Skara Brae
- Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill – vocals, arrangements
- Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill – vocals, arrangements
- Mícheál Ó Domhnaill – vocals, guitar, arrangements
- Dáithí Sproule – vocals, guitar, arrangements
- Darby Carroll – engineering
- James G. Maguire – cover photography
- Robyn Robins – digital remastering (reissue)
Skara Brae consisted of three siblings, Micheal O Domhnaill, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, and Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill, with Dáithí Sproule from Derry.
Though brought up in County Meath, the O Domhnaill siblings had their roots in Ranafast (Rann na Feirste), where their father's family originated. Mícheál, Maighread, and Tríona came together with Dáithí during Irish language summer schools held in Rannafast during the late 1960s and subsequently formed the band Skara Brae while Triona and Maighread were still attending school. Mícheál and Dáithí were attending University College Dublin and performed in the city over the next year.
In 1971, Skara Brae released a self-titled album of "beautifully performed Gaelic songs" on Gael-Linn Records. It is considered one of the most important albums in its genre, notable as the first recording to include vocal harmonization in Irish language songs.
The group disbanded in 1972. Dáithi Sproule went on to perform in the band Altan. Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill later co-founded the highly influential Bothy Band in 1974, with flute player Matt Molloy, a succession of renowned fiddlers Paddy Glackin, Tommy Peoples, and Kevin Burke, piper Paddy Keenan, and Dónal Lunny.
Skara Brae reunited for two concerts, one in 1997 and again in 2005, for the Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy in Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal.
- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Recorded at Marianella Hall, Rathgar, 1971
- Gael-Linn Records · Produced by Skara Brae
- Reissued 1998 on Compact Disc · Gael-Linn (CEFCD 031)
with the following track listing:
- An Cailín Rua (The redhead)
- Suantraí Hiúdaí (Hiúdaí's lullaby)
- Bánchnoic Éireann Ó (The fair hills of Ireland)
- Angela (instrumental)
- Táim Breoite Go Leor (I am quite sick)
- Inis Dhún Rámha
- An Saighdiúir Tréigthe (The deserted soldier)
- Caidé Sin Don Té Sin? (To whom it does not concern)
- An Chrúbach (The troublesome cow)
- Casadh an tSúgáin (instrumental)
- Caitlín Óg
- Airdí Cuan
- Tá Mé 'Mo Shuí (I am sitting up awake)
- An Buinneán Buí (The yellow bittern)
- Caitlín Triall
Selected Discography
- The Gap of Dreams (Compass) 2018 - with Altan
- The Widening Gyre · Altan · 2015
- From Uig to Duluth with Laura MacKenzie · 2014
- Gleann Nimhe/The Poison Glen · Altan · 2012
- Lost River, Vol. 1 · 2011
- The Pinery with Laura MacKenzie · 2009
- Seanchairde with Tara Bingham & Dermy Diamond · 2008
- Fingal with Randal Bays & James Keane · 2008
- The Crow in the Sun · 2007
- Local Ground · Altan · 2005
- Snug in the Blanket with Jamie Gans & Paddy O’Brien · 2004
- A Heart Made of Glass · 1995
- Trian II with Liz Carroll & Billy McComiskey · 1995
- A Thousand Farewells with Martin & Christine Dowling · 1995
- Island Angel · Altan · 1993
- Trian with Liz Carroll & Billy McComiskey · 1992
- Harvest Storm · Altan · 1992
- Liz Carroll with Liz Carroll · 1988
- Stranger at the Gate with Paddy O’Brien · 1988
- The Iron Man with Tommy Peoples · 1984
- Carousel with Seamus and Manus McGuire · 1984
- Spring in the Air with James Kelly & Paddy O’Brien · 1981
- Is it Yourself? with James Kelly & Paddy O’Brien · 1979
- Skara Brae with Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, Tríona & Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill · 1971
- See full list…