NOVEMBER 2006

Donegal Group Altan featured on new series of stamps

Donegal Group Altan are to feature on a new stamp following the launch last week by An Post of a series of stamps to pay tribute to a number of Irish groups who have succeeded in bringing Irish Music to a worldwide audience over the past four decades.

The Clancy Brothers, and Tommy Makem: The Dubliners and th Chieftains will be pictured on the new stamps which feature 'snapshots in time' Photographs of each band and are now on sale.

An Post Chairperson, Margaret McGinley said that the new stamps speak volumes about the fortitude and brilliance of the featured musicians and about the vibrant, living, forward looking entity that is Irish Music - "Each stamp comprises a snapshot in time and depicts the group at a particular point in their own unique history. The fact that these groups continue to develop their music and to dazzle and delight their fans - as an ensemble or as individual musicians - is testament to their musical brilliance." The An Post chairperson also paid tribute to those featured musicians who have passed away: "We remember today those shining stars of Irish music no longer with us but who have left a rich and lasting legacy of music and lyrics. In particular we remember Derek Bell of the Chieftains; Ciaran Bourke and Luke Kelly of the Dubliners: Brothers Paddy, Tom and Bobby Clancy and Frankie Kennedy of Altan.

The founding members of Altan who are featured on a new 75c stamp were the Belfast fluteplayer, Frankie Kennedy and Gweedore singer and fiddler, Máiread Ni Mhaonaigh. The group which includes Buncrana men fiddle player Ciaran Tourish, and Dermot Byrne have produced a range of ward winning music, ranging from melancholic old Irish songs to excitable, hectic reels and jigs - a combination of old Donegal fiddle music and Northern flute tunes. Signed in 1996 to Virgin Records, they gained gold and platinum albums in Ireland and continue to tour all over the world.

A specially produced limited-edition booklet containing four of each of the four stamps as well as detailed background information about the development of Irish music and the unique role played by each of the featured groups is also available. Priced just €12 it makes an ideal Christmas stocking filler for musically-inclined friends at home and abroad.

Back