THE TÁIN

It is almost impossible to provide an objective review of one of the theme tunes of my childhood. This accompanied Thomas Kinsella and Louis le Brocquy's (I'm sure I misspelled that) fabulous transaltion& brush drawings of the The Tain (which was compulsory study at school).

The traditional March of the O'Neills is transformed into Daerg Doom. THis remains an odd album. It's folk, but it's hardly Planxty or The Bothy Band (my personal favourite), but it approaches the greatest ancient cultural theme in Ulster: the great cattle raid. It is a major part of the Red Branch Cycle and directly confronts the part of Setanta/Cu Hullain the Hound of Ulster, the greatest folk hero of the north of Ireland: his death and his killing of his best friend Ferdia, who confronts him and realizes he must die in the struggle: speared by the Gae Bolga (only used by Cuchullain before to kill his own son).

Within the context of irish mythology (which still permeates modern life) this album is a 15 star. If you're from ulster then it is almost impossible to be objective; so I won't try. I have no idea how anyone else would view this album. This and the Leabhar geabala nah eireann were an integral part of my and my friends childhood. the music has been eloquently described by Dona Gill: I cannot add to it.

To misquote the Exorcist : "The power of my heritage compels me" 5 stars

obiter dicta .....

An té nach mbíonn láidir ní folláir dó bheith glic