Beannachtaí ó Bhaile Átha Cliath,

Beidh ócáid seolta ann do m'úrscéal bleachtaireachta nua, Buille Marfach, Déardaoin 16 Meán Fómhair @ 7.30pm in Áras na Scríbhneoirí. Bheinn iontach sásta dá mbeadh faill agat a bheith i láthair, más i mBÁC seachas i dTír Chonaill a bheidh tú ag an am. Míle fáilte an scéal a scaipeadh freisin!

Tá tuilleadh faoin leabhar ag www.cic.ie.

Beidh an ócáid mar chuid d'fhéile liteartha IMRAM - féach www.imram.ie - neart imeachtaí cainte is ceoil ar siúl.

Rath ar do chuid oibre féin - beidh mé ag súil leis an dlúthdhiosca atá/ a bhí á thaifead agat i rith an tsamhraidh le Maighread, Tríona agus Moya Brennan.

Beir beannacht,
Anna

Hello

Last summer I had the pleasure of attending a performance at the National Concert Hall in Dublin with your group and the orchestra. It was splendid. My view was excellent as I was seated along the left side affording a view of the conductor who was so full of joy at the colabration of the two groups of talented musicians. And just before leaving to return home to New York in September an Irish friend treated me to your appearance at an Irish speaking school where he purchased your recording and you signed it for me.
This year, I will be in Gweedore August 17-21st for the wedding of a dear friend at Star of the Sea church in Annagry with the reception at the Gweedore Court Hotel. Looking forward to seeing another beautiful area of Donegal.

Dear Mairéad:

I'm from Mexico, and I love your music, I just have no words to descrive it, both that wich comes out of your fiddle and that of your voice.

I've been playin violin for about 4 years now, but recently I've decided to train myself as a fiddler, playing mostly traditional irish music.

I would like to ask you for a few tips...

How do you control your bow at such a speed? I've learned some songs, such as Merrily kissed the Quaker, and it's impossible for me to go beyond certain speed without ruining the bowwing.

How can you make the fingering faster? I'm fast playing the tin whistle but somehow in the fiddle it's a lot harder, I better at this than at the bow but, still it's hard after I get to a certain speed.

What is the best way to bow a song? I mean, how many notes per down-bow, or up-bow?.

And my last question, what is the best bowhand position you would recomend?

Besides that I would like to tell you I love your voice, It's somehow magical, the first album I heard from Altan was Local Ground and some songs such as Amhrán Pheadair Bhreathnaigh reminded me of scenes from Ireland at night, and your voice in it makes it something I can't descrive.

Your fiddling is magnifficent, it just makes me explode with happiness every time I listen to it. I showed it to my violin teacher and she was amazed.

I think that for having no words to say about your music, I've said to much. Thankyou for your time. Jack

Mairead,

Just got your CD here in Missouri USA. It's very nice. Love your music. If you ever come to the midwest USA, please let me know!

Glenn

Dear Mairead,
tonight I heard the song you played with Altan on balconyTV and I was blown away.
I played all stuff of music throughout the last 40 years, but never heard that kind of music.
May I ask you or some of your band mates to send me the lyrics, the chords ... or any link where I can find it.
Unfortunately, I can't understand Gaelic language and it might sound silly, but this song really means a lot to me (in terms of melody) and I also want to understand the lyrics.

Sincerly yours,
Siggi

Dear Mairead,

I have seen you for the first time on Friday 7th May when you came to Brittany.
It was an absolute pleasure to listen to your beautiful voice. I lived in Ireland for 8 years and it was like being back there. It brought back lovely memories, thank you so much.
Please come back soon !

Servane

Dia duit Máiread. Go raibh mile, mile maith agat fa choinne teacht go dtí Árrain Mhór leis Altan. Bhí sibh go hiontach. Bhí sé lá breithla mo chara, Érin (cosúil le m' ainmsa!), an lá sin fosta. Agus go raibh maith agat fa choinne do shiniú fósta. Dia duit go dtí Ciarán, Ciaran, Mark, Dermot agus Dáithí. Slán go dtí an samhradh, Máiread.Scríobh ar ais le do thóil. Le ard mheas, Érin xxx:)

Mairéad,
An absolute pleasure as always to see you all again.Great night in Glenswilly! Don't know how I didnt see lyrics to songs before on website-silly me!I have been learning fiddle and Irish since I moved here; I have a long way to go! Its great!
There is healing in music - and true companions.
Perhaps, sometime when you are in a composing frame of mind you might think of Eithne.
The Donegal coast is the closest to her now.
Elaine.xo.(Ballybofey)

Mairéad,
An absolute pleasure as always to see you all again.Great night in Glenswilly! Don't know how I didnt see lyrics to songs before on website-silly me!I have been learning fiddle and Irish since I moved here; I have a long way to go! Its great!
There is healing in music - and true companions.
Perhaps, sometime when you are in a composing frame of mind you might think of Eithne.
The Donegal coast is the closest to her now.
Elaine.xo (Ballybofey)

Hello,
I saw you at the Ark in Ann Arbor last March 28th. I have seen Altan every time the band has been here over all these years and have every CD or so I thought. Recently learned about Imeall. Wanted to ask you or someone in the band how I could get a copy but that was not to be. I asked the people selling your stuff in the lobby of the Ark but they didn't know what I was talking about. Could you or someone let me know how I can get a copy? Thanks. All the best, Ted