Songs from the Blue Stacks coming out on CD shortly

A new book of songs from the Blue Stack mountain region of Donegal is to come on stream shortly.

Amhráin Anna John Chiot (The Songs of Anna John Chiot), edited by Pól Ó Seachnasaigh, contains all of the songs that were collected from Anna John Chiot Nic an Luain, in the Blue Stacks area between 1937 and 1948.

In addition to the large store of tales recorded from Anna by the Irish Folklore Commission, she also contributed a large number of songs. This collection of songs is an important resource for those interested in traditional singing in Irish and in the music tradition of County Donegal in particular.

There are 128 songs in the collection, both long and short songs, together with verses and parts of other songs.

Anna spoke the words of the songs to the collectors Liam Mac Meanman and Seán Ó hEochaidh, meaning that we are left with not much more than her words as written down.

However, six of the finest singers from Donegal – Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Anna Ní Mhaonaigh and Máire Ní Choilm together with Lillis Ó Laoire, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde and Brian Ó Domhnaill – have recorded sample songs from the collection.

There are 22 tracks available by clicking on a QR code, of which 14 tracks are available on the included CD.

The book Amhráin Anna John Chiot, The Songs of Anna John Chiot will have its first launch in The Glen Tavern (or Dinny’s as it is better known), Greenans, Glenties on Saturday, July 22 at 3pm. This is a famous house in the world of traditional Irish music, and its proximity to the Blue Stacks area makes it very suitable for the launch.

The Dublin launch will take place in the Irish Traditional Music Archive 73 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 on Wednesday, July 26 at 3pm. The wonderful recordings, which form an integral and very enjoyable part of this publication, were made in the Archive’s studio.