The recently released Flute Players of Roscommon volume 2, plus volume 1 of the CD series, can now be purchased online at www.roscommonarts.com/trad/flute/htm
This second traditional flute CD from the Roscommon Flute Players’ Society features a wealth of talent with emerging present-day players, young and not so young, alongside archive tracks of legendary Roscommon flute and whistle players, such as Tom McHale, Packie Duignan, Jim Donoghue, Peg McGrath, Michael A Glynn, and others. Some of the talented present-day players who feature are Aine O'Connor from Knockcroghery; Liz Wynne from Roscommon; James Carty from London and Ballinameen; Finbarr McGreevy from Elphin; Mick Callaghan from Frenchpark; and Aidan and Breda Shannon of Ballinameen, amongst others. On this CD there are 23 tracks featured with a mixture of the new recordings and archival material.
Some of the artists involved are internationally recognised, others known widely but previously unrecorded, and others emerging players. A core feature of the programme is that the musicians enthusiastically agreed not to receive any royalties for the project, the proceeds of which will continue the Society’s work to purchase flutes for young musicians, finance young musicians’ participation in summer schools throughout the country and set up an online archive collection.
The new CD has extensive notes, some lovely photographs and an original painting on the cover by Roscommon artist Vera Gaffney who is well known for her landscape paintings of North Connaught. This CD or indeed the set would make a perfect present for any Roscommon person at home or abroad.