Female Rambling Sailor

Focusing on the perspective of a female narrator, the album presents a unique synergy of Cathy’s grounding in the Irish music tradition, Irene's background in ambient and electronic music and Claudia's experience of amalgamating diverse genres and music traditions.

“Atmospheric drones fused with ancient song lyrics and fiddle-delays draw us into the story of a dreadful ghost, while stomping bodhrán rhythms accompany the efforts of a boatsman to convince his love to marry him.

Intricate three-part vocal harmonies honour the life of a sailor working for the royal navy and we hear a woman’s warning to “never prove false to your womankind”.

LISSADELL (Irene Buckley & Claudia Schwab / Eva Gore - Booth)
While rehearsing  in North Sligo, beside us on the table lay the poem  “The little waves of Breffny” written by Eva Gore - Booth.  It weaved its way into this track.

SADHBH NÍ BHRUINNEALLAIGH (trad / arrange Plúirín Na Mban)
Old sean-nós song attributed to a boatman Labhrás Mac Con Raoi, thought to be written between 1815 and 1821. An unrequited love song where the heroine Sadhbh has the upper hand on her would be lover.

FEMALE RAMBLING SAILOR (trad / arrange Plúirín Na Mban)
The story tells of Rebecca Young, who dresses as a man to join the “men only” navy so she could live life on her own terms.

TWO BROTHERS (trad / arrange Plúirín Na Mban)
Child Ballad No. 49. Sibling rivalry with fatal consequences.

FÍLL A RÚN Ó (trad / arranged Plúirín na mban) 
True story from 1745 Donegal of a mother pleading with her son to return to the Catholic faith having “bent the knee” (converted to the protestant faith).

CURRAGH WRENS (Cathy Jordan)
This song was inspired by the plight of cast out women in post famine Ireland.  Their name comes from the tiny “nests”  they dug out in the ditches using their bare hands, around the soldier’s camp at the Curragh in Co  Kildare.

THE GREY FUNNEL LINE (Cyril Tawney)
This song was the last composition written by Cyril Tawney before he left the navy in 1959. The Grey Funnel Line refers to the sailor’s nickname for the royal navy. 

PLÚIRÍN NA MBAN (trad / arranged Plúirín Na mBan)
”Will you come with me to Co Leitrim?” said the flower of the beautiful brown-haired woman.

PORT NA MNÁ (Claudia Schwab)
The ladies tune: inspired by Claudia’s musical travels around the world, influences from India and the Balkans snuck up on the beautiful sean-nós melody.

THE DREADFUL GHOST (trad / arranged Plúirín Na mBan)
A story about a woman who comes back from the dead to avenge her murderer. Cathy learnt it from the singing of the legendary Peggy Seeger.

MAYFLOWER  (Irene Buckley / Claudia Schwab)

GUTHRIE’S STUDY (Claudia Schwab)
This project was born out of a wonderful residency we experienced at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in January 2020. Claudia was staying in Guthrie´s Study where the tune must have emerged from the walls.

Musicians: Cathy Jordan (vocals / guitarlele / bouzouki / bodhrán / guitar); Claudia Schwab (violins / vocals / harmonium / keys / thumb harp) & Irene Buckley (electronics / vocals / keys)

Recorded by: Brian McDonagh, The Magic Room, Sligo, Ireland 

Mastered by: Richard Ford

Produced by: Plúirín na mBan and Brian McDonagh 

Artwork & Design: Craig Carry

A very special thanks to Tara McGowan of Cairde Sligo Arts Festival for her continuous support and for bringing this project to life.

We hope you enjoy listening to this record as much as we enjoyed making it!