 |
Máire Cogan from Carrigaline, Co. Cork, took first-place in the Uillean Pipes Slow Airs over-18 group at the 1996 Fleadh Cheoil neEireann held in Listowel, Co. Kerry. She toured Southern New Jersey with Peter McDonald in the summer of 1997, after which she recorded the material heard here ("An Cualan," her prize-winner at Listowel, plus "The Maid Of Mt. Kisco," the Irish jigs medley, the solo on "Come By The Hills", and tin whistle on "In The Town Of Ballybay." |
 |
Mary Pat Hastings ("She Moved Through The Fair") is known for her beautiful singing throughout Southern New Jersey. Her sensitive treatment of "Fair," which reputedly dates back to medieval Donegal, is often requested at local venues. |
 |
Kate Donaghy ("Belfast") is indeed a native of Belfast who emigrated to America during the late 1980s and now resides in Wildwood, N.J. She’s known locally for her straight-from-the-heart version of "Belfast," the anthem popularized by the Belfast band Barnbrack. |
 |
Aileen Savage ("Danny Boy") has lent her exquisite voice to Broadway performances and summer-stock musicals. She presently performs in mid-town Manhattan venues as "The Singing Nurse." |
 |
Alex McKee ("Amazing Grace"), like Kate, hails from Belfast, and enjoys a reputation in Southern New Jersey as one of the area’s foremost proponents of the Irish bagpipes. |
 
  |
Stephanie, Cassie, Jelena and Donna
("Rattlin’ Bog") attend middle school in the Atlantic City, N.J. area and have performed in local school musicals. However, at the moment they are undecided on whether they’ll parlay that into a show-business career. We hope they consider one seriously. |
|
| Not pictured here but well-deserving of credit are: Darnell Hicks and Lydell Russell, local gospel singers who provided smooth harmonies to the background vocals on "Amazing Grace"; George Plamantouris, extraordinary mandolinist on "Belfast"; and producer Andrew Manzano from The Sound Tank. A man of many talents, he not only did an exceptional job as producer, but also played percussion on "Danny Boy" and "Amazing Grace." I hope you’ll enjoy what everyone here has to offer at least half as much as I enjoyed working with them on this album. My deepest thanks to all of them, and to all of you
who have supported me over the years.
— Peter McDonald |