Augher fiddler to launch first solo album next month

One of the finest fiddle players in Ireland is about to launch her debut solo album and you can already hear the critics… “Why did the young maestro not release this record sooner?”

Sinéad McKenna, one of seven children belonging to the now-famed McKenna musical dynasty, will unveil ‘Faoi Lán Ceoil’ at the Duncairn, Belfast on March 9, before having a Tyrone launch in Dungannon’s Square Box on March 22.

The young Augher woman’s talents have been the talk of Irish traditional music circles since she was no age, winning multiple all-Ireland medals from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and also taking the prestigious Ed Reavy International Fiddle Competition in 2019.

However, though she has long been considered a musician of exceeding maturity, those privy to a sneak-peak of her new 12-track album have reported evidence of outstanding authenticity, tastefulness and imagination.

To hear more about the origins of the album and the music stored within, we recently sat down for a chat with the playing pride of Sweet Augher Town.

“Much of the music in our family actually came from Monaghan,” said Sinéad, reflecting on the history of her illustrious clan’s music.

“Pat and Pete McKenna, my grand-uncles, were two bachelor brothers, both fiddle players and great men for a ceilidh. They collected a lot of tunes and growing up I would have learned a lot of them.”

But the melodies of that border county are not only in her blood.

“The other musical connection with Monaghan came through the first teacher I ever had, Laura Beagin. Again, a lot of the tunes she imparted to us would have had Monaghan roots.”

To honour these formative influences, Sinéad set a aside a sizable chunk of tape-time to renditions of these tunes she learned growing up.

“The other part of ‘Faoi Lán Ceoil’ is comprised of tunes I composed myself, plus two songs, one in Irish and the other in English,” she explained.

Accompanied on the album by a number of other masterful players, including Micky Fearon (guitar), Rachael Masterson (piano), her brother Peter (uilleann pipes), Oisín Murphy (banjo) and Brendy Loughran (concertina), this album represents the latest iteration of a long, deep history of McKenna fiddle music.

It is simple, personal, original, elegant, and an absolute must-have for fans of Irish traditional music, especially those interested in the evolution of the Ulster fiddle.

l Purchase ‘Faoi Lán Ceoil’ at either of the album launches or by visiting ‘Bandcamp.com’.