MacMurrough - MacMurrough (Reissue) (1974/2008)

MacMurrough, or Shades of MacMurrough as they appear to have been known initially, was a trio formed in Ferns Co.Wexford in 1971 by Paul Kavanagh and sisters Mary and Josephine O'Neill. They were a ballad group in the Emmet Spiceland tradition. Between 1972 and 1978 they recorded three albums for Polydor Records which are now highly prized by folk fans.
In 1974, now operating under the altered name of MacMurrough, Paul Kavanagh, Mary ONeill and Josephine ONeill released their second album entitled Mac Murrough. Released on Polydor Ireland in 1974 and produced by Donal Lunny of Planxty. Bothy Band and Moving Hearts fame. Originally released by Polydor Ireland in a limited edition of 500 copies, Mac Murrough is an acid folk classic. Featuring lyrical ballads from the English and Irish tradition including a 15th century Latin hymn Deus Meus and the song tradition of their native Wexford provided The Pulshone Fishermen. Celestial male/female harmonies are overlaid with subtle arrangements for guitar, dulcimer, lute, spinet, glockenspiel, tin whistle and bodhran MacMurrough weaves a web of pastoral elgaeic acid folk magic that justified MacMurroughs status as a holy grail.