Challenges and triumphs inspired SeamusÕs new album

Date Published: {J}

By Declan Tierney

The finishing touches are being put to a Tuam singer-songwriter’s second album and anyone who detects a Saw Doctors’ influence will not be far off the mark.

It is more than 10 years ago since Seamus Ruttledge launched his debut album entitled New Boots, New Shoes which included the single Gomey. That subsequently formed part of the hit compilation album Songs From The Broken Wheel, a collection of songs from Tuam bands which was released late last year.

Despite the fact that Gomey was first written by Seamus, with no little influence from Leo Moran of the Sawdocs, back in 1992 it is now that it has achieved a cult following.

Recently many of the artists whose tracks featured in the Broken Wheel album performed live in Monroe’s Tavern including Seamus Ruttledge. Seamus performed his version of Gomey which happened to be videoed and since then it has received several hundred hits on You Tube.

It is like a new beginning for Seamus, who spent much of his younger life in an orphanage in Salthill, before becoming a huge influence in the artistic world in Tuam.

At the moment he is recording the last couple of songs for his brand new album which is called Songs To Have With Your Tea – it features 12 original tracks and many of them are drawn from his own difficult experiences in the past.

“These are songs that I have written over the years and I received great encouragement to put them into an album which will be released within the next couple of months”, he explains.

The album has contributions from Leo Moran on guitar while Sarah Keating (formerly of TV reality pop group Six), Dan Trayers of Stone Lakes and Pádraic Stephens are also featured.

Seamus describes it as an acoustic, easy-listening album – hence the title – and features songs about his life in an orphanage but also about how he has come through many life challenging issues.

One of the songs, Without A Moon, is about his experiences in a darkened room in the orphanage when the curtains were drawn at night. Another song, I Feel Blessed, tells of his good fortune to now have a fulfilling life.

The album is currently being recorded at Sun Street Studios in Tuam by Kenny Ralph and it is the culmination of more than 18 months of work.

“I have received great encouragement and every so often Leo pops in to offer support and that is what has kept the whole thing going. I am really excited about its release”, Seamus adds.