Local musician to launch new trad album in Moate
Ballycumber resident Camillus Hiney will launch his new trad album, 'Glasshouse Sessions', in Moate next month.
The launch will take place in P Egan's bar, Moate, on Saturday, December 9, starting at 7pm. Camillus will play a few tunes on the night and there will be an open seisiún for all musicians to join.
Camillus has been working on the new project for the past four years and the Irish music album has 15 tracks, many of which feature his wife Kate, son Dan and daughter Aoife, amongst other relatives and local musicians.
Dan plays the cajon, Aoife plays the banjo, Kate plays the bodhrán, Cliodhan Lohan plays the fiddle, Diana McGarrigle plays the piano and Camillus' nephew Adrian Hiney plays the guitar on many of the tracks. Camillus describes the album as “mostly Irish music” with a number of reels, jigs and the hornpipe. There is also a South American tune, entitled 'Tico Tico' on the album. Also featured are the 'Cliffs of Dooneen' written by Jack McAuliffe, 'The Wall' written by Dominic Madden, 'Mary Ellen Carter' written by Stan Rogers and the very well-known song 'Oró, Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile by The Dubliners.
Camillus praised the work of Aidan Guilfoyle in Rainwater Studios, Kilbeggan, who he said is “technically brilliant” in the studio.
Camillus has been touring with world-famous Irish folk group, The Fureys since 2012, playing the accordion and whistle for the group. He was on tour in the Netherlands with The Fureys last week. The Tubber native said that touring is “grand” but that he's away from home a lot. “It has its pluses and its minuses. It's a good job and the lads are sound.”
Camillus said that he enjoys getting the chance to play 'The Lonesome Boatman' every night on tour and described this as a “great thrill.” He also plays alongside Adam Kelly from Castledaly who he encouraged to fill a vacancy playing the banjo for The Fureys at a Trad Session in Tubber.
The Offaly man's love of trad music stems from his childhood as he spent a lot of his youth attending trad sessions with his father Jim Hiney. His biggest inspiration is Frankie Gavin and he also admires the work of Máirtín O'Connor on accordion, Jackie Daly on accordion, Jerry O'Connor and Adam Kelly on banjo and Martin Hayes on the fiddle.
The highlights of Camillus's career so far are winning a Senior Scór title in 1984, playing accordion on a track with Sinead O'Connor in the major Hollywood motion picture 'Michael Collins' which is played when Collins gets shot. He said that this experience was “amazing all together” and that he also had the opportunity to meet the director of the film, Neil Jordan.
When Camillus isn't touring with The Fureys, he hosts a session in P Egan's pub, Moate every Sunday evening at 7pm.
Camillus' new album 'Glasshouse Sessions' will be launched in P Egan's pub, Moate on Saturday, December 9 at 7pm and attendees will be able to purchase the album on the night. It can also be purchased online on camillushiney.com for €15.