This timeless, enchanting air is played on tinwhistle by the composer, Áine Heslin and blends effortlessly with the gentle guitar accompaniment of accomplished guitarist, Graham Dunne. The air was commissioned by Pat O'Neill, director/producer of a new short film 'Connected 2 Each Other' and Áine composed it in honour of Maria Walsh, the International Rose of Tralee 2014 who was featured in this film. There are many aspects to the film 'Connected 2 Each Other', firstly the filming of eight artists completing, in four hours, a portrait of Maria. It was the first time a portrait has been done of a 'Rose' by eight artists simultaneously and Maria partook in the project with enthusiasm and grace. The other aspects of the film take in community, art, people, places, and music. A generous aspect of the film was the inclusion of new music – a new song 'Limerick', written and performed by Yvonne McCarthy and of course, this piece 'Bláthú'. Synead Twomey performed one of her own songs on the soundtrack and then there were young Clare musicians, Latitia Browne on accordion and the singing of Aisling Moroney. A choir of school children from the local Limerick primary school also sang on the soundtrack. This single comprises Áine playing the captivating Celtic melody on a 'C' Generation whistle. Graham Dunne, the guitarist, was also the recording engineer for the single. Áine has two previous recordings; 'Breaking Ground' recorded and produced 1993/4 (produced on cassette tape - not yet transferred to CD) and, more recently; 'The Tunes Foundry' - as explained in detail below. Album Notes for 'The Tunes Foundry' Áine Heslin is a composer/flute player, having started on tin-whistle and traditional music and moved on to playing classical music for many years. She has a lot of varied experience in performance – solo classical, orchestral, musical society pit-orchestras, concert band, solo trad, group trad, trad pub gigs, wedding and funeral services. She completed a Master's in Irish Traditional Music Performance in 2004 at UL. Áine began composing Irish music in recent years and has enjoyed writing tunes in the style of the West Clare traditional music she was immersed in from childhood; jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and airs. She has written tunes to particular themes/emotions and named them accordingly. Her tunes have been well received by musicians so far. One tune (entered on a whim) reached the 2012 All Ireland Finals in the Newly Composed Tunes competition. After requests for an album of some of these new tunes, recording started in early 2013 with Graham Dunne, Ennis, who doubled as sound engineer and guitar accompanist, and Brian O' Grady on double bass. After some fine tracks were recorded, life events took over and there was a year's break. The remaining tracks were later recorded in Dave Keary's studio in Limerick in 2014, with Áine's husband Matt accompanying on guitar and she was delighted once again to have a stellar line-up – this time of Máire Breatnach playing fiddle on some tracks, Paul Moore on double bass and Dave Keary himself doing some guitar and bouzouki accompaniment. Shane Hayes plays accordion on the track of Shane's Bminor Jig - a jig that was written for him in 2011. The album 'The Tunes Foundry' was launched in Nov 2014 and compiles of 11 tracks made up of 23 new compositions. Áine is still composing and will be doing concerts/gigs to introduce the new tunes as time goes on. She composes by commission as gifts/special occasions also if requested. Kevin Crawford reviews... The Tunes Foundry Well here's a welcome addition to the ever growing crop of tunes within the traditional garden. So refreshing to hear a collection of newly composed tunes that have an identity all of their own yet could easily have been with us for years. Flawless flowing flute and whistle along with quite innovative yet appropriate accompaniment make this a very interesting recording full of sneaky little surprises along the way. There's a lovely relaxed rhythm and pulse throughout which makes the musicians among us want to play along and learn these tunes right away. Huge thanks to Áine for allowing us to share and enjoy her wonderful compositions. I'm off to learn the "Chicken Wrap" Jig. Kevin Crawford Colm Nestor reviews.. In the world of traditional music, this CD has to stand out as being unique for many reasons. Firstly, it is comprised entirely of original compositions by Áine. Each tune is unique and well crafted, perfectly played and most importantly, true to the tradition. The album features the very capable silver flute and tin whistle playing of Áine with sympathetic accompaniment on guitar from Matt Heslin and Graham Dunne. Máire Breathnach's beautiful fiddle playing is also a pleasure to listen to. I am also impressed with the sleeve notes for the CD which contain a wealth of information on the inspiration on why the tunes were composed, they are also a great snap shot of the present day great musicians of west Clare. The arrangements reflect the beauty and excitement of her influences, there are echoes of the great traditional groups of the 70s and 80s in some tracks while the tin whistle tracks show different disciplines of slow air playing and a Jig. The melodies in this CD will live with the listener for a long time after hearing them. I have no doubt from listening to these fine tunes that they will make their way in to the repertoires of all traditional musicians in future years. Colm Nestor (Clare Flute player and past sec. of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branch) Below is a copy of the sleeve notes of The Tunes Foundry album: 1. Walking the Dog / A Tribute to Michael Tubridy ( jigs ) Walking the dog – This jig portrays for me the joy and excitement of a dog taken on a walk, whether on or off the lead - dogs love walks! A tribute to Michael Tubridy – At the Dan Furey festival in Labasheeda in 2013 a tribute concert was held to recognise all the work and dedication that Michael Tubridy flute-player (original flute- player of The Chieftains) gave unsparingly to our local festival over twenty years. I dedicated this tune to him – a gentleman (and a fine dancer too!). 2. Saorla’s Hornpipe / Hard to get Started / Lady in the Hollow (reels) Saorla’s Hornpipe – A tune dedicated to my friend Martin Noel Tubridy’s beautiful first grandchild. Martin Noel – a wonderful accordion player and musician – and I, gigged every week for about ten years in Kilkee. We still do when we can. He invited us to the christening of his grandaughter Saorla, and I named this hornpipe after her. I have yet to write a tune for Martin Noel – he’s a wonderful character!! Hard to get started – This tune means to depict the problems of the numerous old cars that some of us used to drive or be driven in years ago. It can of course be viewed philosophically too! Lady in the Hollow – When I first became a member of Tradconnect (online traditional Irish musicians website) I chatted regularly to a couple of lovely fellow musicians Mike 'Ormpipes'Ormes and Lars Mott but would invariably get lost in mid-conversation due to the poor broadband signal in my area – they nick-named me Lady in the Hollow after my regular apologies! So here I am guys! 3. The Tunes Foundry / Round Wagtail / Lift Me! (jigs) The Tunes Foundry – I started a website to enable composers of trad tunes – myself included – to have somewhere specific to introduce their new work. It didn’t materialise at the time but I wrote this Bminor jig for it. Round Wagtail – Aah, The Round! I have written traditional tunes where the second part could be played on top of the first but it didn’t work out chords-wise with this one... I still liked the tune though, so. Lift me! – This was written to be a sort of pick-me-up type of tune – a reaching out when you’re in need of that extra something. 4. Mairéad’s Paradise / Orla’s Intent! (reels) Mairéad’s Paradise – I was thinking of my friend Mairéad Considine (concertina player from Doon- beg, Co Clare) while writing this and wanted to convey her mischievous, fun-loving nature! Orla’s Intent! – Orla Coughlan (a fiddle-player from Lisseycasey, Co. Clare), Mairéad Considine and myself regularly play pub gigs together. I composed this reel – a strong reel in D – to portray Orla’s sense of humour and her positive mental attitude and also to follow “Mairéad’s Paradise” 5. Seabed (slow air) Seabed – I remember how it felt in Jan 2012, like I was living the pain and anguish of the families of loved fishermen tragically lost from the sinking of The Tit Bonhomme in rough waters off the Cork coast. At the time I wanted to do something to ease the families’ pain and wrote in this air of how the seabed would take good care of their loved ones until they were found. I have only now shared this tune but I still feel the deep pain of their loss and for all the other fishermen who have gone too – in particular – two fishermen from my childhood – Michael Donlon and Martin Fennell 6. Shane’s Bminor Jig / Skip out of School (jigs) Shane’s Bminor Jig – I was at a seisiún a few years ago where Shane Hayes, Aodán Coyne and Fiachra Hayes were playing just before they formed the exciting group Socks in The Frying Pan. Shane mentioned that he liked the key of Bminor and didn’t have enough tunes in it so...I wrote this jig for him. (It was one the first tunes I wrote in Doolin!) Skip out of school – This jig I wrote specifically to follow the Shane’s Bminor Jig but it can be used anywhere of course. I was picturing my kids skipping out of school at the end of the day! (Shane’s a teacher – so it might apply to him too!) 7. For Vanessa / When Jessie Calls Over (reels) For Vanessa – This is a tune written especially for Vanessa Miller from Kilmihil, Co Clare, a Senior All Ireland Champion Accordion player who, a few years ago, professed to me a love for playing tunes in the key of Fmajor. When Jessie Calls Over – I decided to enter this tune in the All Ireland Championships in the Newly Composed Tune category in 2012 and it brought me as far as the Finals in Cavan. There were 13 other very good tunes in the final and three of them were chosen. I was happy to realise that my standard of tune was comparable at least with the rest. It was written about our children Julie and Niall and the fun they would have whenever their friend Jessie called over. 8. The Killarney Whistle Jig / The Chicken Wrap (jigs) The Killarney Whistle Jig – I was recommended this whistle by Lars (Larry) Mott when I needed a nice whistle for my recording. I was very happy with it and wrote this jig showing off the whistle’s ease of movement with it’s reliable tone. The Chicken Wrap – I was in a funny mood! 9. The EIRE Sign (slow reel / fast reel) The EIRE sign – This tune depicts the careful restoration by the local Loophead community of an historical monument – if something embedded in the ground can be so described! – at the grounds of Loophead Lighthouse. See photos online. 10. Sarah / The Wait! (reels) Sarah – This tune depicted to me the life of a young neighbour – cut short prematurely by a tragic car accident – all prospects of how it would have wonderfully continued left only to our imagination. R.I.P. Sarah. Never forgotten. The Wait! – This tune to me depicts our fun-filled wait here on Earth till we meet again the loved ones gone before us. On the other hand it also depicts the wait in a waiting room, bus-stop, adjudication hall etc. where our hopes rise and fall continually in the wait for a positive answer! 11. Siobhán’s Special Day / Seisiún Indeed in Doolin / Or are we Dancers? (reels) Siobhán’s Special Day – This I wrote for my lovely sister-in-law Siobhan on her birthday – October 19th. Seisiún indeed in Doolin – This tune came to me after a wonderful seisiún in Doolin with Christy Barry, Colin Nea and friends. I wanted to honour their respect for the tradition – so obvious in their playing. Or are we dancers? – I was listening to pop music before writing this Amajor reel...