‘ As a child I had a great love of and interest in Nature. This was nurtured and encouraged by both my parents who had an innocent and un-selfconscious enthusiasm for the natural world. It was not sentimental, for they were both country people, but I could not have failed to be affected by the genuine joy they expressed at the song of the blackbird, a flight of wild geese or of finding a young hare in the moss. I am extremely grateful for multitude of often daily experiences that have added so much to my life.’
Martin Donnelly has a gift for understanding things that cannot be seen and the ability to express it in to words !
I first heard the songs The Green Man and Flute of Ebony on a CD of Celtic artists a few years ago and the other day I was wondering
what other work had been released by the artist and downloaded all the tracks in itunes and have been listening to it ever since I downloaded.
Excellent master of the journey of life in to words that the majority of people seem to miss ! The song Ashes – great work.
Thank you Martin for creating and sharing such a wonderful gift with all of us.
Hi Martin,
thanks for an inspiring evening at the Pentaion. I was one of the few Martina did not know. It was a special pleasure to listen to the introductions to your songs (I’m so glad you did not trust your German and stayed with the Irish) and I really enjoyed your performance. I hope there was toast for you this morning 😉 and look forward to your next visit.
Hi, Martin,
I love your songs because sometimes you ‘speak’ about things which are very familiar to me but not many people would choose to create a song around this subject.
One of my preferred is “Now the Swallows are Away”. I wanted to share it on my blog as “My preferred song of the month”, especially because now – here on the Hebrides – the nights are closing in, migration has started very early, Autumn is arriving with wild gales…..and the geese ARE my compensation 🙂 !
A friend reminded me that I would probably have to ask your permission, which I do here.
Thank you, Loriana Pauli
I would share it like this (a few words I don’t understand – English is not my mother tongue):
———————————————————-
I can see the smoke arising
from the town across the bay,
on this chilly autumn morning,
now the swallows are away.
How I love to them them flying,
skim the meadow, kiss the stream,
now the gentle days of summer
are like a half forgotten dream.
Soon the cruel breath of winter
flowing from that polar sea
brings the first skeins of the greylag,
now they are winging over me.
How I love to see them flying
…….faster the coast line,
a november gale behind them
……. wild and free in time
They are my soul’s compensation
for the loss of summer days,
and they help me through the winter
now the swallows are away.
From Martin Donelly’s website:
Martin’s music is inspired by the land, sea and skies of Ireland. It reveals the link between spirituality and ecological awareness. The songs also reflect the joys and sorrows of the ever changing nature of life’s journey. ‘As a child I had a great love of and interest in Nature.This was nurtured and encouraged by both my parents who had an innocent and unselfconscious enthusiasm for the natural world. It was not sentimental, for they were both country people, but I could not have failed to be affected by the genuine joy they expressed at the song of the blackbird, a flight of wild geese or of finding a young hare in the moss. I am extremely grateful for multitude of often daily experiences that have added so much to my life.’
Hi Martin,
I heard you at Fiddlers Green Festival recently and your songs resonated with where I was at that day so I bought three CDs. Absolutely love them and your voice and play them all the time on my car CD on my travels. I asked you if I could record one of your songs myself that day and you suggested I contact you on here. I’d like to try and do justice to “Chain of Song” and either “Slow down my friend” or “Anima” on my CD “Here Comes the Day” which I’ll be recording September/October. You said to us in your concert that day that your new CD “We Are Pilgrims” was very special with the harmonies from your daughter – it certainly is. The harmonies are angelic and the songs are inspirational. I am enjoying “Earthbound” and “Rushlight” too though.
Hello Martin…Remember seeing you many many years ago ..you appeared with Dougie
McLean…think was in Saltaire ..have played your album over the years…Was gutted when you appeared at Campbell Pennine Community in May .5 mins from us …we were on holiday.!
Are you appearing anywhere in Yorkshire in 2017 ? ..Hopes so
Beautiful, deep and steady singing and love the pace and arrangements. Really take us deep in, the way nature and spirit do. Thank you, Sarah
Thank you for your kind words Sarah
We have never needed our connection with nature so much as today when our true humanity is under such pressure from a purely materialist scientific world-view.