Counties Offaly, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon, Ireland

County Offaly's most famous feature is probably the Tullamore Dew whiskey distillery.  I went on a wee weekend trip a few years ago with my trusted companion Eddie the Beagle who wrote a little entry on his blog about the trip, which you can see on this link.  

From Tullamore hails guitar and bouzouki player Dónal Lunny, who in his long distinguished career has played with Planxty, the Bothy Band and most recently Usher's Island.  He only recorded 3 albums under his own name, but collaborating with a number of different musicians.  This set of tunes, The Glentown Medley is from his 1998 album Coolfin:

Moving on to County Westmeath we meet button accordionist Paul Brock from Athlone right in the geographical centre of Ireland.  Here's a set of tunes from his 2010 album Mo Chardín, The Hut in the Bog / Rolling in the Ryegrass / Monasteraden Fancy:

Here's a song called Town of Athlone , which actually talks about an ambush in Co. Kilkenny, performed by Karan Casey from Cork off the Album Rough Guide to Irish Music:

Now County Longford seems to be something of a heartland for Irish country music, and I really... REALLY hate Irish country music.  And since I can't find anything else decent from this county, I shall reluctantly skip over it.  If anyone out there can find something decent, let me know and I will add it at a later point.  I can't even find any nice songs about County Longford.

Multi-instrumentalist John Carty was born in London, but has since moved to Boyle, County Roscommon.  He was taught banjo, fiddle and flute by his father and passed his skills on to his daughter Maggie.  Here they are playing a set of tunes called The Turn / Carrigkerry / Con Cassidy's from their 2016 album Settle Out of Court:

That's concludes our whistlestop tour through the Irish Midlands.  As usual you can follow my virtual journey on this link.  Next stop is Galway.

County Meath, Ireland

From Cavan we cross into County Meath,the spiritual heart of Ireland as it includes the neolithic burial sites of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. 

 In ancient times it was also the seat of the High Kings of Ireland in Tara.  In more recent history it was also where the famous Battle of the Boyne was fought.

It is therefore no surprise that a fair bit of traditional music emanated from this county.  The legendary Bothy Band had some of its roots in the County with at least 3 member of the group born here, and most went on to have successful solo careers.  The Bothy Band was only active for 4 years during the 1970's, but they left a lasting impression on the Irish music scene with their dynamic style.  Here they are playing a live gig, Old Hag You Killed Me,which can be found on the album of the same name.

The man on the uileann pipes, Paddy Keenan, was born to a travelling family in Trim, County Meath and still performs around the world and is sometimes dubbed the Paganini of the Uileann pipes.  Here he is performing with Cyril O'Donoghue of County Clare on bouzouki.The tunes are Willie Coleman's / Scatter the Mud / The Old Favourite.  I can't find these particular tunes on any of his albums, but here is a list of his extensive discography.

Also part of the Bothy Band was Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill from Kells, County Meath on piano and vocals, who also played in other bands such as Skara Brae and performed with her sister, Maighread and her brother Graham.  She had a successful solo career too.  This song from the archives, Na Gamhna Geala (The White Calf) is from her 1975 album Tríona: 

Here she is performing together with her sister Maighread and Dónal Lunny from Tullamore, County Offaly performing a song called Bruach Na Carraige Báine from their 2010 album Idir an Dá Sholas (Between the two lights):

In 2009 the two sisters got together with 2 other friends in Donegal to celebrate the life of their brother Mícheál, who tragically died prematurely, to form the group T With the Maggies.  This song, Domhnach Na Fola, is from their 2010 self-titled album and describes the events of Bloody Sunday, when in 1972 British soliers shot and killed 13 unarmed civilians during civil rights marches in the city of Derry. 

Next stop County Louth.  As usual you can follow the route on this link.