CULTURE: Swinford harpist’s debut album explores myth and folklore

There’s something so transcendent about the Irish harp. Its gentle and enchanting sound is timeless and otherworldly, ethereal yet somehow capable of conveying every emotion, from love to grief, sadness to delight.
And of course, the harp features often in ancient Irish folklore and mythology. The instrument was said to have been invented by Cana Cludhmor, the Celtic goddess of dreams, creativity and music. According to lore, she was walking on a beach one evening when she was lulled into a deep sleep by beautiful music. On waking, she realised the music had been created by the wind blowing through the sinews of a whale carcass that had washed up on the shore, and this inspired the harp’s design.
In another tale, Dagda – the chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the most powerful god in Celtic mythology – owned a magical harp. He alone could play it, and he would use it to summon the seasons, bring about peace and even control the emotions of those who heard its entrancing melodies.
It is so fitting, then, that Swinford harpist Alannah Thornburgh’s captivating debut album, ‘Shapeshifter’, is a collection of compositions inspired by the rich traditions of fairy folklore and mythology from rural Ireland, particularly those of County Mayo.
The album is due out next month, but the project began several years ago when the multi-instrumentalist and composer was commissioned to compose a piece for the Linenhall Arts Centre’s 2021 New Music in Mayo series, curated by Castlebar musician Emer Mayock.
“I was always fascinated by the fairy fort behind my Grandad’s house,” Alannah shares. “A conversation with him about the tale of ‘Mick na mBréag’ (Mick the Liar), who crossed the fairy folk, inspired the composition of a piece that ultimately became part of this album.” This sparked a journey of exploration into the world of fairy lore, which would culminate in ‘Shapeshifter’.
With the support of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award, Alannah conducted interviews with nearly 50 historians, storytellers and locals, collecting the stories and experiences that inform her music. These conversations are woven into the musical fabric of the album, adding an authentic and archival quality. Inspired by fellow Mayo musician Seamus Fogarty’s ‘The Curious Hand’, Alannah also incorporates other snippets from her research to enhance the album’s narrative depth.
Musically too, ‘Shapeshifter’ draws heavily on traditional Irish and folk influences – sounds that shaped the composer’s upbringing. But other influences also come into play, with some tracks embracing subtle jazz elements, reflecting her childhood experiences. Alannah’s father contributes saxophone to several pieces, creating a poignant full-circle moment in her musical journey.
Two singles from the album have already been released as tasters. The first, ‘Chasing the Hare’, is an exquisitely beautiful air peppered with evocative passages of storytelling inspired by Celtic myths of shapeshifting hares. “The myth teaches us to respect these creatures, as encountering them is seen as a sign of good fortune,” she notes.
The second single, the equally stunning ‘Away with the Fairies’, was released just last week. Recorded by Stephen Doherty in Currinara Studios, Foxford, it features Rob Thorburgh on sax, Lorcan Byrne on percussion and Cian Hamilton on electric bass.
“‘Away with the Fairies’ warns of the cursed ‘fóidín meara’ or ‘stray sod’ – a patch of enchanted woodland that if stepped upon, sends you into a state of disillusionment and confusion that can only be rectified by turning one’s coat inside out,” Alannah explains. “It is said to be a curse cast by the fairies as a warning to passersby to not get too close. I first learned about ‘fóidín meara’ after a conversation with Swinford woman Bríd O’Connell.”
A nominee for two RTÉ Folk Awards in 2021 and 2022, Alannah has collaborated with various artists in the folk and traditional music scenes over the years. She is also a founding member of Alfi, a trio who fuse Irish and Appalachian music and whose debut album, ‘Say Old Man’, was released to critical acclaim in July 2023.
Videos for both ‘Chasing the Hare’ and ‘Away with the Fairies’ are available on YouTube, and the tracks can also be downloaded on Spotify. The album ‘Shapeshifter’ will be released on February 12 – to preorder, visit www.alannahthornburgh.com.
As part of her ‘Shapeshifter’ album-launch tour, Alannah will perform back where it all began, in The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on April 4. For tickets for the show, which will also feature special guests, visit thelinenhall.com.