Aoife Clancy: Silvery Moon

Silvery Moon



Singer Aoife Clancy brings together a bouquet of poetry and melody on this album. There's the Appalachian traditional classic Across the Blue Mountains, sung a capella with support from Aoife O’Donovan and Julee Golub, and Giving, which does the trick of dealing unsentimentally but lovingly with the best gifts of love. Clancy’s interpretation of it only adds to the songwriter’s vision.

Another standout cut is There is Hope. This speaks of the shattered lives and shattered dreams of the conflicts in Ireland, and looks toward a future of hard won hope. It was written by Clancy’s cousin, Robbie O’Connell.

The two are part of the musical Clancy family -- Aoife’s father was Bobby Clancy of the Clancy Brothers, her own brother Finbarr in currently with the group The High Kings, and another cousin, guitarist Donal Clancy, is a mainstay of the top Irish band Danu and in demand for recording and touring projects by other artists. Aoife grew up in Carrick on Sur in Tipperary, and came to the US some years back for a short visit. That turned into five years as lead singer with the well known group Cherish the Ladies. When she decided it was time to continue her solo career, she decided to stay in America, and is based near Boston. In addition to O’Donovan and Golub, ace fiddle player Lissa Schneckenburger and creative piano player Jacqueline Schwab -- you’ll have heard her work on the soundtracks to Ken Burns’ films -- are among musicians from that area who support Clancy here.

It’s her voice and her vision which center and anchor the music, however. From the opener, Nightbird, through to a duet with her father at the close on Kisses Sweeter than Wine, it’s a journey both gentle and strong, one which recognizes hardships and the joys and offers companionship along the way.


Aoife Clancy joins Cathie Ryan and Heidi Talbot to sing at a Cherish the Ladies Reunion in 2007

Music Road: Cherish the Ladies at Milwaukee: The Back Door 2007

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Aoife O'Donovan sings with Crooked Still

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