Jack Talty releases grief‑inspired album at Willie Clancy Festival

Concertina player, producer and University College Cork lecturer Jack Talty has released a new album of original compositions at the Willie Clancy Festival in Coire an Cheoil this summer.

The 57‑track collection features 32 of Talty’s own pieces and contributions from around 25 guest musicians. It was written in the months following the death of his mother, Colette, in January 2026, with the bulk of the material created between January and March of that year.

Talty, who grew up in Lissycasey, attributes his musical foundation to a family steeped in Irish tradition. He was taught concertina by his maternal uncle, the renowned Noel Hill, and received early encouragement from other relatives who also played the instrument.

He began his musical education on piano at eight or nine, benefitting from a teacher who combined formal technical training with an emphasis on ear‑development and improvisation. Talty says this dual approach shaped his later work on the concertina.

Reflecting on his studies at UCC, Talty praised the department of music for its inclusive attitude toward all genres, noting that traditional music was respected alongside classical, jazz and popular forms.

The album serves both as a personal act of remembrance and a celebration of the living tradition that continues to thrive in his community.

Source: Clare Champion. Photo: adanvdo / Pexels.