Emer’s Dream – Colm Mac Con Iomaire

Colm Mac Con Iomaire is one of Ireland’s most respected musicians. He plays violin and sings with The Frames, is a founding member of Kilaand is world famous session musician (Playing on honorary Irish man David Gray’s classic White Ladder among others.).

His first solo album The Hare’s Corner was introduced to me by my friends Niall and Aideen. Niall is a big fan of hardcore punk music, but also loves traditional Irish ballads. Aideen adored Morrissey (pre his recent statements, I hasten to add),  and Abba. We were touring the beautiful Gleniff horseshoe and they told me they had the perfect soundtrack for the scenery. Curious to hear what kind of music united their very different tastes,  I put the record on.

It was as if the music had been composed by the mountains and streams themselves. It was brilliant modern music, yet it had a timeless quality, and provided the perfect soundtrack for  Toraíocht Diarmuid and Gráinne – ‘The pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne’ – a famous Irish legend. It was said that the eloping couple spent their first night together in the cave gouged into the side of the Gleniff Horseshoe.

The whole album is great, but the standout track is Emer’s Dream, a lush and evocative piece of violin that calms a raging mind.

​- Collie