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Altan...

Altan are probably the most talked-about and lauded traditional group to come out of Ireland this past decade. Playing Donegal-based authentic traditional music, they have achieved great popularity without diluting or jazzing up the music. They play authentic traditional music of Donegal and the north of Ireland, tinged with the drive of Scottish traditional music.

Mairead's acclaimed singing is the focal point of the group, backed by a trademark double fiddle and flute combination with guitar and bouzouki for rhythm. Recently they have added button accordionist Dermot Byrne, a past guest artist, to the lineup. Altan grew out of the album by the same name, recorded by wife and husband duo, Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy, at the time both primary school teachers in Dublin, on a leave of absence.

Together with bouzouki player Donal O'Hanlan and Mairead's brother, Gearoid O'Maoinaigh, who played guitar, the Ni Maoinaigh and Kennedy formed a band, Ragaime. Although they recorded for RTE, the group disbanded by the time that Gael-Linn released Ni Maoinaigh and Kennedy's debut album, Ceol Adualigh in December 1983. One track on the album, "An Clar Bog Dell," featured Enya, then known as Eithne Ni Bhraonain, on Prophet Five synthesizer.

In 1987, Ni Mhaoinaigh and Kennedy recorded their second album as a duo, Altan, named after a lake in northwest Donegal. Produced by Donal Lunny, the album featured accompaniment by Ciaron Curran on bouzouki, Mark Kelly on guitar, and Mairead's sister, Anna Ni Mhaoinaigh, then a member of the all-woman group, Macella. Shortly after the completion of the album, the musicians agreed to continuing working together. During the summer of 1988, Altan began work on their first album as a band, which now included Paul O'Shaugnessy on twin fiddle. Produced by Phil Cunningham and released in 1989, the album, Horse With A Heart, featured a more dynamic sound than its predecessors.

As the band's touring schedule expanded, O'Shaughnessy and Kelly were forced, by their day jobs, to restrict their activity with Altan to recording and performances close to home. During the band's U.S. tours, their places were taken by Daithi Sproule on guitar and Ciaran Tourish on fiddle. Altan reached their top-form with their 1990 album, Red Crow, which recieved a NAIRD award as "best Celtic traditional album".

Their next album, Harvest Storm, released in 1992, received the award as well. All news was not good for the band, however. In 1991, Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer. Although he was hospitalized the following year, he recovered sufficiently to rejoin the band's tour. On September 19, 1994, he succumbed to his illness and passed away. Altan has continued to bring their music to the international stage. Accordion player Dermot Byrne, who had played on Red Crow and on Altan's 1993 album, Island Angel, joined the group formally in 1994. 1996's Blackwater and 1997's Runaway Sunday were released on the Virgin label before the group jumped to Narada for 2000's Another Sky.