IN a concert which might have profited from an acoustic setting, the Dingle Begleys played here together in public for the first time; all already have status of various hues as solo performers and in other groupings.
Opening, Breandan was magnificent on button accordion, particularly so on Herolfs Farewell, an air from the Shetlands via Aly Bain. Sisters Eibhlin, Bride and Maire occupied the central segment of the programme with solo and unison singing, with some harmony and counterpoint on Droimin Donn Dilis.
Reflecting the ambiguities of Irish singing style in Kerry, on Fill fill, a run, O and Una Ban these women displayed an almost contradictory mixture of "big", projected voice in the lower, and fine nasal ornament, particularly in the higher register. Here, the harsh environment of PA and slight reverb distorted the non standard intonations which are comfortably and necessarily part and parcel of more intimate performance.
Maire's piano box Il mia Firenze waltz and Tico Tico cheerfully head butted the pedants, for her generation has grown up with music and dancing; what we now know as "Traditional" is a modern, arrived at consensus we are privileged to have had developed.
Surprise of the night was Ceoltoiri Mhuscrai singer Caitlin's family, with spouse Donncha in the lead on button box, impressive on slides and quicksteps, finely abetted by Donncha Jnr on fiddle. And it was her son, Aogan, who took this gig to its musical finest with a polka set accompanied a Ia Steve Cooney by brother Ronan on guitar.
