The Achill Sound is a collaborative community project combining the history and culture of Achill Island, the largest of the isles off of Ireland’s west coast. It features recordings with two of the great Achill storytellers, John Twin McNamara and Francie McNamara (RIP 2022) and a host of native Achill musicians and musicians who moved there for the exceptional music scene.
Their debut album, ‘Isle Of The Eagle’, featuring new and traditional music, spoken word and storytelling, was recorded on Achill and will be released on August 11th, 2023 (details below).
Musician Graham Sweeney is a passionate advocate of his native place and was inspired to embark on this project when one of the remaining great storytellers of the island, John ‘Twin’ Mcnamara, introduced him to an Achill song, ‘Isle Of The Eagle’.
Graham was struck by the many island connections to the song, inspiring him and his Glasgow-based producer, John Michael Berry, to begin their quest to unearth more Achill songs and stories.
Musicians and instrument makers have gravitated to Achill for years, many of whom have contributed to this album. Renowned harpist Laoise Kelly, German cellist Claudia Dunkleberg, and Japanese fiddle player Lisa Fukuda joined Achill musicians Diarmuid Gielty, Des Cafferkey, Caoilte O’Cuanaigh, Leah Mc Namara and Uilleann piper Johnny Butler for the recording. The album was mastered in April 2023 by Head Engineer Alex Borwick at Grouse Lodge Recording Studios.
The project began before Covid lockdown and had to be deferred, but recording of the album resumed in late 2021 all over the island-from firesides in homes and school classrooms to local pubs. Graham recorded ‘True Born Achill Man’ by poet and storyteller Francie McNamara overlooking Keem Bay; it also features cello accompaniment by Claudia Dunkelberg to the air of ‘Down by the Sally Gardens’. In the poem, Francie Mc speaks of love for his homeland & heartbreak through emigration.
Graham Sweeney on Francie McNamara:
“Francie was a real charmer and his self titled ‘True Born Achill Man’ was perfectly fitting to his character. These kind of people are few and far between nowadays. The whole reason behind The Achill Sound is to shed a light on these characters and to immortalise their voices and stories while they are still with us, along with capturing the music and culture on the island. That day we blagged our way past ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ security to give Francie a look at the set of Brendan Gleeson’s house, where Francie spent his life fishing salmon and sharks, I knew it was important to catch this poem on a recording as he started reciting it. Now that he is gone, it seems so much more important. Rest in peace Francie.”
Achill Island has always attracted artists, including the writers Graham Greene, J. M. Synge, Heinrich Boll, and painters Paul Henry and Camille Souter.
Film-makers have also been inspired by the island’s dramatic landscape, using the breathtaking backdrop in the award-winning films The Banshees of Innisheerin and My Sailor, My Love.
‘Isle of the Eagle’ will be available on Bandcamp on Friday, August 11th 2023; Pre-order the album now by visiting https://theachillsound.bandcamp.com/. For all other info, please visit: https://linktr.ee/theachillsound