Cape Clear & the Song of Books

This weekend we visited Cape Clear, or Clear Island, to record the “Cape Clear” air. Ilse participated in a session in the local pub and the next morning early we made our way up near the highest point of the island to witness and play at the sunrise.

Waiting for sunrise at Cape Clear
Waiting for sunrise at Cape Clear

We then went on chasing for the origins of Amhrán na Leabhar, or the Song of Books, set in the south west of Ireland. We found the grave of the author of the song, Tomás Ruad’ Ua Suilliobain, who lived from 1785 until 1848. It is in a graveyard at the site of a 10th century church ruin. We recorded the air there and had quite an audience of people who were visiting the graveyard.

Playing Amhran Na Leabhar (the Song of Books) at the grave of Tomás Rua O Sullivan, the author of the song, in Derrynane.
Playing Amhran Na Leabhar (the Song of Books) at the grave of Tomás Rua O Sullivan, the author of the song, in Derrynane.

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