Jack Talty and Cormac Begley
Jack Talty and Cormac Begley carry a wealth of musical heritage from west Clare and west Kerry respectively. The masterful weaving of regional styles inherent in their duet playing, ranging over five octaves, has defined their inimitable and unmistakable duet sound. The combination of baritone and concert pitch concertinas allows a creative and playful freedom to explore a variety of tones and colours.
Talty and Begley’s seminal recording, Na Fir Bolg, recorded over four evenings in St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church Galway, draws on material from their respective musical strongholds. This concertina duet displays a dynamism and mastery of a varied repertoire, evident from the subtle approach to Joe Bane’s and the Gypsy Princess barndances, to the wild exuberance of Kerry slides, Johnny O Leary’s, and If I had a Wife. Na Fir Bolg has been highly acclaimed both nationally and internationally.
“The balance between being slavishly beholden to tradition and being personally creative is a difficult balance to maintain. This recording is a fine example of this balance being beautifully expressed”
Martin Hayes
“It’s a masterpiece...they redefine the possibilities of the sound of the concertina itself"
Donal Dineen
"This concertina recording is the highlight of the last decade or more"
Tony Lawless, TradConnect
“Talty and Begley add an intriguing dimension to an instrument that revels in its top billing”
Siobhán Long, The Irish Times
“their duets are so sweet and natural that I was wondering if this was actually one supremely talented man playing the tune on two hands…Large concertinas are not easy to master, but Jack and Cormac make it sound easy here”
Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine
"Just nine years old, it’s a classic"
Toner Quinn, The Journal of Music
Engineered by Jack Talty
Produced by Jack Talty and Cormac Begley
Artwork by Edel Butler