Track Listings 1. The Parted Years 2. Carden's Wild Domain 3. Is Buachaillín Mise 4. I Know What I'm Missing 5. Caiptín ÓMáille 6. Wrestling With Rats 7. Johnny Golden 8. Boating on Lough Ree 9. A Rí An Domhnaigh 10. Seán ÓDuibhir A' Ghleanna 11. No More 12. Memorial 13. Cry of the Mountain Click on underscored titles to hear sound samples with Real Player

Take a journey through the blue green door and share the intensity and passion, the gentleness and love woven through these lyrics and sung by one of Irelands most genuine singers.

“One of the best singer-songwriters of the present time”, is how The Living Tradition described Clare based Tim Dennehy, who releases his fourth album, “ The Blue Green Door”, on Sceilig Records.

Born in Ballinskelligs, County Kerry but later moving to nearby Cahersiveen, Tim Dennehy is a member of a family steeped in traditional music, song and storytelling. Both Tim’s parents sang and were inheritors of a huge store of songs and stories in the Irish language. Some of his earliest memories are of his mother, Nora, from Cill Rialaig who developed the custom of singing as she went about her daily chores and naturally enough this left a lasting and indelible mark.

Tim’s new album, “The Blue Green Door”, is a collection of 13 tracks ranging from original compositions, political songs and amhráin Ghaeilge to poetry set to music. Tim is once again joined by Garry O’Briain who plays guitars, mandocello, keyboards and harmonica and who produced the album. The accompanied tracks also feature Jesse Smith (viola and fiddle), Liz Johnston (cello), Tommy Keane (whistle) and Âme Derrane (backing vocals).

“The Blue Green Door”, opens with “The Parted Years”, a song dedicated to Tim’s late mother Nora, a beautiful singer and a gentle woman with a passion for the simple things in life. “Memorial”, another self-penned song was written for Tim’s brother and friend Pat. These are two of Tim’s most personal songs to date, both celebrating and cherishing moments of togetherness and sharing, transcending death through friendship and love.

The album goes on to tell stories of sea captains (Caiptin O Máille), rebels (The Ballad Of Johnny Golden & Sean ó Duibhir A’ Ghleanna) and a people dispersed (No More). There are songs of love and loss, (Boating On Lough Ree & I Know What I’m Missing) and tales of misadventure (Wrestling With Rats). “Cry Of The Mountain” touches on Tim’s affinity with the environment, a theme already explored on previous albums. Tim wrote it after he had spent some time on Mullaghmore Mountain in the beautiful Burren, inspired by both the rugged, untamed, beauty of the area and the P.J. Curtis poem

 “The Sound of Stone”...
“Come a little closer and feel the pulse of this perfumed earth
And the heartbeat of these ancient stones.
Stand in the silence and listen to the music that floats on the still air,
It is the sound of the stones singing”... P.J. Curtis

What the critics said:
“The land and lore of his native Kerry and adopted County Clare predominate in songs that are powerfully rendered and intensely felt”. (Irish Times)

“Tim Dennehy’s rendering of any song would bring a chilling hush to the wildest session. A gem for song collectors everywhere”. (Irish Music)

“Here is a voice as velvety as the best Irish stout. He produces some moments of breathtaking beauty, especially in his magnificent version of, Be Still as you are Beautiful “. (Rock N Reel)

“There are few better singers than Tim Dennehy in Ireland today- a fine singer of splendid songs”. (Folk Roots)

“These thoughtful and reflective songs help to contribute to an interesting and varied offering from one of the best traditional singer-songwriters of the present time”. (The Living Tradition)

“Whether you are interested in learning some new songs or just want to hear one of the finest singers in Ireland today, don’t miss Farewell to Miltown Malbay “. (Dirty Linen)
 
 

Net Rhythms Web Site March 2003
For the reviewer who's also a keen explorer, coming across any performer for the first time can be as worthwhile as welcome, and listening to Irish singer Tim's four (to date) CDs has been one of the most pleasurable experiences of the past few months for me - so much so, in fact, that review of his latest, The Blue Green Door, has been delayed while I've continued to make fresh discoveries in Tim's previous three releases.

The album's rather wordy subtitle (Traditional And Original Songs Of Love, Loss And Longing, volume 3) is a most accurate depiction of its contents, in fact, though the apparent matter-of-fact driness of this erudite tag shouldn't put you off, for this (like its predecessors) turns out to be a most appealing and stimulating collection of material, much of it completely new to me - indeed, I think it's probably the best of the four.

Essentially a Kerryman, Tim was born Ballinskelligs; he lived in Dublin for a while, then in 1989 relocated to Co. Clare, releasing his first (then cassette) album, A Thimbleful Of Song. Tim's one of those singers of quiet accomplishment, with a smooth tone and enthralling yet subtle delivery and a relaxed, though perennially sensitive approach to phrasing - a description which might well bring to mind Seán Keane… but Tim's is an individual voice, every bit worthy of a place alongside Sean in terms of wider recognition, and he certainly should not remain a well-kept secret among esoteric cognoscenti.

Tim's choice of material is both enterprising and intriguing; The Blue Green Door is bookended by three of Tim's own thoughtful and evocative original compositions; two are deeply-felt songs dealing with personal loss (Memorial is dedicated to his brother Pat, The Parted Years to his mother Nora Kelly), where death is transcended through friendship and love, while Cry Of The Mountain, written for the Burren Action Group, exhibits a potent sense of place, eloquently and unsentimentally portraying Tim's acute affinity with the environment. Elsewhere, there are two of Tim's settings of others' poems, three songs finely sung in Gaelic, and a varied selection of pieces by other writers, which range from the chuckle-inducing humour of Wrestling With Rats (penned by London music-hall writer Harry Clifton) to the gentle yet moving lament Boating On Lough Ree.

Whatever the mood of the song, Tim unerringly encapsulates its intrinsic character, and each and every rendition is a delight. Six of the thirteen are performed unaccompanied, the others benefitting from the ultra-sympathetic enhancement of producer Garry O'Briain's guitar, mandocello, keyboards and/or harmonica, together with (less often) Tommy Keane's whistle, Jesse Smith's viola and Liz Johnston's cello. The booklet is a beautiful presentation too.

This really is a superb release, comforting and yet invigorating, and truly one to cherish; do track it down without delay.    David Kidman

The Living Tradition  Sept/ Oct 02
The thirteen songs on The Blue Green Door are a fine mixture of the old, the new, the unaccompanied and the accompanied. Some are in Gaelic and some in English, with two poems set to music by Tim and three of his own compositions. In fact, many of the songs are of known authorship, but not always modern.

The sympathetic accompaniment is provided by Gary O’Briain, the CD’s producer, on guitars, mandcello, keyboards and harmonica. The other featured musicians are Jesse Smith on viola and fiddle, Liz Johnston – cello, Tommy Keane – uilleann pipes and whistles, and Aine Derrane - backing vocals. Everything is nicely arranged and beautifully performed. Tim’s rich smooth voice has never sounded better and his interpretation of his material is faultless. Tim Dennehy is without doubt one of the finest singers, and writers in Ireland today.

This is Tim’s fourth CD and I think his best to date. I feel sure that his work is well known to readers of The Living Tradition and needs on recommendations from me, even so I would encourage everyone to listen to The Blue Green Door. If you are familiar with the singer you won’t be disappointed, if it is the first time you have listened to Tim, you are in for a real treat. A superb album. Highly recommended.  Danny Saunders

Folk Roots Review Aug/Sept.02
Born in Ballinskellig’s in the Dingle Peninsula, Tim Dennehy is one of the most important traditional centred singer/ songwriters of his time. While living in Dublin, he helped found the influential, Goileen Singers Club, and relocated to County Clare in 1989, joining Clare FM as a presenter.

Since then he has released three solo albums, A Thimbleful of Songs, A Winter’s Tear and Farewell to Miltown Malbay, all of which mixed traditional song, poetry and original material. Singing acappella, Dennehy acts as both interpreter and composer, a twin talent that separates him from the pack of Irish male singers.

His fourth solo album, The Blue Green Door – subtitled Traditional & Original Songs of Love, Loss & Longing, Volume 3 – again concentrates on his core subject matter.

However, this is no static academic exercise, as Tim Dennehy possesses a sense of character and presence in both his writing and singing to quell any notions of righteous insignificance. Possessing a rich warm tenor voice and a relaxed attitude to his material and its presentation, Tim Dennehy inhibits his singing with the mark of a master narrator. Whether tackling a classic ballad like Sean O’Dwyer of the Glen, the humorous Wrestling With Rats or the Gaelic, Is Buachailin Mise, Dennehy’s subtle vocals and quietly restrained backings, arranged by Gary O’Briain, ideally compliment each other imbuing the album with a glovelike comfort. John O’Regan

Taplas Aug/ Sept 02
Born in Co Kerry, Dennehy is a teacher, broadcaster, songwriter and singer with three previous albums to his credit. As on those, he sings a mixture of traditional and “original” songs, three his own.

A handful of backing musicians is led by multi-instrumentalist, Garry O’Briain, who seems largely responsible for the accompaniments. These are suitably restrained, if a touch wooden and sentimental. Unplug that keyboard!

The album doesn’t set out to be musically inventive, but Dennehy’s rich, sincere voice does justice to some poetic lyrics and is best appreciated on the unaccompanied numbers like Sean O’Duibhir a’Ghleanna. John Neilson

The Cork Examiner.
Those familiar with Tim Dennehy’s last two releases A Winter’s Tear and Farewell to Miltown Malbay will find few surprises here and that’s just as the singer intends. The sense of continuity is strong. The opening track, The Parted Years, a song of Dennehy's own making, is dedicated to his late mother, Nora Kelly. The song typifies the man and his music. A straightforward melody carries a poetic lyric shot through with a powerful emotion. There are references to Kimberley biscuits softened in tea, cigarette smoke and upturned cards: Dennehy’s mother becomes every man’s mother. It’s a song that could easily have
crossed the border into sentimentality but for the frank sincerity with which it is sung. Regular collaborator and producer Garry 0 Briain provides a subtle guitar and keyboard background, Aine Derrane adds a sympathetic vocal, while Jesse Smith and Liz Johnston enhance the mix with smooth string lines. Carden’s Wild Domain, in contrast, is sung unaccompanied. I Know What I’m Missing fits Dennehy’s melody to a poem by James Fenton, Professor of Poetry at Oxford. Caiptin 0'Mâille, one of the Irish language standards, tells the story of a Connacht pirate trader of the early 19th century
The mood lightens, if that’s the right word, in The Waterford Boys, the tale of a night spent wrestling rats in a flophouse. Written by Sigerson Clifford, who is something of a role model for Dermehy.
Johnny Golden commemorates a Caherciveen Fenian deported to Van Diemen’s Land in the wake of the 1867 Rising.
Sean O'Duibhir an Ghleanna dates from an earlier rebellion and is, perhaps surprisingly, sung in Canon Sheehan’s English translation. Like Johnny Golden, it is a world away from the poor rebel ballad beloved of our public house
pseudo-republicans. Memorial is a monument in song to Dennehy’s late brother, Pat, who died in 1968 at the age of 17.
Other songs on this album may attract more attention, but none will match itsdepth.
The Blue Green Door, a personal collection from a man who, unlike many of his fellow countrymen, is not afraid to show his emotions in public and does so with great dignity. Pat Ahern

The Irish Times.
Tim Dennehy’s Ballinskellig's roots have fuelled no less than four albums’ worth of fine songs, and this, his fourth, has little difficulty reaching the bar that he’s kept high.
Geography continues to influence the singer, his Clare home insinuating itself into every vein and artery of the music, particularly on the Mullaghmore inspired Cry Of The Mountain. Producer Garry 0 Briain’s touch is tangible throughout, his mandocello and guitar underscoring here, echoing there, and entirely absent when the mood demands voice alone. Traditional stalwarts (Is Buachaillin Mise) consort with gorgeous originals (The Parted Years) as though parties to the same DNA strands.
But its Dennehy’s unadorned voice that shimmers, a kaleidoscope shafting the unlikeliest of patterns from eardrum to temporal lobe and beyond. Siobhán Long ****
 

Pay The Reckoning Web Site.
As soon as Dennehy hits the first few notes of the first track on this album, his own song "The Parted Years" (dedicated to his mother, Nora Kelly), it's easy to see why there are those who believe he's among Ireland's best living singers. Dennehy's voice is a compelling force - rich, full of experience, informed by tradition and defining it for future traditions.

Roughly half the songs are unaccompanied and on the other half Dennehy is given superb support by, in various combinations, Aine Derrane (backing vocals), Garry O'Briain (guitar, keyboards, mandocello, harmonica), Jesse Smith of DANU (viola and fiddle), Liz Johnston (cello) and Tommy Keane (whistle).

Few songwriters and interpreters of traditional songs display the warmth and generosity of spirit of Dennehy. On "The Parted Years", mentioned above, he dwells on the tiny details of the time he and his mother spent together before she died and in this detail, paints a picture of a pair devoted to each other. Elsewhere he has penned the cri de coeur, "Cry of the Mountain" as a wake-up call to those who see no harm in "developing" the unspoilt, wild grandeur of the Burren.

Not that Dennehy is always serious! His version of "Wrestling with Rats" shows that he has a great ability to put a comic song across. In fact this song in particular proves his stature as a singer and it's no exaggeration to say that Dennehy is in the same league as legends such as Paddy Tunney, Frank Harte or Len Graham.

The keynote of the album - however - is a deadly serious song. "Memorial" was written by Dennehy as a tribute to his brother, Pat, who died aged 17 in 1968. There are no histrionics. Dennehy gives us an insight into how close he and his brother were to each other. How much their mutual friendship meant, how much pleasure they derived from sharing each other's company. And then the tragic illness and Pat succumbed. And yet ... "I hear again your footfall on the pathway of each day/May our thoughts be never severed, may we journey on forever/May the waters of the Fertha take you gently to the sea/And sometimes when the darkness creeps and shawls each fragrant flower/I reach for you across the stars; we're young again and free/May we hold hands across the stars for all eternity."

However singling out this or that track does the album no justice. Dennehy gives us unaccompanied versions of "Carden's Wild Domain" and the rebel song "Johnny Golden". He sets James Fenton's poem "I Know What I'm Missing" to music and surely the author must be grinning from ear to ear at the result. He gives us songs as Gaeilge - the cheeky "Is Buachaillin Mise", "Captin O Maille" and Tomas Rua O Suilleabhain's "A Ri An Domhnaigh". He has unearthed the lament "Boating On Lough Ree" and Patrick MacGill's "No More" and turns his attention to the haunting "Sean O Duibhir A Ghleanna".

         An accomplished, sincere, emotionally charged set from a singer of great charm, integrity and talent.
 

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