Andrew Caden & Conor McDonagh - Across the Atlantic (2025)

This CD focuses on Sligo traditional music on both sides of the Atlantic, featuring fiddle player Andrew Caden from Bethesda, Maryland, and flute player Conor McDonagh from Killavil, Co. Sligo. Both musicians exemplify the classic Sligo style on their respective instruments. They come from impeccable musical backgrounds, and that pedigree shines through in their playing.
Andrew has a direct connection to the great fiddle player and composer Martin Wynne through his teacher, Brian Conway. Conor, whose homeplace of Killavil is also the birthplace of Michael Coleman, was fortunate to have Michael Hurley as his mentor.
What excites me most is the remarkable chemistry between these two brilliant musicians—the music flows effortlessly between them, full of spontaneous and tasteful variations. I find it both refreshing and uplifting. I don’t think they fully realise how rare this is: Conor introduces beautiful spontaneous variations at will, and Andrew responds seamlessly on the fiddle. Their interplay is strongly reminiscent of Johnny Doran’s free-flowing style.
The sure-footed accompaniment by Catherine McHugh, Ryan Sheridan, and John Blake sets the tempo and gives the music a wonderful lift. They deserve great credit for seeking out archival recordings and lesser-known versions of tunes by past masters like James ‘Lad’ O’Beirne and Mick Woods, which they revitalise with great energy and freshness.
The CD is produced by the expert John Carty and recorded by John Blake—truly, they are in safe hands.
Years ago, I looked up to the older generation of musicians, and now I find myself deeply inspired by the younger generation—people like Conor, Andrew, Ryan Sheridan, and Catherine McHugh. It's heartening to see young musicians not only matching but truly carrying forward the legacy of the old masters—a sure sign that we are living in a golden age of Irish traditional music.”

- Mick O’Connor

Conor McDonagh: flute
Andrew Caden: fiddle

Accompaniment by
Catherine McHugh: keyboard (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15)
John Blake: Greek bouzouki (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16)
Ryan Sheridan: keyboard (2, 13, 16), bodhran (11, 16)