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| Cover of Paul Brady |
From Donegal Daily
To celebrate the year of The Gathering, the Donegal Gathering and Earagail Arts Festival have teamed up to commission a new signature tune by some of Ireland’s well loved artists that reaches beyond its birthplace in Donegal.
Written and produced collaboratively by Donegal native Mickey Joe Harte, Strabane’s global folk star Paul Brady and North American musician and producer John Condron.
With its inspiration and soul drawn from the composers’ and performers’ sense of their home place and nurtured with the support of many people in the community, Come Gather All was recorded in the hills of Donegal and thus has a unique Donegal flavour to it.
Commenting on the recording, the driving force of the project Mickey Joe Harte said “There was a little bit of magic in the air, and a fair wind filled the sails during the recording of “COME GATHER ALL” considering most of the artists had never worked together as a unit, it seemed that in studio there was a common understanding and determination to do what was best for the song.
“That energy and cohesiveness from everyone involved can be enjoyed for all now. You can here these contributions all over the recording.. And to help you pick them out here’s some names you might recognise and some you might not… YET!! The Henry girls ( Karen, Lorna and Joleen Mc Laughlin), Pat Gallagher ( Goats Don’t shave), Declan & Kieran Mc Clafferty (In Their Thousands) Martin Tourish, Paul Tully, Gary Porter and Rory Gallagher.”
About the ethos of the song he added “Being Irish was always something that brought mixed emotions to me as a kid growing up in the turbulent, sometimes confused and troubled climate that was Lifford, a town that borders Northern Ireland.
“However, it was by no means all bad, and mostly good, and there were many invisible support networks in the small community that made life in the most part interesting, enjoyable and definitely colourful. Thankfully these networks are characteristic of the Irish landscape at large, no matter what side of the divide you happen to fall on.”
“That divide is thankfully closing and this is in no small part down to the effort of local communities on both sides of the border. These communities have inadvertently helped to shape this new song and as one of the writers and producers, I hope the sentiment will ring true across all divides. This is our way of saying that we are collectively proud of all the good things that being Irish means. This song and the “gathering” of performers was an opportunity to come together and offer something that is true to us and where we come from – and something we are proud to be part of.”
Paddy Harte, Chairman of The Donegal Gathering steering group, said the song has at its heart an inclusiveness which reaches out to everyone who feels a connection with Donegal and to those who embrace their Irish identity across the globe.
“This has been very much a team effort culminating in the final recording in Termon. It has enjoyed generous support from the Riverine Project, the Earagail Arts Festival, the Arts Council of Ireland and the Donegal Gathering as well as a range of local businesses from across the county including The Bank Bistro in Dungloe, the Mount Errigal Hotel and Arena 7 in Letterkenny, who all provided sponsorship. This is Donegal at its very best, working together to better our home-place and to encourage all of us to stay connected at home and beyond as part of the larger Irish Diaspora.”
Paul Brown, Festival Director with the Earagail Arts Festival added “There could be no more fitting homage to the 25th anniversary of the Earagail Arts Festival, than through the medium of a new music commission by some of Ireland’s most established musicians and one that features so much emerging Donegal musical talent. It’s a fantastic piece of music with significant international appeal and a song that connects with all Irish people at home and abroad, whether in the home of Donegal native or the workplace of our Irish diaspora – wherever they are in the world. Recorded in the heart of Donegal at the incredible Attica Audio in Termon “Come Gather All” will be a celebration of the culture and heritage of Ireland to the world.”
“Come Gather All” will and available to listen to via www.donegalgathering.com and www.eaf.ie and from Friday 5th April 2013.
For more information visit on the Earagail Arts Festival 25th anniversary programme , the Donegal Gathering and the national year of The Gathering visit
www.eaf.ie / www.donegalgathering.com / www.thegatheringirleand.com
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