Leonard Barry, Declan Folan and Shane McGowan announce new album

Barry Folan McGowan

The origins of the trio can be traced back to Tubercurry and Bunnanaden, the heartland of the famed South Sligo tradition where both Declan Folan and Shane McGowan grew up playing music together from their early teens. Leonard Barry, from North Kerry first met Declan in London in the early 1990’s where they played music together on the traditional music scene. All three musicians are now based in Sligo.

Between them the trio have shared the stage and recorded with many of music’s greats including Zakeer Hussain, Lunasa, Dervish, Sean Keane, Luka Bloom, Lisa O’Neill amongst many others. They have performed throughout the world at many festivals and concert halls.

Their new release Hurry The Jug traces the various influences that have shaped their music over the course of many years. The opening track which is also the title of the CD is a tune that Declan and Leonard learned from the great Bobby Casey’s recording Casey In The Cowhouse. Tributes to both Liam O’Flynn and Tommy Peoples are included, the hornpipe tracks ‘The Green Island’ and ‘Rick’s Rambles’ were both of which were recorded by O’Flynn, while Waiting for a Call  was composed by Tommy Peoples and he also recorded ‘Brogan’s Fancy’ on his iconic Iron Man recording.

Other tunes include ‘The Garvogue’ which was composed by Leitrim fiddle player Joe Liddy and ‘The Humours Of Rahey’ composed by James Kelly of Dublin now resident in America as well as a new composition from Sligo fiddle player Philip Duffy entitled ‘Megan’s Reel’ named after his daughter and a newly composed tune by Declan Folan entitled ‘The Carousel’ .

Over the coming months the Trio will be playing various venues at home and abroad including appearances at Sligo Live Festival in October, Matt Molloy’s in Westport on the 24th of October, The Dock in Carrick on Shannon on the 11th of December as well as concerts in France in late November.

More dates are to be added in the coming weeks with the details to be found on www.barryfolanandmcgowan.com

“Handsome piping, bold fiddling. Hurry the Jug is a very satisfying recording of stylish traditional music played by three musicians confident in their craft.” Kevin Burke

Leonard Barry,  Declan Folan and Shane McGowan live:


We all give our spare time to run folking.com. Our aim has always been to keep folking a free service for our visitors, artists, PR agencies and tour promoters. If you wish help out and donate something (running costs currently funded by Paul Miles), please click the PayPal link below to send us a small one off payment or a monthly contribution.