New Album ‘ We are Pilgrims ‘ Launch
29th November 2015 2.30pm
Crescent Arts Centre 2-4 University Road Belfast.
It was a lovely afternoon. Rod McVey on piano and Cait Donnelly and Emma Morgan on backing vocals took the songs to a new level for me. thanks to the friends who came and made it really special. MD
We now have a beautiful video made by Vickie Larkin , www.vickilarkin.com , with myself talking about the music and some lovely shots of Ballycastle beach. I hope you like.
Martin at the Sunflower Folk Club November 12th 2015
‘We are Pilgrims’ Album Launch . Crescent Arts Centre Belfast
29th November 2015 with Rod McVey, Cait Donnelly and Emma Morgan
The National Museums Northern Ireland are nearing the completion of a prestigious volume called The Natural History of Ulster which includes a chapter on Ulster poets and their reflections on nature. It includes four fragments from Martin Donnellys songs and has this to say about his work.
‘One writer whose work may compare to that of Patrick Kavanagh ‘s mystic poetry is Martin Donnelly, originally from Co. Antrim. Donnelly’s work stand out from other nature poets in that it is set to music and from other songwriters in that much of it is about the natural world. He writes nature songs which are poetic and discerning,and his Kavanagh-like vision of the world can be felt in the following lines from Longing To Belong Again’.
Worn out by bitter travelling
‘Till my poor heart was sore
I flung myself exhausted
On Dunseveick’s healing shore
On a soft bank by a roadside
I found myself at prayer
Between a violet and a primrose
That grew so careless there
The new album was launched officially on May 16th with a gig at the Crescent Art’s Centre, Belfast.
The launch went really well,exceeded our expectations. The Crescent Arts Centre Cube is the perfect space for such an intimate concert. The in house pa. and lighting was great and and the staff very helpful and friendly.Thanks all.
The atmosphere during and after the concert was warm and enthusiastic. A success.My thanks to all who attended and made it so special. Martin
Click here to purchase the album online.