Music Network/ESB draw together novel ensembles for their Best of Irish tours. On this occasion the line-up is Mary Bergin (tin whistle), Mick Conneely (fiddle), Joe McKenna (uilleann pipes) and Noel Shine (guitar and vocals). Their concert at the Coach House in Dublin Castle was the second of a nationwide tour and proved highly enjoyable.
The opening set of jigs found the quartet in relaxed humour, assisted by Noel Shine's remarkably understated guitar accompaniment. The reels The Skylark/Roaring Mary were played as a duet for fiddle and whistle, Bergin and Conneely making an interesting combination. Each has a distinct ornamental approach, and the contrast worked well.
Bergin delivered a plain version of the slow air Taimse i mo Chodladh is nar Dhuistear Me, but followed it with a dazzling set of reels. She can play the most ornamentally complex lines without ever losing sight of a tune's basic shape. This was underlined later in the evening, when she transformed The Maid of Moncisco.
Joe McKenna and Mick Conneely both had the chance to display their virtuosity. Conneely played a set of jigs with the most elaborate of decorations, yet managed to sound relaxed and unhurried throughout. McKenna, meanwhile, moved from the slow, lyrical Lament for the Teacher into a series of breathtakingly fast dances.
The instrumental sets were interspersed with occasional ballads from Noel Shine. His dry, unemotional version of The Lowlands of Holland stood out as a classic folk performance.
The Best of Irish Tour continues next week with performances at Clifden (tomorrow); Castlebar (Monday); Buncrana (Tuesday) and Monaghan (Thursday).