The Liner Notes

Martin Butler, the producer and compiler of this CD, is from Cloughjordan in Tipperary, He has been involved in all aspects of the music scene. as a musician producer, consultant and arranger. He released two critically acclaimed albums in the past four years: Thomas MacDonagh Poet and Patriot in 2016 and Poets in the Trenches – The Irish in The Great War in 2018. 
Joey Abarta Is an All Ireland champion uilleann piper based in Boston, originally from California.
Kurt Bacher is an award-winning jazz musician from Massachusetts now based in New York, who plays in the Wynston Marsalis jazz band in addition to working on Broadway and in TV and film. 
Patrick Bergin is an actor known for his roles in many plays and in films including Sleeping with the Enemy and Patriot Games and also an accomplished musician. He is one of several artists on this album with ties to Cloughjordan. 
Louise Bichan is a musician and photographer from the Orkney Islands, a graduate of the Berklee school of music in Boston.
Patrick Bowling is a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher who has played on numerous CDs, and has won several regional and national titles on flute and bodhran. 
Monica Brennan, from the Maam Valley in Connemara, is an award-winning singer who performs solo, and with her sisters as The Brennan Sister.
Aoife Clancy, daughter of Bobby Clancy of The Clancy Brothers, is a singer and actress and a member of the Grammy-nominated group Cherish the Ladies. This is her third project with Martin Butler.
Gene Clancy, performing still in his 80s, is a legend in the Boston Irish folk scene. He is originally from Tyrone.
Rose Clancy, daughter of Gene Clancy,is a Boston Irish musician with a popular CD with Brendan Dolan, Fiddle — Piano — Bass.
Joe Clapp Is a producer and musician who has worked with Grammy winners Paula Cole and Lori McKenna. This is his seventh project with Martin Butler.
Sean Connor is a dynamic presence on the Irish music scene, a member of the band Nightside and a former Rud Eile bandmate of Martin Butler’s.
John Connor, Sean‘s father, was a member of Noel Henry’s showband, and went on to form his own band, The Irish Express, now in its 25th year.
Ciaran Crawford, from Donegal, is a stage, movie and TV actor and producer who has featured in many films, including Johnny Depp’s Black Mass.
Steffen Daum is it dynamic German composer known for his dramatic scores and arrangements. He is based in Berlin. 
Patrick Davoren Is an exciting young voice on the Irish music scene. Based in Galway, he frequently tours Ireland and the United States.
Eamonn Dillon, originally from Belfast, is multi-instrumentalist All-Ireland champion musician, a touring and recording artist and a masterclass instructor on uileann pipes and low and tin whistle.
Kathleen Doran, a graduate of the Berklee school of music in Boston, is a highly regarded musician based in New York. 
The Dublin City Fire Brigade Band was established in 1985 and has become one of the most respected pipe bands in Ireland and has toured Europe and the United States. 
Michelle Drysdale, the great-granddaughter of Thomas MacDonagh, is a teacher and actress. She lives in Galway.
Liam Hart, a multi-instrumentalist and singer in both Irish and English, is from New Jersey and now lives in Boston; his mother is from the Gaeltacht, and Liam grew up speaking Irish.Daniel Horn, master piper, is from Seattle. He is a multi-instrumentalist and a member of the Celtic group The Fire Inside.
Dan Jalonski is a familiar face on the Irish music scene in the Boston area. He is a member of the Celtic band Nightside.
Tommy Keane, uilleann piper and whistler, has worked with Clannad, Elvis Costello and The Pogues.The
Kitchen Jam Band, based in Durango, Colorado, have recorded three albums since their foundation eight years ago.
Muriel McAuley is the granddaughter of Thomas MacDonagh and has worked to preserve the history of the MacDonagh and Gifford families, contributing to newspapers, books and television programmes. She has been a tremendous help in the completion of this project. 
Tommy McCarthy is a dynamic Boston musician who has played all over the world, and has recorded a popular CD, Grace Bay.
Katie McD from Galway city attended the Berklee school of music in Boston, and has worked for over 20 years as  musician, producer and music director in films, television shows and documentaries. 
Dylan MacDonagh, great-grandson of Thomas MacDonagh and grandson of the poet Donagh MacDonagh, has followed his grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s footsteps, taking a keen interest in Irish poetry, history and arts. 
Turlach MacDonagh, great-grandson of Thomas MacDonagh, has worked in TV and documentary production, including award winning documentaries on PBS Television.
Martin Maguire is an actor who has taught at the Gaiety School of Drama in addition to his many performances on television, film and stage. He lives in Cloughjordan’s Eco-Village. 
Aedín Moloney is the daughter of Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains.She has worked in film, on and off Broadway and on television. She recently finished a critically acclaimed run off Broadway in her one-woman show Reflections of Molly Bloom.
Paddy Moloney, a musical legend, leader of the quintessential traditional musicians The Chieftains for 50 years, has won countless awards including six Grammys. The Chieftains were recognised by the Government of Ireland in 1989 with the honorary title of Ireland’s Musical Ambassadors.
Colm O’Brien, originally from Dublin, comes from a musical background — his father, grandfather and grand-uncles were all members of Fintan Lawlor Pipe Band. Colm is a former member of Celtic rock band The Prodigals, and formed the band Rud Eile with Martin Butler in 2006.
Cormac O’Brien is Colm’s son and an accomplished tin whistle player who began playing at a young age under the tutelage of Jimmy Noonan.
Steve O’Callahan, from Tralee in Kerry, is a great drummer, a member of Boston band Devri.
Martin O’Malley, the former Governor of Maryland, is an accomplished musician. He has lectured on Irish history and is an admirer of Thomas MacDonagh’s work.
Thomas O’Malley, originally from Wexford, is an author and Professor of Literature. This is is third project in collaboration with Martin Butler. 
Liam Ó Maonlaí is a legend in Irish music scene, lead singer of Hothouse Flowers, with a worldwide career as a musician and actor. Brought up bilingual in Irish and English, his music is fluent and beautiful in both.
Warren O’Reilly has acted in many stage productions including the US television show ER.
Caroline O’Shea, originally from the Boston area and now living in Dublin,has played tin whistle and flute on many albums. 
Colin Owens is a composer, musician and producer who has worked in Italy, England and United States primarily in television and movie scoring. 
John Owens is a traditional and jazz musician, playing guitar, bouzouki and bass. This is his third project with Martin Butler.
Chuck Parrish is originally from Kentucky and is a guitar player in the bluegrass, Celtic and rock styles. He is a member of Boston band Devri.
Stuart Peak is a multi-instrumentalist, an All-Ireland-winning musician and a sought-after session musician.
Janine Randall, one of the most sought-after Cape Breton and Celtic piano players, performed on her former student Caroline Goulding’s Grammy-nominated album.
Lucille Redmond, a granddaughter of Thomas MacDonagh, is an award-winning short story writer and an editor and teacher, with a sideline in cycling activism.
Laura Ridarelli is a fiddler and music teacher who plays in the Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton styles. She has been featured on many CDs. 
Torrin Ryan is an exciting young uilleann pipe player. He has played since the age of 14, and has medaled twice in the All-Ireland Fleadh. 
Aoife Scott comes from one of Ireland’s great musical families, the Black Family. She is a daughter of Frances Black and has blazed her own trail with an award-winning music career. Her latest album is HomeBird.
Paudie Walsh, originally from Connemara, is a musician on the Boston Irish traditional music circuit.