DVD: A Commemoration of the Battle of Dysert O’Dea, 1318

About the DVD

This is a special commemorative DVD created for the O’Dea Clan Gathering in 2018.

The purpose of the DVD is to remember and celebrate the Battle of Dysert O’Dea on May 10^th 1318, when the Norman forces in Ireland were defeated by the allied Irish forces, which ultimately ended the Norman Invasion of Ireland.  The Normans had arrived into Ireland in 1169 and dominated the Irish landscape for almost 150 years.  This decisive battle left Ireland free from outside influences for the next 200 years, and heralded in a period in Gaelic Ireland which allowed the development of our native arts, architecture and culture, the period to which our national treasures in stone, precious metals and manuscripts belong.

The DVD, which was the brainchild of James O’Dea, was produced by John O’Brien, Martin Breen and Dick Cronin, who have all contributed to the written history of Co. Clare over the past 40 years.  The DVD was created over a period of several months prior to the 700^th anniversary celebrations, and was launched at the 10^th International Clan Gathering in Dysert O’Dea, Co. Clare in Ireland in May 2018.

The DVD, which illustrates the historical background and the details of the Battle of Dysert O’Dea, includes drone footage of the actual battle site, a commentary on the rich archaeological monuments and heritage in the area of Dysert, and contains a themed musical background.

The DVD runs for approximately 10 minutes.

About the CD

This is a companion CD which includes music used for the DVD soundtrack.

This CD of the music of Turlough O’Carolan was recorded at the behest of Ristéard Ua Cróinín of Dysert O’Dea Castle.  Ristéard has a liking for the music of the Irish Uilleann Pipes, which are very suitable for playing the compositions of O’Carolan.  On an occasion when Fergal Breen was playing music at Dysert Castle, Ristéard asked Fergal if he would sometime record a piece of music which has connections to Dysert, and which was composed by the blind harper, Turlough O’Carolan who lived from 1670 to 1738.  The piece which Ristéard requested is called O’Carolan’s Receipt, also known as O’Carolan’s Receipt for Whiskey, and Samuel Lewis, writing about Dysert in 1837, noted in his work the connection of the piece of music with Dysert.  For this reason Ristéard wished to have the composition available to be played at Dysert Castle.  This CD is the result of his request.  When Fergal sat down to record the tune, he decided to add some other compositions of O’Carolan in order to make a full CD.  Many of O’Carolan’s better known compositions such as O’Carolan’s  Draught, Planxty Irwin and Sí Beag, Sí Mór are to be found on the CD, as well as some of O’Carolan’s other compositions which are not quite as well known.  The last piece of music, which is a Mazurka, is not, as far as we know, an O’Carolan composition, but because of its vague similarities to the music of O’Carolan, it has been included.

Fergal Breen, who lives in Ruan, Co. Clare, is 12 years old, though his piping would not lend you to think that he is so young.  He has been playing the Uilleann Pipes since he was 10 and travels quite a bit to attend various piping festivals and workshops.  He is a member of Na Píobairí Uilleann.  His tutor is Mikie Smith, a well-known Dublin piper, now residing in Limerick.  Fergal plays a concert pitch set pipes made by Dave Williams, with a chanter by Alain Froment.  We hope that you will enjoy this recording of old Irish music from an era now consigned to the history books.