Paul and Fleadh coming over in January

Just an early note that German based band Fleadh will be coming to Ireland in January for their annual holiday, writes Brian Byrne.

The local angle to that is Kilcullenite Paul Durney, aka Saoirse Mhór, one of the band's founder members, who has been making his living in Germany for many years as a musician.

The multi-countried Fleadh is made up by Saoirse Mhór, Tommy Gorny, Marcus Eichenlaub, Frank Durschner and Frank Weber.

The band will be putting on a local gig in McDonnells in Newbridge on 25 January. We'll remind you closer to the event.

The loss of 73 fishermen from Cleggan, Rossadilisk, Inisboffin and other parts of Mayo in a storm in 1927 is recalled in the title of a CD launched by the band last January, The Cleggan Bay Disaster.

In addition to Saoirse's own compositions such as Hill of Plenty, The Cleggan Bay Disaster, Row Home, The Curragh Song and the Balld of John B Whistling, the CD includes covers of Van Morrison's Moondance and Luka Bloom's Eastbound Train.

There are also a number of traditional and modern instrumental tracks from the group, which uses guitar, baas, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, uileann pipes, the low whistle, a bodhran and a cello in the instruments lineup, and guest musicians on this CD are Uli Schmidt and Isabel Eichenlaub.

For all those interested in traditional brought modern, with an intriguing continental twist, this is a well worthwhile acquisition. You can get details of how to buy it at fleadh.de.