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ONÓIR
Philippe Cousin
The pandemic and its lockdowns have had some positive side-effects, particularly where Irish bands are concerned.
Faced with boredom, four singers who until then had performed individually in pubs or at private parties got together to record a video clip based on the famous Irish ballad The Auld Triangle. The video was a big hit, with over 3 million people watching it worldwide.
Onóir, Irish for honour, dignity, is a Donegal-based band made up of Tom Hugh (vocals, percussion), Declan Gaughan (vocals, guitars), Deane Connaghan (vocals, piano, arrangements) and Diarmaid McGee (vocals).
It could have ended there, but a year later they came back with a second video for The Parting Glass. Once again, a host of positive reviews made them think about officially forming a band. The idea became a reality after the third video, Wayfaring Stranger.
A few months ago, they took the plunge and recorded a highly enjoyable self-titled album. The album features a collection of songs (12 in all), each more famous than the last, that have inspired the love of Irish music in each of the band members.
These include standards from the green island: Black Is The Colour, When You Were Sweet Sixteen, The Town I Loved So Well, Isle Of Hope, Only The Rivers Run Free, The Foggy Dew, The Green Fields Of France.
Each track is creatively arranged with the addition of a few other instruments to support them: fiddle, mandolin, whistles, banjo, bouzouki, bass, concertina or uilleann pipes.
The whole album remains centred on the voice, synonymous with Onóir's signature sound. An original blend of Irish male voices.
Now that the band has embarked on a long international tour, these four friends have already begun the process of writing a second album, which will be eagerly awaited.
Autoproduit - https://onoirmusic.com