I’m sure there are lots of incredibly disappointed Cork folks out there after this weekend’s hurling final, but maybe there are a few who can find a bit of solace in some great traditional music from a musician from the Rebel County. “Beo i gConamara” is the new one from Diarmuid Ó Meachair and I just so happen to have in the media yoke this week A magnificent live recording “[celebrating] the single-row melodeon in Connemara, Ireland and Québéc as well as the connection between the melodeon and sean-nós dance,” it features tunes associated with the Flanagan Brothers, Joe Derrane, PJ Conlon, John J. Kimmel, Phillipe Bruneau, Ann “Ma” McNulty, Jean Carignan and Charlie Lennon and is an album fans of traditional music – and not just the ones from Cork – should make an effort to check out.
Ó Meachair is an acclaimed accordion and melodeon player, as well as a sean-nós singer from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork. A native Irish speaker, he’s won many sean nós singing competitions at Oireachtas na Gaeilge. In addition, he was the Senior All-Ireland Melodeon champion in 2016 and has since earned great national recognition for his talents, including winning the prestigious TG4 Young Musician of the Year award in 2022. In 2023, The John Dwyer Festival and the Arts Council of Ireland commissioned him to compose a suite in memory of the Dwyer family of Beara. These days, he’s part of the teaching staff at the Department of Music in UCC and teaches Irish Music at Holy Cross University in Worcester, Mass.
If it seems like you’ve heard his name a lot over the last few years, it’s because you have. I’ve discussed each of his three solo albums (Siúl na Slí, 2022; Melodeon Medleys, 2023; and a self-titled album in 2024), here in the column, but these albums led to three RTÉ Folk Awards nominations, including nods for "Best Instrumentalist" (2023 & 2024) and "Best Emerging Artist" (2023). In addition, Ó Meachair started playing with Frankie Gavin in De Dannan in 2023 (including a televised appearance on “The Late Late Show”) and tours with them widely. He’s also an in-demand solo performer, delighting audiences all over Ireland and the U.S. with his top shelf playing, great good humor and intellectual curiosity.
Joining Ó Meachair is the great Brian McGrath on piano. Originally from Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, McGrath got his professional start with Dervish, which led to a role in Four Men and a Dog. Over the years, he’s collaborated with virtually every leading figure in Irish music, including the likes of Noel Hill, Paul Brock, John Carty/At the Racket, Frankie Gavin/De Dannan, Matt Molloy, Charlie Lennon, Joe Burke, Sean Maguire, Brian Rooney, Cathal Hayden, Joe Derrane, Arty McGlynn and many more. He’s one of the finest backers in Irish music, as we hear here, keeping his touch subtle and the rhythm perfect.
What I think defines Ó Meachair’s playing – apart from his technical virtuosity – is the expression in his music. It feels like he can do whatever he’d like with the instrument and in many ways, when you hear him play it sounds like you’re listening to the music as it was heard in the 1910s and ‘20s. Indeed, he acknowledges this connection over and over again here. I think first of the jig and reel tracks he’s included in homage to Conlon – they’re just breathtaking. (BTW, if you’re interested in Conlon, I encourage you to look into “The Genius of Peter Conlon,” the definitive collection of his music, issued by https://www.oldtimerecords.com/.) I love, too, the inclusion of a track of Flanagan Brothers reels as he really does an outstanding job of embracing Joe Flanagan’s spirit – no better man for this sort of thing. The same could be said for what he does with the “John J. Kimmel” medley, where he mirrors Kimmel’s virtuosity brilliantly – it is no mean feat.
Ó Meachair has a strong interest in Québécois music and includes tracks that pay respect to two of that music’s greats, “The Valse - Clogue Philippe Bruneau” and “Clogue Jean Carignan.” Melodically, these tracks stand out from the rest, are quite beautiful, and once again reveal how Ó Meachair isn’t afraid to challenge himself musically. They’re a lovely acknowledgement of the greater melodeon playing tradition.
Finally, there are a pair of tracks, “Rileanna Ann ‘Ma’ McNulty” and “Rogha Joe Derrane,” that feature sean-nós footwork, in particular that of Seosamh Ó Neachtain and Becky Ní Éallaithe, respectively. Their dancing complements Ó Meachair’s playing wonderfully and add interesting facets to an already sublime recording. The stylistic difference between the two dancers highlights the individuality of each person’s contribution.
“Beo i gConamara” is a triumphant living tribute to a rich musical heritage that spans both sides of the Atlantic. With Brian McGrath’s masterful piano accompaniment and all the thoughtful nods to historic figures in Irish and Québécois traditional music, this recording is as heartfelt as it is technically brilliant. Ó Meachair is not only preserving the legacy of the melodeon but pushing it forward with confidence, style and deep respect. In the end, this is a dynamic, historically grounded and emotionally expressive album that deserves a spot in the collection of anyone with an interest in Irish traditional music – definitely one to check out! For more info and to purchase, visit https://diarmuidomeachairaccordionmusic.com/.
