Songs, poems, music about Castlebar and Westport.

The music and songs on this CD are pure Mayo, green and red, a birthplace with sounds of the streets of Castlebar and of Westport. Nature and people combined in a tribute to ancestors, friends and neighbours.

A tribute to a life of poems, prayers, stories told in song and music, in a Mayo accent. John Hoban was born in Castlebar. His father was a native of Westport and his mother a native of Castlebar. He has “dual citizenship.”

These songs combine many musical influences, traditional, folk, contemporary, classical, and blues. Yet, they are original and uniquely artistic songs, poems, and music about Castlebar and Westport towns. They also pay tribute to nature, mountains and the sea. Pure natural music. They come from the heart of the musician, so they speak to the heart of the listener. These songs and music compositions come together in a wonderful, sacred creation that is distinctive to John Hoban and to the place that he comes from, County Mayo.

This collection of songs, poetry and music speak of present, past and future lives, coming together and telling stories in sound.

John is an acclaimed composer, singer, musician and author with a distinct West of Ireland voice. John has played and taught music all his life in the Troubadour tradition. He chose to learn his music with care over many years from some of Ireland’s most respected master musicians. John combines the best of the Irish tradition with an intimate, warm and raw sensibility that is his own. He is an accomplished player of fiddle, banjo, cello, whistles, mandocello, kora in addition to being a singer and composer of great songs and music. He is highly regarded nationally and internationally for the unique and deeply personal nature of his music.

In his own words:

“Music is my first and final language. All through my life music has served and continues to serve as a soul friend to me, a guide, a teacher, a prophet, a warrior and a means to survival in the world. Music for me has always been the sound of truth, the sound of love, the sound of where we are all situated in creation. My music describes an individual, creative and original way to live through various struggles, understanding that pain is a touchstone of growth and that blues is a feeling.

My background is one of a lineage of tradition on my Mother’s side, both in dancing and fiddle playing. On my Father’s side in Opera and Choir singing. I find that the nomadic aspect of traditional Irish music to have been hugely influential in developing my own style. I have an interest in music from all over the world. But also, I have a deep rooted connection to the traditional music of my own County Mayo. My music explores, in depth, how sound and music-making is a stream that runs through all aspects of life. I learnt to play many musical instruments in various styles, without any formal tuition. My actual tuition came in a traditional way through direct contact with many Masters of the Tradition in Ireland and elsewhere. My music life is in the tradition of the troubadour and bardic paths.”

CD Information:

All songs (except tract 12) and music is sung, composed and played by John Hoban on mandocello, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, kora, cello, whistle, guitar, harmonica. Tract 14 words by Michael O’Connor, additional lyrics John Hoban and melody composed by John Hoban. Wally Page is playing the harmonium, Johnny Mulhern playing the saz, and Jose Carlos playing bass. Tract 12 written by Isabela Basombrío Hoban, sung and melody composed by John Hoban. Produced, designed and mastered by Ronan Courell.

TRACKS:

1. Castle Lane.

2. The Westport Song.

3. The Green Heart of Castlebar (The Mall).

4. Christy was a Covie.

5. Earnán (Ernie O'Malley).

6. Home Fires.

7. Cloonterrif.

8. Carrakennedy School.

9. Innocent.

10. Castlebar Station.

11. Fish Heads of the World Unite.

12. Lands That Exist Inside Of Us.

13. Waiting for the Kingdom.

14. Castlebar to Kandahar.

15. On Your Way From Carrabawn, Westport.

16. Sruthán.

Kindly supported by Mayo County Council Arts Service and The Arts Council of Ireland.