The Home Ruler

The Home Ruler is the new CD from flute player Catherine McEvoy, released on the Cló Iar-Chonnachta label.

Catherine McEvoy is considered one of the best exponents of the Sligo – Roscommon style of flute playing and this, her third album, will do much to confirm her reputation as one of the most talented flute players in the country. Born to Irish parents, Catherine grew up surrounded by music in an Irish emigrant community in Birmingham. Her parents were from Roscommon and both were musicians; her father was a flute player and her mother a ballad singer, and so little wonder that both Catherine and her brother John developed a love for traditional Irish music. She has been described as a ‘natural musician’ and gives a wonderful display of her talents on this new album.

In his introduction to the CD the renowned fiddler Séamus Connolly describes Catherine’s playing as bringing us ‘back to a time when music was played more slowly, more gracefully and less frantically. Catherine’s playing has a lift that is exciting, colourful and electrifying, coupled with unexpected variations, lovely tempo and phrasing. It is here that we truly have a master at work’. Catherine treats the listener to a wonderfully varied selection of music on The Home Ruler played on D, Eb and C flutes, including the beautiful slow air ‘Bánchnoic Éireann Ó’. She is accompanied by a talented panel of musicians including her nephew Paddy McEvoy, the legendary Felix Dolan, Geraldine Cotter, Steve Cooney and Joe Kennedy.

Catherine lives in Ratoath, Co. Meath and teaches music locally as well as teaching at many of the annual traditional music summer schools such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. She took part in a very successful Music Network Tour earlier this year with concertina player Micheál Ó Raghallaigh and fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and also plays regularly with her brother John McEvoy, a talented fiddler with whom she recorded the album The Kilmore Fancy in 2004. John also more recently recorded
the album Pride of the West with Roscommon flute player John Wynne, released on the CIC label in 2007.

The Home Ruler is available in music shops throughout the country and from www.cic.ie.

The Home Ruler
Catherine McEvoy
CICD 172

Further information
Caitríona Ní Bhaoill, Cló Iar-Chonnachta 091 593307

I just recently purchased this and was delighted to hear that it’s not just a continuation of her first album. I loved her first album, but I always like when artists do something slightly different with subsequent albums, and to my ear, McEvoy has done just that. Stylistically I think she mixes it up well, playing some tunes more fluidly and others with a bit more of a punch. She also plays flutes in a nice variety of keys, so there always seems to be something that your ear latches onto. Definitely a wonderful recording.

This is a great recording.