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If you ramble into a pub in London on a Sunday morning you might fall into a music session in full flight. From amongst the musicians, a tall fiddle player starts into a reel, the pub becomes noticably quieter and everyone takes note. Then up goes the shout "Go on the Godfather!" The fiddle player responds with a smile. You realise you are in the company of someone special who can evoke the deepest emotions through the beauty and artistry of his music. The "Godfather", a name given to him through respect, as a man and as a musician, is Brian Rooney from County Leitrim.
Brian Rooney is one of a family of 14 children from near Kiltyclogher, North Leitrim. The Rooney home was full to the rafters with everyone playing anything from melodeon, whistle, mouth organ and fiddle. The Rooneys were to take their music to many parts of the world through the years when the scourge of emigration called.
On arrival in London the bitter pill of emigration was softened for Brian by an already established and vibrant traditional music scene. Brian's music began to stand out for its sheer beauty, power and openness.
Now finally we have the opportunity to capture and enjoy his music on this superb recording ....
....Go on the Godfather!
Track listing:
1. Paddy From Portlaw / Whistler At The Wake
2. Tie The Bonnet / The Galway Rambler
3. The Chancellor / The Poppy Leaf
4. Tom Steele / Come West Along The Road
5. Westering Home / Bold Thady Quill
6. M and M
7. Brian Rooney's / The Glentaun
8. The Wandering Minstrel
9. Seamus Tansey's / The Kilfenora
10. The Humours Of Tullycryan / Murphy's Hornpipes
11. The Sligo Maid / The Shaskeen
12. Hughie's Buttermilk Mary / The Bush On The Hill
13. The Godfather / John Brennan's
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