Munster Express Online

2010 is a significant milestone for legendary folk group & top entertainers, Diarmuid O’Leary and The Bards as they celebrate 30 years since their first hit song “Julia at Lanigan’s Ball”. They have just released a new album and commenced their 2010 Summer Tour on July 2nd.

Their new release is a contemporary album – a collection of 14 tracks – mostly new recordings like “If I Go Sailing”, “Why Not Me”, “Breaking The Line”, “A Soft Place To Fall”, “Time Changes Everything” and “The Way Old Friends Do” – but also included are three of their best-known songs, “Shaney Boy”, “The Old Dungarvan Oak” and “The Railway Hotel” which is the title track.

The other songs are “Summer Friends” and “The Gypsy Maiden” – produced by Donal Lunny, “The Last Blue Whale in the Ocean” – a haunting and atmospheric recording about the hunting of the great blue whale into extinction and for “Roll on the Day” the group were joined by international singer songwriter Chris Rea on slide guitar and vocals. The final track on the album is a return to an up-tempo, tongue-in-cheek song with a message we should all remember from time to time, “Enjoy Yourself – It’s Later Than You Think”.