Granuaile is a blend of Classical and Irish Folk Music written by Shaun Davey

Shaun Davey

- Early years :Shaun Davey was born in Belfast in 1948. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in the history of Art in 1971. He then took a master's degree at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. In the late 1970s, he made his first recording, "Davey and Morris," with Donal Lunny and others...

 for singer Rita Connolly

Rita Connolly

Rita Connolly is a Dublin-born singer who has lived and worked in Ireland. She is primarily known for her work with composer Shaun Davey Shaun Davey who wrote a song cycle for her called 'Granuaile' based on the 16th century pirate queen Gráinne O'Malley as well as including her in other of his...

. It is based on the life and times of the 16th century Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 pirate queen Gráinne O'Mally, who was also known as Granuaile. The album was recorded using a 35 piece chamber orchestra joined by uilleann pipe soloist Liam O'Flynn

Liam O'Flynn

Liam O'Flynn is a master uilleann piper and prominent Irish folk musician. In addition to an impressive solo career and his work with the Irish traditional group Planxty, O'Flynn has recorded with many prominent international musical artists, including Mark Knopfler, the Everly Brothers, Enya,...

, acoustic guitar, Irish harp and percussion, and special guest Donal Lunny

Dónal Lunny

Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician. Lunny has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional Irish music for more than thirty-five years and has participated within the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period...

 on bouzouki.

Tracks

1. Dubhdarra
2. Ripples in the Rockpools
3. The Defence of Hen's Castle
4. Free and Easy
5. The Rescue of Hugh De lacy
6. Hen's March
7. Death of Richard-an-Iarainn (Intro)
8. Death of Richard an-Iarainn
9. Sir Richard Bingham
10. The Spanish Armada
11. The New Age

Musicians

Conductor : Gareth Hudson

Vocals : Rita Connolly

Rita Connolly

Rita Connolly is a Dublin-born singer who has lived and worked in Ireland. She is primarily known for her work with composer Shaun Davey Shaun Davey who wrote a song cycle for her called 'Granuaile' based on the 16th century pirate queen Gráinne O'Malley as well as including her in other of his...

Uilleann Pipes

Uilleann pipes

The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...

 : Liam O'Flynn

Liam O'Flynn

Liam O'Flynn is a master uilleann piper and prominent Irish folk musician. In addition to an impressive solo career and his work with the Irish traditional group Planxty, O'Flynn has recorded with many prominent international musical artists, including Mark Knopfler, the Everly Brothers, Enya,...

Des Moore : guitar

Helen Davies : concert and Irish harps

Noel Eccles : percussion

Carl Geraghty : saxes

Marian Doherty : harpsichord

Donal Lunny

Dónal Lunny

Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician. Lunny has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional Irish music for more than thirty-five years and has participated within the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period...

: bouzouki