting this album together the tunes and arrangements naturally came to me”.
Gerry O’Beirne adds “Tom Delany has been living near Dingle for the last few years and on these tracks you can hear traces of the individualism that courses through the Corca Dhuibhne music scene. Evident too is the drive associated with the music of the storied session pubs in Ennis where he has played with some of the best. But this ning rollinmusic harks back especially to theg roistering troubadours of 1970’s Ireland and it’s clear that he has spent more time than most listeto the LPs of Mulligan and Claddagh, Topic and Gael Linn”.
Joining Tom on the album are some of Ireland’s finest Caroline Keane on Concertina, Alan Murray on Guitar & Bouzouki, Brian O’Loughlin on Flute, Laura Kerr on Fiddle, Conor Lyons on Bodhrán, Camille Phillipe on Mandolin, all hewn together beautifully in studio by former Lúnasa guitarist Donogh Hennessy.
Tom adds; ““I teamed up with some of my very good friends who I knew understood the concept and my taste in music. Most of the tunes recorded have been around for decades if not centuries and will more than likely be at the centre of the tradition for a long time. The pipes are obviously at the forefront but the album also includes whistles, concertina, fiddle, flute, mandolin, bodhran, guitar and bouzouki played by some of my favourite players and all really old friends”. ”.
Tom Delany is launching his new release on Saturday 26th February as part of the Russell Memorial Weekend in Doolin, Co. Clare. Featuring Caroline Keane, Dom Keogh, Ruben Bada. The event is taking place in “The Attic” at Hotel Doolin. 7pm start, Free admission.
Photo: Fiona Morgan
