My first memory of Irish songs was sitting on my father's lap, listening to him sing without accompaniment. Maybe I thought he needed accompanying, so I started to hum along. Over the years, I learned the words, and tried to imitate my mother's singing. My father played the violin while she sang.
I am the oldest of the Irish Roses. I am joined by my daughter Rachel, and her friend Emily Holland. The Roses grew out of another group named Shannachie, which was comprised of Pat Heffernan and Patrick Keane. The two Pats were looking for singers to feature in gigs in nursing homes and at other events around Nashua, NH. I told Pat that the girls didn't know many Irish songs, but that I did! We practiced in his basement once a week, and off we went on our first assignment. It was wonderful training for the girls. As they grew older, they began to make up their own harmonies and arrangements. Sometimes, Rachel would play her flute or recorder, and Emily often took a stint at the piano.
Just before they left for college, we recorded our first CD. This was done as a memento for all the years of fun and song. They are now thinking of graduate school, so here is our second CD, with the help of Shannachie and Frank ("Doc") Rudolph on fiddle.
Cathy Blackwood
Nashua, New Hampshire
March, 2004
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.betsysfolly.com/artists/irishroses.htm
Track List:
1. The Irish Rover
2. Come Back Paddy Reilly
3. Courtin' In The Kitchen
4. Danny Boy
5. The Hills of Connemara
6. The Day That I Left Castlebar
7. An Irish/American Medley
8. The Galway Shawl
9. James James Morrison Morrison
10. The Last Rose of Summer
11. White Cockade/Flowers of Edinburgh
12. Mary Mack
13. Homeward Bound
14. A Mother's Love Is A Blessing
15. Mick McGuire
16. She Moved Through The Fair
17. Slievenamon
18. I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen
19. Where The Three Counties Meet
20. And The Band Played Red River Valley
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
I am the oldest of the Irish Roses. I am joined by my daughter Rachel, and her friend Emily Holland. The Roses grew out of another group named Shannachie, which was comprised of Pat Heffernan and Patrick Keane. The two Pats were looking for singers to feature in gigs in nursing homes and at other events around Nashua, NH. I told Pat that the girls didn't know many Irish songs, but that I did! We practiced in his basement once a week, and off we went on our first assignment. It was wonderful training for the girls. As they grew older, they began to make up their own harmonies and arrangements. Sometimes, Rachel would play her flute or recorder, and Emily often took a stint at the piano.
Just before they left for college, we recorded our first CD. This was done as a memento for all the years of fun and song. They are now thinking of graduate school, so here is our second CD, with the help of Shannachie and Frank ("Doc") Rudolph on fiddle.
Cathy Blackwood
Nashua, New Hampshire
March, 2004
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.betsysfolly.com/artists/irishroses.htm
Track List:
1. The Irish Rover
2. Come Back Paddy Reilly
3. Courtin' In The Kitchen
4. Danny Boy
5. The Hills of Connemara
6. The Day That I Left Castlebar
7. An Irish/American Medley
8. The Galway Shawl
9. James James Morrison Morrison
10. The Last Rose of Summer
11. White Cockade/Flowers of Edinburgh
12. Mary Mack
13. Homeward Bound
14. A Mother's Love Is A Blessing
15. Mick McGuire
16. She Moved Through The Fair
17. Slievenamon
18. I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen
19. Where The Three Counties Meet
20. And The Band Played Red River Valley
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- FOLK: Traditional Folk
- WORLD: Celtic
- TYPE: ACOUSTIC