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From Kerry, Ní Charra is a fiddler, concertina player and vocalist of great repute.  A featured performer in “Riverdance” from 1998-2006, she’s released a pair of fine solo albums, including the critically lauded “From Both Sides” (2007) and “A Tribute To Terry “Cuz” Teahan” (2013), which was fabulous not only in concept & execution, but because of how so thoughtfully researched it was.  With “Donnelly’s Arm,” Ní Charra adds another feather to her hat.

“Donnelly’s Arm” – for that is the album’s title – recalls the life and peculiar story of Dan Donnelly, a celebrated (and notorious) Dublin boxer.  After his passing 200 years ago, his grave was robbed and his corpse stolen.  Donnelly’s body was subsequently returned, albeit without its right arm, which was saved for posterity due to its unusual (and perhaps comic) length.  Since then, it’s been used for medical study, put on display in pubs, and does the occasional tour.  (It’s most recent New York appearances were at the Irish Arts Center in 2006 and South Street Seaport in 2007.)

It’s a fascinating story on its own, but it has a musical tie: Donnelly’s patron was County Kildare-based aristocrat and uilleann piper “Sporting” Captain William Kelly.  Traditional musicians may recognize him from the writings of Francis O’Neill, who profiled Kelly in “Minstrels and Musicians” but surely will from “Captain Kelly’s,” the popular session tune that carries his name.

“Donnelly’s Arm” is great and an album traditional music listeners will want to add to their collection.  Ní Charra is a superb, multi-dimensional musician, but she also has the sort of outstanding taste and reach that can really take a recording project and tie it together.  The results here are a total knockout!  Definitely recommended!

Tracks:  
1. The Copper Mines of Killarney/Covering Ground/Andy De Jarlis (Jigs)
2. The Curlew Hills/Tripping to the Well/Two-Part Pour (Barndance/Polkas)
3. Cad é Sin Don t’É Sin (Song
4. Donnelly’s Arm/Pretty Peggy/Julie Delaney’s (Reels)
5. Flush of Success/The Worn Torn Petticoat/Tom Billy’s Favourite (Slides)
6. Eanach Dhúin (Slow Air)
7. Gone, Gonna Rise Again/Ar Scáth a Chéile (Song/Slip Jig/Reel)
8. Seanchnoc (Clan March)
9. Waltz for Rosie/The (Old) Lark in the Morning/Cooper and Keegan’s (Waltz/Jig/Slip Jig)
10. Ceol An Phíobaire (Song)
11. Amaitzeko Soñua/As I Looked East and I Looked West/The Glen Cottage/I will, yeah/Arin Arin (Polkas)
12. The Exile of Erin/Richie Dwyer’s/Red-haired Catherine/Ril Du Forgeron (Reels)

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster.