P.J. AGUS MARCUS HERNON
Ceiliúradh 50 Bliain
Philippe Cousin
Hailing from the north-west of Ireland, County Roscommon, brothers P.J. and Marcus Hernon are no newcomers, having always played music in their family, their parents both playing the melodeon. P.J. plays the accordion and Marcus the wooden flute.
Their musical partnership began in the early 70s, when Marcus joined his brother for some legendary studio sessions. Marcus went on to record on P.J.'s first album in 1978. They continued into the 80s, recording several albums together. Then two more albums in the early 2000s. A long hiatus followed, before in 2024 they decided to celebrate their 50 years of collaboration by recording the following album: Ceiliúradh 50 Bliain.
They called on a few friends from the same region: John Carty, a well-known banjoist, Carl Hession on piano, Benny O'Connor on drums and, to top it all off, they invited Breandán, Marcus' own son, who plays the fiddle.
This project offers a vast selection of reels, jigs, hornpipes, slip jigs, waltzes learned from their own father, and marches, as well as a suite of set dances that take us to the heart of a céilí. Seventeen tracks in all, with no fewer than sixty tunes. Tunes handed down from generation to generation, as well as some more recent compositions by Séamus Henaghan, Josie McDermott, Junior Crehan, Séamus Quinn, Paddy O'Brien and Maurice Lennon.
Aficionados of traditional Irish music are in for a treat, as this album is a tribute to the roots, the family and the enduring spirit of the Irish musical tradition. A little gem!
Cló Iar-Chonnacht CICD 212 - www.cic.ie