Galway launch of debut album from Dublin outfit Lynched

Lynched a four-piece group from Dublin with a strong Galway connection will launch their debut album, Cold Old Fire,  in the Dunlo Tavern, Ballinasloe, this Friday, August 22.

The four members of the group combine distinctive four-part vocal harmonies with arrangements of uilleann pipes, concertina, Russian accordion, fiddle and guitar. Their repertoire spans Dublin music-hall ditties and street-songs, classic ballads from the Traveller tradition, traditional Irish and American dance tunes, and their own original material.

Brothers Ian and Daragh Lynch, who sing and play uilleann pipes and guitar respectively, initially formed the nucleus of the band. They were subsequently joined by Radie Peat who plays concertina and is also a vocalist. She was taught concertina by the legendary Noel Hill at traditional music sessions around Dublin.

The fourth member of Lynched is fiddle player and singer Cormac Dermody who was born in Dublin, but whose mother and father originally came from Clonbrock and Woodford in Galway.

Cormac’s parents, Sean and Theresa, moved back to Kilconnell six years ago and were involved in the traditional music scene around Ballinasloe especially the Singers’ Circle in the Dunlo Tavern. Theresa died in July 2012 after a long battle with cancer and is still missed by the traditional musical community in Ballinasloe. Sean continues to be a supporter of all things trad from Dublin to Galway.

Lynched was formed in 1912, after the four friends recorded some demos in the Irish Traditional Music Archive and decided to join forces.  They gained experience and confidence playing together at the Grand Folk Club gigs in Dublin, which they hosted monthly. They also applied for the Arts Council’s 2013 Deis Recording Award, for which they were approved.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.