Counties Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim, Ireland

County Mayo is a wild and untamed land in the west of Ireland.  I haven't been there for some years, so I should make another trip there soon.  

Gráinne Hambly is a gifted Irish harp player born in Knockrickard.  She also plays a multitude of other instruments such as the flute and the concertina and she won All Ireland competitions for both the concertina and the harp.  This is a tune from her 2007 album The Thorn Tree, The Geese in the bog:  

Next we're heading to Westport for a pint in Matt Molloy's Pub (pictured above).   Matt Molloy himself was actually born in the county of Roscommon and he has played the flute with some of the greats, such as the Bothy Band, Planxty and the Chieftains.  He now runs this popular pub, where he can still be seen joining in the sessions at the age of 72.  Here is a jig called The Gold Ring from his 2008 self-titled album:

We move on to the town of Sligo in the county of the same name.  Here the band Dervish was formed in 1989 and they have been recording and touring the world ever since.  This is a set if tunes, the Donegal Set from their 1990 album The Boys of Sligo:

Eleanor Shanley is a singer from Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim.  In her long and illustrious career she has performed with De Danann, Ronnie Drew (of Dubliners fame), Christy Moore and Sharon Shannon as well as performing solo.  This is her singing live Still I Love Him from her 2001 album Eleanor Shanley & Friends:

That's it for today folks, next stop Fermanagh and Tyrone.  As ususal, you can follow my virtual journey on tripline.

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.