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Below is the official John Spillane Bio and promotional blurb for Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough.

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For press queries contact Louise Barker on louise@kearneymelia.com.

BIOGRAPHY

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world. 

As an artist his music appeals to listeners across many genres and generations. His vocal style has a unique almost sean-nós like quality and his performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent humour. John has the ability to charm, mesmerise and entertain in equal measure.

A native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and a source of huge creative influence throughout his career. John’s music is inspired by and encapsulates Irish traditional music in its contemporary form – a reflection of Ireland today.

A two-time Meteor Award winner for Best Folk/Trad act John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland. With an extensive back catalogue beginning with the 1997 album The Wells of the World, his songs have been covered by Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane and many others. Twelve albums later in April 2021, John released his first independent album in 20 years, 100 Snow White Horses.

John Spillane will share his most artistically ambitious work to date: Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, on Friday 13th September 2024. The concept album, to be released on double CD and digital, features John alongside a stellar cast of collaborators: Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, Nell Ní Chróinín, and more.

FÍORUISCE - THE LEGEND OF THE LOUGH

John Spillane will share his most artistically ambitious work to date: Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, on Friday 13th September 2024. The concept album, to be released on double CD and digital, features John alongside a stellar cast of collaborators: Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, Nell Ní Chróinín, and more.

Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough is a three-act Gaelic folk opera composed by Irish artist John Spillane. It is a macaronic or bilingual work. The work is an imagined re-Gaelicisation of the Victorian Cork fairytale Fior-usga collected by Thomas Crofton Croker in the 1800s and published in his book Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland (1828). The story is a surreal tale culminating in a drowned kingdom, which as lore tells us, becomes The Lough in Cork city as we know it today. They say, you can see the tops of the underworld towers on a clear day and hear the music of their big party on Midsummer’s night. 

Enter this world through Spillane’s hugely ambitious concept album recorded at Wavefield Recordings, Clonakilty, which features the voices of some of the most talented folk and sean nós singers of the age including Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, Nell Ní Chróinín, John Spillane himself of course, and more.

Described by Spillane as his “magnum opus,” this project draws on his lifelong dedication to storytelling, the Irish language, and music. The text is inspired by the wonderful richness of the literary and oral Gaelic storytelling tradition. The influences of an t-Athair Peadar Ó Laoghaire and the stories concerning the Fiannaíocht are evident in this work. Other inspirations include Seán Ó Tuama’s work through Compántas Chorcaí, an Irish theatre production company, his inspiring lectures on poetry at UCC and his An Duanaire 1600 – 1900 Poems of the Dispossessed. Other inspirations include the poem Sprid an Locha by Torna, a deep love of The Lough, and a fascination with the older Gaelic story that shines tantalisingly under the original Victorian Thomas Croker fairytale.

Using these elements, Spillane crafts an Irish-speaking ancient world. The album weaves common threads of Irish mythology, depicting scenes of war, curses, lullabies, lamentations, shapeshifting tricksters, scenes of love, a great fleadh, and eventually the climax – the drowning of the kingdom.

 “I’m so thrilled to present this album in honour of the Lough of Cork. The Lough is a hidden gem and a natural place of healing. Fíoruisce means springwater. This Gaelic folk opera has been a labour of love over many years.” says John,This story is based on the Victorian Cork fairytale Fior-usga by Thomas Cofton Croker which can be seen on a placard at the Lough. Crofton Croker’s version was first published in Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland 1825-28. It was translated to German by the Brothers Grimm as ‘Springwasser’. My epic saga is a re-Gaelicized folk-opera version of that story. I’m thrilled with the singers on this record. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed performing it.”

Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, a folk opera by John Spillane, will be available on CD and digital, Friday, 13th September 2024. Pre-order: fioruisce.ie

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Roinnfidh John Spillane an saothar is uaillmhianaí ealaíne a dhein sé riamh linn ar an 13ú Meán Fomhair 2024: Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough. Cloisfear ar an dlúthdhiosca coincheapa seo sár-ghuthanna na n-amhránaithe móra Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, Nell Ní Chróinín agus eile. 

Beidh fáilte roimh an bpobal uile teacht isteach sa domhan seo Fíoruisce ag seoladh an taispeántas ealaíne suíomh freagrach an an Loch fhéin i gCorcaigh ag 4 i.n. dé Domhnaigh an 15ú Meán Fomhair.

Beidh Cóisir Éisteachta ina dhiaidh sin i gCeolscoil Chorcaí MTU. Cead isteach saor in aisce ach caithfear bookáil ar Eventbrite.

Ceoldráma trí ghníomh is ea Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough cumtha ag an gceoltóir Éireannach John Spillane. Saothar dá-theangach is ea é. Ath-Ghaelú síofrúil ar an síscéal Victeoiriach Corcaíoch a bhailigh Thomas Crofton Croker agus a foilsíodh sa leabhar Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland 1828. Finscéal osréalach agus loch-mhaidhm ollmhór tragóideach ag an deireadh a bheireann an Loch so atá anois againn i gCorcaigh an lae inniu. Deirtear fós gur féidir díon an chaisleáin a fheiscint faoi uisce an Locha.

Tar thar tairseach isteach sa spás draíochta so leis an gceirnín síofrúil uaillmhianach coincheap so ó Spillane. Deineadh é a thaifead i stiúideo Wavefield i gCloch na Coillte agus na sár-ghuthanna is binne in Éirinn sa Ghaelainn fite fuaite anso ann. Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, John é fhéin agus eile. 

Is é seo an saothar is mó ón Spealánach go dtí seo nó a magum opus mar a thugann sé féin air. Tar éis a shaol a chaitheamh le scéalaíocht, le ceol Gaelach agus le cumadóireacht is é an duine ceart chun na hoibre seo é. Tá saibhreas na scéalaíochta Gaelainne ón mbéaloideas agus ón litríocht á láimhseáil le ceol anso. Tá anáil scéalta an Athar Peadar Ó Laoghaire le brath sna liricí so chomh maith le Fiannaíocht agus Rúraíocht. Faoi thionchar Sheáin Uí Thuama agus Compántas Chorcaí, An Duanaire – Poems of the Dispossessed, dáinín diamhair le Torna dar teideal Sprid an Locha, tá John faoi dhraíocht ag scéal Croker le fada agus thug sé faoin ath-Ghaelú ceolmhar so fé mar a bheadh an ceol faoi loch samhlaithe aige mar a chifeá barraí na dtúr sa chaisleán báite fén loch.

Tá domhan-thógáil déanta anso le béaloideas, le scéalaíocht agus le grá agus aithneofar téamaí móra na scéalta Gaelainne ar nós an Mhallacht, an Suantraí, Buaileam Sciath agus amhráin cogaidh, Fleadh agus Féasta agus a mheascán pearsanta fhéin déanta ag an údar de sheoda álainne na seana scéalta go dtugtar ag an deireadh sinn chun báite an ghleanna agus breith ár Locha féin. 

“Tá lúcháir orm an saothar so in onóir do Loch Chorcaí a chur os bhúr gcomhair faoi dheireadh thiar thall. Seoid álainn is ea an Loch agus láthair nádúrtha leighis. Ó mo chroí amach a thugas faoin Opera Gaelainne so. Tá sé bunaithe ar an síscéal Victeoiriach Corcaíoch Fior-usga le Thomas Crofton Croker óna leabhar Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland 1825-28. Tá an scéal le léamh ar fhógra ar imeall an Locha. D’aistrigh ne Brothers Grimm chun na Gearmáinise faoin teideal Springwasser é. Is leagan ath-Ghaelaithe ceolmhar canta den scéal san an ceirnín so. Táim ana-bhuíoch go bhfuaireas na sár-amhránaithe áirithe seo a chuir lán a gcroí isteach sna liricí agus beocht sa cheol. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as a chairde.“

Beidh Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, Ceoldráma Gaelach le John Spillane ar fáil ar CD agus íoslódáil digiteach, 

Dé hAoine 13ú Meán Fomhair 2024. Réamh-ordú: fioruisce.ie

... glorious technicolour hues that transcend linguistic boundaries; world music for a new world.

Irish Times

John Spillane, startlingly alive to the breath of nature, is among the last of the great bards. 100 Snow White Horses is a balm to soothe sore souls… 9/10

Hot Press

John writes catchy, heartfelt folk-pop songs with the bonus of actually meaning something.

The Sunday Business Post

John's songs are the heart and soul of our island and they'll be sung around the world for as long as there is song.

Damien Dempsey

well-structured, melodious folk songs that resonate with specific, acutely observed Irish storylines. (100 Snow White Horses, 2021)

Tony Clayton Lea, Sunday Business Post

The Corkonian Legend John Spillane, a national treasure who is something of Ireland's John Prine

Will Hermes, New York Times

I sing John Spillane songs everywhere I go. John has been my favourite songwriter for the past ten years.

Christy Moore

The talented and inspired Cork singer songwriter John Spillane is a much loved musician whom the people of Cork have taken to their hearts.

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin

John Spillane is a Singer Songwriter from Cork, but he is a fellow who has touched my heart big time with his music.

Páidí Ó Sé

The real bard of Cork.

Patrick Galvin

Inspired by the bardic tradition, Spillane penned his 12th album in gratitude to patronage found on the road…this is perhaps Spillane’s best set of songs since Will We Be brilliant or What? In 2001. (100 Snow White Horses, 2021)

Steve Cummins, Sunday Times

100 Snow White Horses is a rich, molten cauldron of emotional blissed-out balladry blessed with poetic intimacy and a collection of story-songs that begs immediate listening. A masterclass of eloquent romanticism delivered by a poet of song.