Reviews of Celtic Books and Recordings

Reviewed by Mary McWay Seaman,
Celtic Connection, May, 2007

A full sensory excursion to the beginnings of the British penal colony in New South Wales awaits in Thomas Keneally's A COMMONWEALTH OF THIEVES: THE IMPROBABLE BIRTH OF AUSTRALIA. The book also offers an escorted tour through the mean streets of late 18th-century England and its barbarous prisons. This is not one of those sweeping overviews of a country's entire history; the book's power lies in the coverage of the colony's founding by British and Irish settlers during a brief span from the 1780s to the early 1800s. Despite the Enlightenment's brilliant minds (Samuel Johnson, James Boswell et al.) English society was still short on mercy, brotherhood and inclusiveness.
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Reviewed by Mary McWay Seaman,
Celtic Connection, June, 2007

Not having a scientific bent myself, I was leery of tackling even a modest tome on genetics; however, this thriller hooked me immediately. Bryan Sykes, Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Oxford, recently finished a 10-year DNA survey of the genetic structure of Britain and Ireland, and the revelations are let loose in his new book, SAXONS, VIKINGS, AND CELTS: THE GENETIC ROOTS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND. An exceptional storyteller, the professor defines DNA as "those unseen architects of our bodies, even of our souls." Never pedantic, the narrative glows as historic figures bray and geological surveys sing, while its momentum builds like a detective story. Sykes never just spews stats across pages; he weaves them into ageless stories of conflict and struggle.
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Reviewed by Cindy Reich,
Celtic Connection, July, 2007

The worst thing you could ever say about a dance band is that they stuck the feet of the dancers to the floor. There is no chance of that happening listening to Dave Munnelly’s new album, “By Heck”. In fact it makes one look around for a hard floor and a dancing partner from the first notes of the 20’s ceilidh style beginnings of the first cut, “Cuckoo’s Nest/Silver Spire” And, in fact, he took this arrangement from John J Kimmell’s 1915 recording of the “Cuckoo’s Nest”. It has great bounce, lift and energy.
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In Irish mythology, cows from the underworld were white with red ears. It may be no surprise that Andrew Murray's record label and website is "White cow music", as Murray has a voice that could easily be gifted from the otherworld. Deep, resonant and extremely expressive, it is easy on the ear and invites one to listen closely to what he sings. It would also be no surprise to find that he was asked to tour with the iconic band DeDannan as lead singer for a time.
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Reviewed by Cindy Reich,
Celtic Connection, August, 2007

Kevin Burke needs no introduction to Irish music lovers. His fiddle playing is unparalleled. Although born in London, Kevin was influenced by the fiddle playing of Michael Coleman and James Morrison among others, through his parents who came from Sligo.
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When Beoga released their first album "A Lovely Madness" in 2002, it became my favorite album of the year. It was quirky, innovative and darn good fun! Additionally, this Antrim based band are all extremely talented musicians. Beoga are now back with "Mischief" and I'm delighted to say that this new release is as good as, and dare I say it –even better than the first.
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