“It would be lovely to be on a mountainside
and to have for company an Irishy Girl…”

So begins the song which gives its title to The Irishy Girl, a gathering of Irish traditional songs which I hope will provide as good company to you, dear listener, as they have to me. These are some of my favorites, brought into my life by beloved friends, teachers, singers, and musicians, and assembled here in a kind of kaleidoscope of brilliant images and voices. Their cast of characters includes passionate shepherds and men off to war, several courting couples and a handful of philosophers, a nun and at least two mermaids. About half of them speak in Irish, and half in English. And what they tell us covers the gamut: love, friendship, loneliness, wit, disappointment, devotion, and the desire to celebrate being alive!

"Chadbourne finds fresh interpretations and melodic variants even when the songs are standards. She carries the tradition forward honorably and capably." Jerome Clark of rambles.net

I am very lucky and grateful to have been joined in this project by several talented and generous people. Ace engineer, Steve Friedman, contributed his sharp ears, dedication, and amazing technical skills. Graphic artist, Jenn Baskin, brought the CD booklet into flower and feather, a perfect habitat for any Irishy Girl. Matt Heaton (bodhrán and guitar) and Valerie Thompson (cello) came back into the studio and wowed me once again with their creativity and musical brilliance. And to top it all off, we were thrilled that fiddling master Séamus Connolly could join us for a spirited set of jigs. And so, my Irishy friends, it’s my pleasure to present to you:

The Irishy Girl!