My Love Is In America

Tony Mac Mahon & Barney McKenna of the Dubliners play an impromptu street session in Freiburg, Germany. The name of the reel is "My Love Is In America."

Tony Mac Mahon is one of the great Irish traditional musicians of our time. His music has been described as a language of passion - a wounding music. His extraordinary interpretation of the old song airs of Ireland, in particular, stands alone - inhabiting spaces where mystery and magic find full expression. Most interviewed and quoted in the world of native Irish music, Mac Mahon is its least visible icon - and its most respected, even feared, ideologue. His contribution to Irish music as broadcaster and has been equally singular; Ireland and its music were always made to appear noble & strong in his five major radio & television series for RTE - a far cry from an Ireland now sporting the For Sale sign.

He has played & worked with the greats - including Seamus Ennis, Tommy Potts, Joe Cooley, Willie Clancy and Sean 0 Riada. It was at his desk in RTE that The Bothy Band originated, during production of his radio series The Long Note in 1974. His recent CD 'Mac Mahon from Clare ' has attracted much critical acclaim. The Kronos Quartet commissioned arrangements of five selections from this CD shortly after its release. His airs of lamentation are marked by exquisitely measured timing, masterly proportioning of space and silence - as well as astonishingly subtle control of dynamics, ornamentation and harmony. His music has a call - a draiocht - which has moved more than one listener to tears.