Ferbane songsmith's new CD is flying off the shelves!
The new CD “Peat Sounds” by Ferbane songsmith Ciaran Guinan is flying off the shelves since its launch!
The CD was launched in Holly Records pop-up shop in Ferbane on Saturday December 3 by former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and NUJ Secretary Seamus Dooley.
Speaking to the Midland Tribune this week, Ciaran said he's been blown away by the response to the album and how quickly it's selling.
“The response has far exceeded my dreams,” he said. “I am so grateful to everybody for their fantastic support. This was a really fun project, a labour of love, and I'm delighted that many others are now participating in that fun by listening to the album.”
Ciaran has been a singer / songwriter for many years and he's poured a lot of talent into the CD. Thankfully, Offalians often have a chance to hear him live. Most recently he was in Birr Theatre on Saturday performing with Mundy. “What a great night that was,” he said. “Mundy was fantastic, as always, and the Birr audience gave us a great response.”
He said the launch on December 3 was a fantastic occasion as well. “Brian Cowen was in fine form. It was so good to see him in good form following his illness. And Seamus Dooley gave an excellent speech.”
Seamus' speech began jokingly, pointing out that it was a long way from Uncle Noddy’s Steamboat to Kim Kardashian knocking back pints in the Haggard or Lady Gaga loitering outside the Ball of Malt!
More seriously, Seamus pointed out that it was a great pleasure to be in Holly’s for this unique occasion, the launch of Peat Sounds. “Coming in through the door of Maddens’,” he said, “I was reminded of breaks from school in St Saran’s where Lizzie and Joe Egan served behind the high counter with good humour and civility. At the outset may I congratulate Brownie on this magnificent production and compliment all concerned: Des Sheerin, Jonathan Milligan, Roy McLoughlin, Willie Kiernan, Scott Vestal, Tom Sheerin, John Byrne, Simon Sheerin and Danny Sheerin. It’s no surprise that the design is superb and full credit to Diarmuid and Mary for the exquisite booklet. Even without the CD the booklet would be an invaluable production. Eoghan Egan’s animation has helped put Cloghan on the map.”
Seamus said there are close family ties between the Guinans and the Dooleys, and so it was great to be present in Holly's among so many friends. His first memory of hearing Ciaran Guinan sing was with the Printers when the group brought Ireland glory to Ferbane with the Scor na Og ballad contest. “The McGarrigle Sisters’ 'Heart Like a Wheel' and 'Uncle Noddy’s Stramboat', made famous by the Wolfe Tones, were the signature songs of Ciaran. Finola and Mary Guinan, Daragh and Niamh Connolly made up the Printers.
“Listening to this album I was transported back to St Mary’s Hall and recalled so many happy days in the company of Ciaran and Maura Guinan, Jerry and Mairead Connolly, Tony Holleran, Joe Hiney and so many others whose spirits are evoked in a number of the tracks. Indeed, when the post arrived on Thursday I was stopped in my own tracks as, like John Doyle, I rewound the tape of my life and recalled the many great men and people who for long formed part of the landscape of this great town. Incidentally, Brownie – I too recall your father singing in St Mary’s Hall although my abiding memory of the song is of it being sung in Croke Park by John “Pockets” Claffey.
“Brownie has brought to life wonderful old songs and while listening to the CD during the week I was brought on a nostalgic journey across Doon, Shannon Harbour, Banagher, Lusmagh before returning to Ferbane via Cloghan – though I got badly caught at the traffic lights! It really is an Atlas of West Offaly.
“If there were no other songs on the album Brownie has done a great service to social history by bringing together a miscellany of local songs. To have the work of John Doyle (Ferbane), Michael Dolan (Cloghan), Edward Dolan (Lusmagh), the legendary Johnny McEvoy and of course the incomparable Tony Holleran between one cover is an outstanding achievement.
“Add Brownie’s own compositions and you have a musical cornucopia which would make an ideal gift, for family, friends and especially those living abroad.”
The NUJ Secretary said he'd love to see a Spring or Summer school in Ferbane where various themes might be explored. “While there is a high comedic content this is a serious undertaking deserving of support,” he remarked. “Such a school might well honour Tony Holleran, who contributed so much to this area.
“The Deputy Editor of The Irish Times Bruce Williamson once confronted a journalist who wrote the line 'words cannot describe' with the stern rebuke, 'if you think that, my dear, you are in the wrong job'. Shannon Harbour Song is in the tradition of John Doyle, a lyrical tribute to a place of enormous personal significance to the Guinan family. 'That’s Your Mouldboard Baby', the ode to 'Cloghan Traffic Lights' and 'The Town of Ferbane' however defy description and are unique in style. Maybe I am in the wrong job! There is a surreal quality to 'That’s Your Mouldboard Baby' and I can associate with the flashbacks recorded in what Brownie describes as a stream of semi-consciousness. 'The Town of Ferbane' is more a deluge of consciousness, a rhapsody of lyrical nonsense spanning 600 words - loquacious, gracious and outrageous. I must confess to having been completely ignorant of the great love affair between Kim Kardashian and Tom Douglas, never mind Lady Gaga’s visit to the Ball of Malt or Maradona’s role in the presentation of Junior B medals alongside Matt Connor! The entire song is an epic hymn of praise, a glorious fantasy which stands proudly along other mock heroic ballads, such as The Ode In Praise of the Mullingar or the Bould Thady Quill. I was discussing this CD with music friends last night. The singer Noel O’Grady asked me to describe the genre. I was unable to do so. 'Browniesque' was the best I could come up with.
“It is great to see Brian Cowen here. He and Mary have a long association with Ferbane. He has been loyal to the town over many years (despite being from Clara!) and has a long friendship with the Guinans and with Arlene and her family.
“Going back to Uncle Noddy’s Steamboat perhaps Brownie has finally reached his destination:
'And we're goon' where the grass is growing green
To a mystic land that no one else has seen
Where oblivion takes the mind's reality
And reality fades into a memory'.
“Brownie has certainly turned West Offaly into a mystic land that no one else would dare to imagine. Consider Peat Sounds launched.”
“Peat Sounds” is available for sale on www.brownieguinan.com, in a number of local shops and in Trax Tullamore and Golden Discs Athlone.