Skara Brae (band)

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Skara Brae
Lead vocalists, sisters Tríona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill.
Background information
Origin	Ranafast, County Donegal, Ireland
Genre(s)	Folk Celtic
Years active	1970–1971
Label(s)	Gael-Linn
Associated acts	The Bothy Band Nightnoise Relativity
Former members
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Dáithí Sproule

Skara Brae were a traditional Irish music group from Kells, County Meath with origins in Ranafast, County Donegal. The group consisted of three siblings, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill with Dáithí Sproule from Derry. Although they were together for only a year, their one and only record Skara Brae is considered to be one of the most important albums in its genre, as they were the first group in history to put harmonies to Gaelic songs.^[1]

Though brought up in County Meath, the Uí Dhomhnaill siblings had their roots in Ranafast (Rann na Feirste), where their father's family originated. Mícheál, Maighread and Tríona came together with Dáithí during Irish language summer schools held in Rannafast during the late 1960s and subsequently formed the band Skara Brae (while Maighread was still attending school). The band released one self-titled album in 1971, when Dáithí, Mícheál and Tríona were attending university in Dublin and later played several gigs in the city over the next year, turning increasingly to a more electric sound until disbanding in 1972.

Dáithi Sproule went on to perform in bands such as Altan^[2] . Skara Brae re-grouped in 1998 and 2003 for concerts in Gweedore, County Donegal.

[edit] Discography

In 1971, Skara Brae released a self-titled album with the following tracks:

01 An Cailín Rua

02 Suantraí Hiúdaí

03 Bánchnoic Éireann Ó

04 Angela [Fonn/Instrumental]

05 Táim Breoite Go Leor

06 Inis Dhún Rámha

07 An Saighdiúir Tréigthe

08 Caidé Sin Don Té Sin?

09 An Chrúbach

10 Casadh an tSúgáin [Fonn/Instrumental]

11 Caitlín Óg

12 Airdí Cuan

13 Tá Mé 'Mo Shuí

14 An Buinneán Buí

15 Caitlín Triall

The album was re-released on Gael-Linn in 1998.

[edit] See also

• Skara Brae, an archeology site featuring the most complete neolithic village in Europe

[edit] References