Following on from her ‘bold and beautiful’ self-titled album, released in September 2022, we recently shared the news of Clare Sands’s new four-part music and film project, ‘Gormacha’, [pronounced GUR-MA-KA] that treads a musical path between the four most extreme geographical points in Ireland. Tracing the line between rugged land and stormy seas, Gormacha interweaves Irish folklore, language, and personal responses to our natural world.
The first single, Teasgal, featured alt-folk songwriter Patrick O’Laoghaire (I Have a Tribe) and for Clare’s second release ‘Dealán Dé’ [pronounced [DAL-AWN- DAY], she is joined by the much celebrated and world-renowned Irish flute and whistle player from County Armagh, Brian Finnegan of the band FLOOK – whose last solo album, Hunger of the Skin (2021), we reviewed here.
Weaving between Irish and English, ‘Dealán Dé’ (pronounced DAL-AWN-DAY) – an ancient word from County Donegal meaning both butterfly and Northern lights – the tribal and anthemic single was recorded on and inspired by the most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head. Mysterious whistling, bluesy guitar, and sea shells invoke an alternative anthem for the Wild North West, echoing Plant and Krauss’ Raising Sands, before building to a driving flute solo and uplifting outro featuring Inishowen Gospel Choir.
A song full of hope, passion and spirit, this triumphant ode to language and landscape also took inspiration from the writing and poetry of Kerri ní Dochartaigh and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill. Clare Says, “Whilst roaming Malin Head, I learned that a certain species of butterfly found in the Donegal Bog is now protected and has been saved from the brink of extinction by conservation efforts. I wanted this song to convey that energy and journey from near extinction to survival and revival. If we can appreciate and protect what is around us, we will do just fine…”
The accompanying video, directed and shot by visual artists and twin sisters Liadain and Kasia Kaminska, captures the contrasting nature of nature itself. On discovering the unusual rock formations of Doagh Strand, the duo explain: “We were struck by the soft and harsh existing side by side – the rock and sand, the wild sea and calm meadow. We had this feeling of being in an Irish Western – the jagged, strange and harsh rock formations against soft sand, sea plants and meadows full of butterflies created a world of its own that we wanted to capture in the video.”
‘Dealán Dé’ is the second in a series of four songs that are deeply personal and universal, sensual and spiritual, ancient and new. Navigating music, film, and photography, ‘Gormacha’ journeys into the darkness, but seeks to find solace and celebration ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea.’
Dealán Dé’ is available to stream from tomorrow – Pre-Save it here: https://claresands.ffm.to/dealande
Clare is opening the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury Festival this month (24th June), more dates below:
Upcoming Tour Dates
Clare Sands Solo
IRELAND, FRANCE + UK
17th June: CURRAHEEN, CORK • Cork Summer Show | Tickets
17th June: BALLYDEHOB, CORK • Levis’ Corner House | Tickets
21st June: PARIS • Fête de la Musique, Centre Culturel Irlandais | Tickets
24th June: GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL • Acoustic Stage, 11.30am | Tickets
28th July: BELFAST • Belfast Trad Fest, Mandela Hall | Tickets
29th July: CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Folk Fest | Tickets
Website: https://claresands.com/
https://claresands.bandcamp.com
https://brianfinnegan.bandcamp.com/