Track Listing 1. Reels:Rolling In The Ryegrass / The Traveller 2. Reels: McGovern's Favourite / Casagh Reel / Martin Ainsboro's 3. HPs: The Home Ruler / The Ebb Tide 4. Reels: The Drunken Landlady / The Rookery 5. Slip Jigs: Elizabeth Kelly's Favourite / Follow Me Down to Limerick 6. Reels: Sarah's Delight / Dermot Grogan's Farewell 7. Jigls: Dominic's Farewell to Cashel / The Geevagh Jig 8. Air: Bánchnoic Éireann Ó 9. Reels: The Concert Reel / Forget Me Not 10. Reels: The Hunter's Purse / Sweeney's Dream 11. Jigs: Eddie Moloney's / Dancing at Kilbrew 12. Reels: Cormac Lunney's / The Bag of Spuds 13. Jigs: Big John's Hard Jig / Anthony Frawley's 14. Reels: The Curskeagh Lasses / Billy Brocker's 15. Reels: Major Moran's / The Mystery Reel   Click on underscored titles to hear MP3 sound samples

We are delighted to announce the release of

CATHERINE McEVOY
The Home Ruler
CICD 172

Featuring

Felix Dolan
Geraldine Cotter
Paddy NcEvoy on Piano

Steve Cooney: guitar
Joe Kennedy: bodhran

Catherine McEvoy is considered one of the best exponents of the Sligo - Roscommon style of flute playing and this, her third album, will do much to confirm her reputation as one of the most talented flute players in the country. Born to Irish parents, Catherine grew up surrounded by music in an Irish emigrant community in Birmingham. Her parents were from Roscommon and both were musicians; her father was a flute player and her mother a ballad singer, and so little wonder that both Catherine and her brother John developed a love for traditional Irish music. She has been described as a 'natural musician' and gives a wonderful display of her talents on this new album.

In his introduction to the CD the renowned fiddler Séamus Connolly describes Catherine's playing as bringing us 'back to a time when music was played more slowly, more gracefully and less frantically. Catherine's playing has a lift that is exciting, colourful and electrifying, coupled with unexpected variations, lovely tempo and phrasing. It is here that we truly have a master at work'. Catherine treats the listener to a wonderfully varied selection of music on The Home Ruler played on D, Eb and C flutes, including the beautiful slow air 'Bánchnoic Éireann Ó'. She is accompanied by a talented panel of musicians including her nephew Paddy McEvoy, the legendary Felix Dolan, Geraldine Cotter, Steve Cooney and Joe Kennedy.

Catherine lives in Ratoath, Co. Meath and teaches music locally as well as teaching at many of the annual traditional music summer schools such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. She took part in a very successful Music Network Tour earlier this year with concertina player Micheál Ó Raghallaigh and fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and also plays regularly with her brother John McEvoy, a talented fiddler with whom she recorded the album The Kilmore Fancy in 2004. John also more recently recorded
the album Pride of the West with Roscommon flute player John Wynne, released on the CIC label in 2007.

Catherine McEvoy is also featured on these CDs available from Copperplate
CICD117 Catherine McEvoy & Felix Dolan: Traditional Flute Music in the Sligo/Roscommon Style
LAG001 Catherine & John McEvoy with Felix Dolan: The Kilmore Fancy


"With this exquisite recording, Catherine McEvoy has once again demonstrated that she is a musician with a musical gift and exceptional talent. This CD recording showcases the skill of a consummate and supreme performer who has a complete understanding ol her instrument and of the music she plays.
When Catherine asked me to write a few lines for the sleeve notes I was immediately transported to Birmingham, where Catherine grew up. In my memory I was once again visiting the house of Dr. Robert and Lillie Lawrie, home to the famous Birmingham Ceili Band of the 1970s. A home away from home for Irish musicians, it was the place to be to hear good music.
It was in Dr. Lawrie's house that I first met and heard Catherine playing.
Playing music with her friends Kathleen Lawrie and Celestine Boyle, Catherine McEvoy's high level of proficiency on the flute that afternoon thirty-six years ago has always stayed with me. (She also played the whistle and the piano.) I still treasure the recording of the music I heard that day.
Try to imagine one of many marathon musical sessions in Handsworth, Birmingham. Imagine further, if you will, a young teenager with long flowing hair, a radiant smile on her face,
sitting for hours with Josic McDermott and Cathal McConnell, playing reel after reel, jig after jig, stories being told and for good measure a few songs from Cathal and Josie.
Yes, that young woman was indeed Catherine McEvoy. W'hat a night of music and craic!
Such was the musical life of this voung prodigy Catherine McEvoy. Exposed to wonderful music early in her life, she heard and learned from some of the greats. While travelling to Ireland
on her summer holidays, she came to know and play music with other prominent and celebrated musicians while building on her already enormous repertoire.
The ever-humble Catherine asked me not to write about her accomplishments and awards, her All-Ireland titles. However, I am unable to resist mentioning the fact that after only six months practising and playing the piano-accordion she won an Under-14 All-Ireland Championship on that instrument. Soon afterwards Catherine became an accomplished flute player.
As Kathleen Lawrie recently told me, 'Catherine is a natural musician'. .After listening to this CD I know you will agree.
Catherine's performance on the CD speaks for itself! Creatively assisted by Felix Dolan, Geraldine Cotter, Joe Kennedy, Steve Cooney and her nephew Paddy McEvoy, her rendition of jigs, reels, hornpipes, slip jigs and an air brings us back to a time when music was played more slowly, more gracefully and less frantically. Catherine's playing has a lift that is exciting, colourful and electrifying, coupled with unexpected variations, lovely tempo and phrasing. It is here that we truly hear a master at work.
The years have passed so quickly since I first heard Catherine playing Irish music. Her playing now conveys the maturity of the masters who have gone before her. Her career as a musician and teacher takes her to many places around the world. Boston College was honoured when she taught and performed at the university during the Gaelic Roots Summer School.
Catherine has also taught at other festivals and events throughout North America including the Catskills Irish Music Week in upstate New York. And of course one can always hear and
meet her at the celebrated Willie Clancv Summer School in County Clare, where she teaches every year.
It has been a delight to tell you about Catherine McEvoy and her music. She is a wonderful person, loved by many and an unassuming musician who loves what she does.
'The Queen of the Concert Flute' is, I believe, a fitting accolade for this skilled and masterful artist. This CD recording will certainly reaffirm this well-deserved title.
Congratulations, Catherine, well done. You should be very proud"! Seamus Connolly: Sullivan Artist-in-Residcnce Boston College

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