O'Briain & Eades
Cathal O'Briain enjoys writing original contemporary Irish Ballads and recreating old but familiar loved melodies. He sings and plays fingerstyle acoustic guitar, drawing upon aspects of human nature and history in his original songs and modernised covers of older ballads.
His upcoming album 'The 40 Foot' is a body of work from his collaboration with the legendary Producer Peter Eades who has worked with some of Ireland’s top acts such as Clannad, The Chieftains, Thin Lizzy, The Dubliners, Moving Hearts and De Danann. It features the accomplished pianist and singer Matthew Lalor and Brian O'Reilly (Jump the Gun) providing backing vocals on the track 'All I'm Needin'. Cathal is currently signed with AC Record Label.
THE 40 FOOT
The 40 Foot is a swimming, bathing, and diving area in Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland. Cathal was inspired to write this song because of his historical family links to the area. His Father grew up in Seapoint Avenue and his ancestors lived on both the East and West Pier Lighthouses in Dun Laoghaire.
"My great grandfather Jack O'Briain was the Assistant Keeper on the East Pier Lighthouse around 1921 and was then moved to the West Pier to work there as the Principal Keeper. My grandfather Sean O'Briain was a member of the Blackrock Gaelic League and one of the founders of Scoil Lorcáin Templehill, Blackrock.
The 40 Foot got its name from the army regiment, The Fortieth Foot, who were stationed at Sandcove's Tower until they were disbanded in 1904.
The original song is about personal freedom, obtained though sacrifice and by getting back to basics, such a diving into salty sea water to refresh the spirit.
TOURMAKEADY
An original song dedicated to Robert Shaw, paying tribute to his family, friends, and all the kind people of Tourmakeady, Mayo, Ireland, whom Robert loved dearly and spent his happiest last years with.
MONSIGNOR HUGH O'FLAHERTY
An original song about Hugh O'Flaherty, an Irish Catholic priest, who was a senior official of the Roman Curia and played a significant role in the Catholic resistance to Nazism.
BORN A FREE MAN
An original song about Roger Casement was a civil servant, explorer, human rights campaigner, hero and Irish nationalist. He was executed following his conviction for high treason and will be remembered for all time as a fearless, heroic gentleman.
IN BLACK 47
An original song dedicated to Paul (Paweł) Edmund Strzelecki, a humanitarian from Poland, who worked for the British Relief Association during the Great Famine in Ireland. He developed an incredibly effective method of providing assistance to starving children through the schools they went to. He saved thousands of lives and is an inspirational hero to be remembered with love for all time.
GOD SAVE IRELAND
An original song dedicated to the Irish hero Cathal Brugha. He was second-in-command at the South Dublin Union under Commandant Éamonn Ceannt in the Easter Rising of 1916. On the Thursday of Easter Week, being badly wounded, he was unable to leave when the retreat was ordered. Brugha, weak from loss of blood, continued to fire upon the enemy, and was found by Eamonn Ceannt singing "God Save Ireland" with his pistol still in his hands. Above Reference: Wikipedia
PRETTY FAIR MAID
Different cover versions of this song exist, with variations in lyrics and melodies. The song's origin is not attributed to a single specific writer. It was the last song Luke Kelly performed on Irish television with The Dubliners before his death in December 1983, according to Wikipedia. "Seventeen Come Sunday", also known as "As I Roved Out", is an English folk song (Roud 277, Laws O17) which was arranged by Percy Grainger for choir and brass accompaniment in 1912 and used in the first movement of Ralph Vaughan Williams' English Folk Song Suite in 1923. The words were first published between 1838 and 1845. Wikipedia This new version is arranged and performed by Cathal O'Briain (2024).