Review of ‘Saol na Suailce’ from ‘The Irish Gazette’ in Minnesota:
“Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde is a rare treasure, a young man with a great respect for songs in Irish, a native speaker of Irish, and a fine singer himself. Doimnic hails from Gaoth Dobhair, in remote northwest Ireland. There he learned his store of songs, some of which came from nearby Tory Island. He has put together here a wonderful set of songs, most of them sean nós, or “old style” songs. He starts off with a happy, uptempo song in Irish about a cheerful rover who lived “the happy life”. Saol na Suailce translates loosely as “The Happy Life”. His other songs treat of subjects like failed love, missing Ireland, and uncooperative bartenders.
“The most beautiful song may be An Draighneán Donn (The Blackthorn). The story of love found, love lost, and love found again, with several twists, is fun on its own merits, but Doimnic’s hypnotic voice makes it a meditation on fortune and misfortune. This classic song is as near to perfection as any human could take it.
“The next song nearly surpasses An Draighneán Donn, but in this case it’s for the choir Cór Thaobh a’ Leithid, a group of friends that sings with Doimnic. The song is Áirdí Cuan, one of the most beautiful songs ever to come out of County Antrim. This song has been recorded by various singers, including Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, whose family originally came from near Doimnic’s home. The choral arrangment, done by Doimnic himself, is simply lovely. There is uilleann pipe and accordion accompaniment on a couple lively songs, but most of the songs are in the warm sean nós style, in which the singer and the song are the focus.
“All the songs are in Irish, with lyrics in Irish on the CD jacket. The comments for each song are in Irish and English. Even if you haven’t a word of Irish, the songs are pure magic, rich with mirth, mischief, and melancholy.
“A magical CD.”
Léirmheas ar ‘Saol na Suailce’ ón ‘Irish Gazette’ i Minnesota:
“Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde is a rare treasure, a young man with a great respect for songs in Irish, a native speaker of Irish, and a fine singer himself. Doimnic hails from Gaoth Dobhair, in remote northwest Ireland. There he learned his store of songs, some of which came from nearby Tory Island. He has put together here a wonderful set of songs, most of them sean nós, or “old style” songs. He starts off with a happy, uptempo song in Irish about a cheerful rover who lived “the happy life”. Saol na Suailce translates loosely as “The Happy Life”. His other songs treat of subjects like failed love, missing Ireland, and uncooperative bartenders.
“The most beautiful song may be An Draighneán Donn (The Blackthorn). The story of love found, love lost, and love found again, with several twists, is fun on its own merits, but Doimnic’s hypnotic voice makes it a meditation on fortune and misfortune. This classic song is as near to perfection as any human could take it.
“The next song nearly surpasses An Draighneán Donn, but in this case it’s for the choir Cór Thaobh a’ Leithid, a group of friends that sings with Doimnic. The song is Áirdí Cuan, one of the most beautiful songs ever to come out of County Antrim. This song has been recorded by various singers, including Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, whose family originally came from near Doimnic’s home. The choral arrangment, done by Doimnic himself, is simply lovely. There is uilleann pipe and accordion accompaniment on a couple lively songs, but most of the songs are in the warm sean nós style, in which the singer and the song are the focus.
“All the songs are in Irish, with lyrics in Irish on the CD jacket. The comments for each song are in Irish and English. Even if you haven’t a word of Irish, the songs are pure magic, rich with mirth, mischief, and melancholy.
“A magical CD.”