Press Reviews

FolkWorld CD Reviews

Let’s céilí again! It’s been a long way from the first one held in London in 1897 by the Gaelic League and today’s music for set dancing. In the 1930’s came the céilí band revolution when public dances in village and parish halls replaced the traditional crossroads dancing. The acoustic situation created the modern dance band, including a large troupe of musicians, piano and drums, sometimes even saxophones.

Despite the ups and downs of traditional Irish music there has been and still is always fresh supply to cater for the dancers. Denis Liddy (see above) formed the Barefield Céilí Band at Barefield National school, a little village outside Ennis in Co Clare, the heartland of Irish traditional music and set dancing. The group was formed when most of the pupils have been at the age of only eight, in 1998 they won the All-Ireland Fleadh in the category Ceili Ceili Band under 12. “Between the Sets” features 12 tracks, the “Caledonian Set” and the “Plain Set” in 5 figures,

respectively, recorded by Michel Sikiotakis. Featured are 5 fiddles, 5 flutes, 2 uillean pipes, 2 accordions, 4 concertinas, 1 banjo, piano and drums. And dancers. It is straight set dancing music, the tunes handed down to us over generations of house dances and sessions. So let’s dance! Walkin’ T:-)M

The Irish World Newspaper16.1.04

THE BAREFIELD Ceili Band is a group of young musicians from an area just north of Ennis in County Clare called Cort loman or Barefield, named so because of it’s bleak fields. The musicians involved in the band have all won several All-Ireland titles and have travelled all over the world from Galway to San Francisco and even played at the renowned Milwaukee Irish Festival.

This is their 3rd album in fairly quick succession after lolar and Flowers of the Burren. This was treated more like a live album however, which you can hear on the recording. One of the ways in which they achieved this was by having a group of dancers performing while the band were recording the album, thus invigorating the band.

On this album the tracks are arranged into the two most popular sets in County Clare with tracks 1-6 being the Caledonian Set and tracks 7-12 being the Plain set.

This is a vibrant traditional music album that would be perfect for any ceili. There is energy and skilful playing that sounds well beyond the band’s collective ages. Inspiringly, this successful band will carry on spreading County Clare’s excellence in traditional music and keep many a crowd dancing. Tara McWeeney

The Irish Post 10.1.04

THIS is the Barefield Ceili Band’s third CD, and it would be fair to say, if this is the sort of thing which turns your crank, butters your muffin or rosins you bow, then waste no further time reading this: get the boots on and head for town.

That the 20-piece Barefield Ceili Band are accomplished musicians you can take as read