Shop – John Spillane

Fíoruisce – The Legend of The Lough Double CD

Ciara O' Leary Fitzpatrick — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:00:51 +0000

Order your copy of Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough composed by John Spillane on Double CD here.

This double CD is provided in a beautifully illustrated three panel cardboard cover with a booklet and gold foil detail.

Digital Download available to order on Bandcamp.

Cast

Fíoruisce – An Bhanphrionsa/ The Princess, visionary, weird and beautiful – Niamh Farrell

Corc – An Rí/ The King, Corc Mac Dáire Mhic Láire of the Deirgthine, Érainn – Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin

Éadaoin – An Bhanríon/ The Queen, powerful and wise – Ríoghnach Connolly

Cian Ó Céin – Reacaire/ Minstrel /Prince/ Mananaan Mac Lir – John Spillane

Milbhéal – Banbhard/ Honeymouth the Bard in the Ancient World – Nell Ní Chróinín

Golaí Bá and Muiris Mar Dhea – Na Crosáin/ Two Fools, Bodhrán Jesters. One is crying, the other laughing – Liam Heffernan agus Giordaí Ó Laoghaire

Daighre Duanach – An Draoi/ The Druid – Gearóid Ó Duinnín

Bean Sí / A Fairy Woman – Aisling Urwin

An Chosmhuintir/ The Chorus – Gavin Moore, Thaddeus Ó Buachalla, Nell Ní Chróinín, Gearóid Ó Duinnín.

Ceolteoirí/ Musicians

Giotár Spáinneach/ Spanish Guitar – John Spillane

Séidteoir Adharc/ Hornblower, Bullroarer – Billy Mag Fhloinn

Fliúit/ Flute – Alan Doherty

Cnaguirlisí/ Percussion, Sticks and Stones – Andrew O’ Sullivan, Fionn Hennessy Hayes

Dordveidhil/ Cello – Lea Miklody

Cláirseach/ Harp – Aisling Urwin

Guthanna Breise/ Additional Vocals – Brian Casey, Aisling Urwin

Uirlisí Breise/ Additional Instrumentation – Brian Casey

Album artwork and design: Megan Clancy Creative

Produced by John Spillane and Brian Casey at Wavefield Recordings, Clonakilty in 2023 and 2024.

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.

For lots more information please visit fioruisce.ie

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 musical 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.

In Another Light

Ciara O' Leary Fitzpatrick — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:37:11 +0000

John Spillane releases his new album ‘In Another Light’ on Friday October 15th. These songs were recorded live on November 13th 2021 in Cork Opera House as part of the Right Here Right Now Festival. Available to pre-order on Bandcamp on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download.

Digital Download €10

CD €15

LP €25

1.Intro
2.The Dance of The Cherry Trees
3.All The Ways You Wander
4.Song Intro – We Come in The Wind
5.We Come in The Wind
6.Prince’s Street
7.Passage West
8.Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar
9.Under That Old Clare Moon
10.Hey Dreamer
11.The Dawn Chorus
12.Will We Be Brilliant or What?

These orchestral arrangements represent the very best versions of these songs.
I could not wish for better. It feels as if the songs have done their time, travelled many roads, and have finally found their true home, on this album, right here, right now!
Each of these creative young arrangers has painted beautiful soundscapes that complement the songs brilliantly. I am thrilled by the big cinematic feel of the record. The arrangers feel like a younger me, romantic blades who believe in the beauty of music and poetry and the beauty of everything.

These songs were written over a 36 year period from Princes Street in 1983 to Under That Old Clare Moon in 2019.
I am delighted that there are such lovely uplifting moments of joy and celebration in these versions.
Yes.
My work here is done!
John Spillane,
Passage West,
Spring 2022.

Performed by:
John Spillane – Vocals & Guitar
Pauline Scanlon – Vocals
The Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra:

Leader Alan Smale
Violin 1 Dave McElroy, Lyn O’Reilly, Rachael Masterson
Violin 2 Tom Crowley, Mary MacCague, Holly McConnell, Caoimhe Brown
Viola: Elaine Kenny, Niamh Quigley
Cello: Grace Coughlan, Alona Kliuchka, Jake Ryan
Double Bass: David Whitla
Flute: Kieran Moynihan
Oboe: Ciara Glasheen Artem
Clarinet / Saxophones: Michael Lynch, Ken Marshall
Bassoon: Marie Essalmi
French Horn: Cuan Ó Seireadáin, Michael Long
Trumpet: Mark Adams, Michael Mullins
Trombone: Eoghan Kelly, Colm O’Hara
Harp: Anne-Marie Papin Labazordière
Percussion: Patrick Lynch

Conducted by John O’Brien
Guest conductor for Under That Old Clare Moon – Robbie Pender

These songs were arranged by:
Paul Frost – The Dance of the Cherry Trees, All The Ways You Wander, Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar, The Dawn Chorus, Will We Be Brilliant Or What?
Kevin Codd – Princes Street
Robbie Pender – We Come In the Wind, Under That Old Clare Moon
Daniel Murphy – Passage West, Hey Dreamer

Recording Engineer Colm Hinchion
Live Sound engineer – Daragh Murphy
Mixed & Mastered at Wavefield Studios Clonakilty
Artwork by Megan Clancy Creative

All songs composed by John Spillane IMRO MCPS except Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar (J. Spillane, R. Lynch, G. Wolfe) IMRO MCPS

100 Snow White Horses CD

Ciara O' Leary Fitzpatrick — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:21:48 +0000

100 Snow White Horses is a new album from John Spillane due for independent release on April 2nd 2021. Inspired by his travels around Ireland, these new songs are full of poetry, Irish mythology and wonder. 100 Snow White Horses is John’s first independent album in 20 years.

Recorded in London with producer John Reynolds and singer Pauline Scanlon; the trio have previously worked together on John’s albums Hey Dreamer (2005), The Gaelic Hit Factory (2006) and My Dark Rosaleen and the Island of Dreams (2008).

“After 10 years and many adventures, we are combining our skills and painting this, our masterpiece.” – John Spillane

John’s poetic lyricism and Pauline’s ethereal backing vocals combine beautifully once again in this love letter to the island of Ireland.

From the fantasy of the March of The Kings of Laois; to the slopes of Slieve Gullion, a mountain of mythology in South Armagh; to the lonely adventures of a ballad singer under that Old Clare Moon. Follow the blind harper Turlough O’ Carolan into the Leitrim woods then stroll through the melancholy of a teenage romance in Bishopstown.

It’s 2020 but it’s 1720 as well, as John weaves a story of an Ireland both now and then, shaped by its people, history and landscape.

The Man Who came in from the Dark CD

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:36:57 +0000

In October 2014 the acclaimed Irish Singer and Songwriter John Spillane, celebrated 33 years of an ever-consistent vastly illuminating and exciting career within the world of
music. And what better way to celebrate than with a brand new 10th studio album, ‘THE MAN WHO CAME IN FROM THE DARK’

Having sold over 100,000 albums in Ireland, John has also been awarded with two Meteor Irish Music Awards for ‘Best Act Folk’ and ‘Traditional’ act. His songs have been covered by many Irish folk lumineer’s such as Christy Moore, Sean Keane, Karan Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Solas, Mary Black, Méav, Sinéad Lohan and Sharon Shannon.

Following on from the hugely popular album ‘LIFE IN AN IRISH TOWN’, which was based on songs from the TG4 series SPILLANE AN FÁNAÍ (Spillane The Wanderer), John continues his travels around Ireland and writing MORE BRILLIANT songs about Ireland’s towns, rivers, legends and people for a second series of SPILLANE AN FÁNAÍ on TG4.

Acoustic Series Vol.1 ‘All The Ways You Wander’

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:32:36 +0000

“Friends have been encouraging me for years to make an album of simple, acoustic versions of my songs, and here it is. These songs were written over a period of 35 years, from 1982 to 2017. With the exception of ‘The Streets of Ballyphehane’ they have all been previously released by myself and many of them have been covered by artists like Pauline Scanlon, Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Seán Keane, Róisín El Safty, Máire Ní Chéilleachair, Sharon Shannon, Méav, Nell Ní Chróinín, Cathie Ryan, Caroline Fraher, George Murphy, and by bands such as Nomos, Solas, Danú, Greenshine, The Outside Track, Project West, Girsa, Shooglenifty and The Battlefield Band. Hurray!

Other singers who have performed live versions of these songs include Mick Flannery, Mary Black, Brian Kennedy and Declan O’ Rourke.

Happy days in the Hit Factory. It’s been a blast.