Fiddler Caoimhín Ó'Raghallaigh performs with This Is How We Fly as part of the Tradition Now Festival in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Sunday 17 November. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
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Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm trying to learn Japanese at the moment. I've been vegetarian since 1985. I love making things, all sorts of things. If you can make it instead of buying it, I'll try to make it.
How would you describe your music?
Finding the beauty in weeds, revelling in the sound of an aged person's rasped and croaking voice - always the DNA is traditional Irish music, but often refracted through a prism or shattered into fragments.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Tony MacMahon, Peaiti Thadg Pheig, Padraig O'Keeffe, Willie Clancy, Joe Cooley, Iarla O Lionaird, Mrs Ellen Galvin, Sorcha Ni Ghuairim, Peadar O Riada, Colm O Caidhean, Johnny Doran, Ann Heymann. Nils Okland, Oliver Schroer, Dan Trueman, Arve Henriksen, Arvo Part, Jørgen Tjønnstaul, Torleiv Bjorgum and endless more.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I don't know for sure, but an early one that made a huge impression was seeing Tony MacMahon, Noel Hill & Iarla Ó Lionáird at the National Concert Hall in the early nineties.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I saved up tokens from Weetabix boxes in the 80s and sent away for a set of tape cassettes that included tracks by the likes of A-ha, Tears for Fears and Dexys Midnight Runners. Played them on the ghettoblaster over and over again and drove everyone in the house up the walls.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I have twin toddlers here at home, so I'm afraid my listening isn't very highbrow at the moment. We've managed to avoid Baby Shark so far; long may that continue. I have been listening to some Japanese folk music though, lots of the shakuhachi and the koto, and enjoying that.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Honestly the lyrics usually don't even register with me until about the 200th time of listening to a song. Blasphemy!
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Any takers for Baby Shark?
Where can people find your music/more information?
Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music etc and my website.
Alan Corr
