"Arguably Ireland's biggest name in traditional music"
The description above is what you'll see if you do a Google search for Altan's website. The group had its beginnings with fiddler and singer Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh from Gweedore in the far north and west of Ireland, and Frankie Kennedy, flute player from Belfast. Kennedy would travel to Gweedore in the 1970s to learn the Irish language and play music. He met Mairéad there and they began making music together. They were married in 1981 and released their album Ceol Anduaidh (Music of the North) in 1983. They were joined by Ciaran Curran and Mark Kelly on their second album, named Altan after a deep lake in Mairéad's home district. Altan became the group's name with the third album, Horse with a Heart. | |
Ceol AduaidhThe first recording by Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh was Ceol Anduaidh (Music of the North), released in 1983 on the Gael-Linn label and rereleased on Green Linnet in 1994. Mairéad is featured on vocals and fiddle, and Frankie plays flute. Future Altan band member Ciaran Curran played cittern, Fintan McManus played bouzouki, and Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (also from Gweedore and better known these days as Enya) contributed synthesizer to a track. | |
AltanOn this second recording by Frankie and Mairéad, Altan is the recording's name, with Frankie and Mairéad's names as artists on the cover. This 1987 recording is their first for the Green Linnet label. Musicians include future Altan members Ciaran Curran on bouzouki and Mark Kelly on guitar. Dónal Lunny played bodhran and keyboards, and Anna Ní Mhaonaigh contributed vocals to one track. | |
Horse with a HeartThis 1989 Green Linnet recording is the first using Altan as the band name. Fiddler Paul O'Shaughnessy is part of the band here and the next two CDs. Additional musicians are Phil Cunningham, who also produced, Colm Murphy, Dónal Lunny, Steve White, and Marie Askin. | |
The Red CrowThe five-person lineup continues on this 1990 release. Additional musicians are Marie Askin, Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh, Dermot Byrne, Seamus Quinn, Garvan Gallagher, Dónal Lunny, Máire Bhreathnach, Niall Toner, and P. J. Curtis. | |
Harvest StormOn this 1992 release, Ciaran Tourish joins the Altan lineup with fiddle, whistle, and backing vocals. Additional musicians are Daíthí Sproule, Tommy Hayes, Dónal Lunny, Liam O Maonlai, and Frieda Gray. | |
Island AngelIsland Angel's title track was written by Mairéad for her husband Frankie, who was diagnosed with cancer in 1992. The album was released in 1993. Guest musicians are Dermot Byrne, Dónal Lunny, Tommy Hayes, Steve Cooney, Neil Martin, and Anna Ní Mhaonaigh. | |
Once Again (1987-1993)This is a compilation of previously released material. | |
The First Ten Years: 1986-1995Another retrospective release. | |
BlackwaterFor this 1996 release, two frequent guest musicians from previous CDs join the band in a lineup that continues to this day. Dermot Byrne on accordion and single row melodeon, and Daíthí Sproule on guitar and backing vocals join regular members Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciaran Tourish, Ciaran Curran and Mark Kelly. Additional musicians are Dónal Lunny, Steve Cooney, Jimmy Higgins, Brendan Power, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Maigréad Ní Dhomhnaill, Anna Ní Mhaonaigh, Conan Doyle, and the string quartet of Tommy Kane, Máire Breathnach, David James, and Annette Cleary. | |
The Best of Altan | |
Runaway SundayThis 1997 CD includes Mairéad's song "Time Has Passed" which deals with the passing of Frankie Kennedy in 1994. She hadn't planned on including it, but other Altan members felt it belonged on the recording. Additional musicians include Stephen Cooney, Jerry Douglas, Dónal Lunny, Alison Krauss, Pat Crowley, Jimmy Higgins, Matt Molloy, and Neil Martin. | |
Altan's Finest | |
Another SkyThis 2000 CD is on the Narada label. Additional musicians are Neil Martin, Steve Cooney, Jimmy Higgins, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Douglas, and Dónal Lunny. | |
The Blue IdolThis 2002 CD is on the Narada label. Additional musicians are Dolly Parton, Paul Brady, Neil Martin, Steve Cooney, Richie Buckley, Jimmy Higgins, and Anna Ní Mhaonaigh. | |
The Best of Altan: The SongsThis was released in 2003 and features Mairéad's vocals, which have always been a defining element of Altan's music. | |
Local GroundReleased in 2005, this is currently Altan's newest CD (as of April 2008). Additional musicians are Brian Masterson, Carlos Nunez, Jimmy Higgins, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Graham Henderson, Dónal Lunny, and Steve Cooney. Much more information about this CD can be found at http://www.altan.ie/work.html. | |
The Best of the Thistle & Shamrock, Vol. 1Altan contributes "The Jug of Punch" to this Celtic all-star lineup which includes Dougie MacLean, Battlefield Band, Clannad, Sileas, Alasdair Fraser (with Paul Machlis), Maura O'Connell and Davy Spillane. | |
A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh Altan's "The Snowy Path" appears on this compilation. Other artists include Capercaillie, Lúnasa, The Tannahill Weavers, Liz Carroll, John Renbourn and Phil Cunningham. | |
Eist - Songs in Their Native Language...If you like songs in Gaelic, you'll probably enjoy this compilation. Altan leads off, followed by Seamus Beagley & Mary Black, Van Morrison & The Chieftains, Brian Kennedy & Máire Breatnach, plus many others, including English singer Kate Bush (yes, she sings in Gaelic). The CD is available from Amazon through its partners. The MP3 version of: éist | |
Altan performing "Dulaman" on YouTubeAltan's version of this tune is my favorite. This video from the Cambridge Festival in 2003 features the lively playing of the band along with Mairead singing in Gaelic. Other videos featuring Altan will be listed on the page. Altan Links
| |
is available directly from Amazon. It is listed in MP3 Downloads as "éist by Altan."