Classic Songs le Seosamh Ó Flaithearta

Seosamh and Tom in harmony for Classic Songs, The Connacht Tribune, article, Nollaig 2016

Seosamh Ó Flaithearta and Tom Cullivan will perform from their new album Classic Songs in the city’s St. Nicholas Collegiate Church in this Saturday, December 10 at 7pm.

Flute player Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha who presents Raidió na Gaeltachta’s music programme Ceol Binn ó na Beanna, will launch Classic Songs – a collection from the Irish tradition.

It includes traditional songs like Úna Bhán alongside Irish classics like The Foggy Dew and seasonal tunes like Oíche Chiúin. There are also renditions of Old Galway Bay and The Claddagh Boatman.

Seosamh and Tom have compiled notes on the songs on the album, which is published by Cló Iar-Chonnacht.

These reveal that The Claddagh Boatman, long believed to be a traditional ballad, was written by Laois man, Jeremiah Dowling (1830 – 1906). One of the first medical graduates from Queen’s College Galway, Dowling became a doctor in Tipperary. The Claddagh Boatman appeared under his name in supplement to the Cork Examiner in April 1900.

Singer Seosamh Ó Flaithearta, originally from Coill Sáile, Carna, hails from a renowned family of traditional performers. Well-known as a soloist, he is a member of Cantóirí na Taibhdheirce.

He will be joined for the launch by Cavan-born pianist and composer Tom Cullivan, who composed for Druid and An Taibhdhearc as a student UCG.

Since then, Tom’s music has been performed in Europe and the United States. His works for voice include the Cantata Hiroshima a setting for soloists, choir and orchestra of Eoghan Ó Tuairisc’s epic poem, Aifreann na Marbh.