Mairtin Pheaits was born in 1922. He comes from Tech Mor in Inverin, Connemara, and won national acclaim when he took first prize in the men's open competition of sean nos in the Irish cultural festival Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 1944. In 2001, 57 years later, he entered the competition once more, and again, won first place.

With his strong voice throwing a deep, clear resonance, with his unhurried delivery and with his repertoire of beautiful Irish songs, he is truly a cultural treasure. He sings mainly at local events and he remembers listening to songs at home and at neighbours' homes since age 4.

Here there are nine Gaelic songs with liner notes in both Gaelic and English, which are great tools for learning the language. It's quite easy to follow along with the CD as he sings.

Mairtin may put his own style and airs to the Gaelic tunes, but I can't be sure as I'm not familiar with them at all. The only one I know is his single English song, "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," and this is the most romantic version I've ever heard. Never has Kathleen been so sweetly wooed as she is here.

His unadorned voice is a true and gracious musical instrument. The only adjustment I had to make to listen to this CD was that time warp thing. One must take a deep breath, relax and forget the clock while you sit with Mairtin and let him entertain you. Pretend you're sitting on a porch amid the rolling green fields of Ireland and you'll be sure to enjoy his rustic but fascinating voice.

- Rambles
written by Virginia MacIsaac
published 20 September 2003