The Irish Traditional Music Archive have announced the release of a new album featuring previously unheard recordings of traditional music from recently acquired collections.

Titled The Old Reels of the World, the album features 21 tracks from the donated private collections of Tom Davis, Tony MacMahon and Larry Redican. It was compiled by Dr Pádraic Mac Mathúna and is set to launch on July 7 at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 2024 by former ITMA chairperson Cathal Goan.

The album features recordings dated from the 1950s to the late 1990s from some of the biggest names in traditional music, including Séamus Ennis, Willie Clancy, Bobby Casey, Joe Heaney, Leo Rowsome, Kathleen Harrington, Tommie Potts, Seán Keane and more.

Speaking about the record, ITMA CEO Liam O’Connor said: “Pádraic Mac Mathúna has conducted extraordinary voluntary work for ITMA over the past three years, cataloguing thousands of old recordings.

“The publication of this CD is a celebration of that work and a celebration of a thriving living tradition where the genius of the past continues to inspire and inform the present. The playing is wonderful and a testament to the musicianship of legendary traditional artists like Seán Keane, Mrs. Harrington, Joe Heaney and Tommie Potts.”

Former ITMA Chairperson and former Director General of RTÉ Cathal Goan added: “These recordings reflect the diversity of contexts in which Irish music was and continues to be performed; at house parties, clubs, pubs, concert halls and competition venues.

“They remind us of the intimacy of performance and sense of connection between musician and audience, whether it's the vibrant response of a concert-hall audience for a céilí band or the muted appreciation of a song well-sung in private.”

The Old Reels of the World will be available for both physical and digital purchase from July 7 here.

Find the full tracklist below

1. Tulla Céilí Band (1960): 'Connemara Stockings' / 'Westmeath Hunt' / 'Tear the Calico'
2. Seán Keane (1973): 'The New Mown Meadow' / 'Colonel Frazier's'
3. Tony MacMahon, Séamus Connolly (1999): 'Apples in Winter' / 'The Carraroe'
4. Joe Heaney (1980): 'And You Lied Next to the Wall'
5. Séamus Tansey (1980s): 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley'
6. Séan Keane, Bridie Lafferty (1961): 'College Groves' / 'The Cherry Tree'
7. Willie Clancy (early 1960s): 'Cregg's Pipes'
8. Nan Tom Taimín de Búrca (1988): 'An Cailín Fearúil Fionn'
9. Charlie Lennon, Mick O'Connor, Séamus Mac Mathúna, Mark Kelly (1980): 'The Mountain Top' / 'The Rose in the Garden'
10. John Kelly, James Kelly (1973): 'Lucy Campbell's'
11. Bobby Casey (1970s): 'Sporting Nell' / 'The Ragged Hank of Yarn'
12. Joe Leary, Joe Cooley, Mongan Murray (1956): 'The Skylark' / 'Roaring Mary'
13. Tommie Potts (1957): 'An Raibh tú ag an gCarraig' / 'Bunch of Keys'
14. Larry Redican, Joe Burke, Jack Coen, Felix Dolan (early 1960s): 'Green Groves of Erin' / 'The Bag of Spuds' / 'Swallow's Tail'
15. Séan Maguire (1950s): 'The Flax in Bloom'
16. Antóin MacGabhann, Paddy Ryan (1978): 'The Galtee Rangers' / 'Farewell to Ireland'
17. Leo Rowsome (1950s): 'The Bucks of Oranmore'
18. Mrs Kathleen Harrington, Mrs Elizabeth Crotty (1957): 'The Bag of Spuds'
19. Paddy Canny, Eileen O'Brien (1995): 'The Bunch of Green Rushes'/ 'Gerdie Commane's'
20. Tommie Potts, Séamus Ennis (1978): 'Garrett Barry's'
21. Castle Céilí Band (1961): 'Humours of Ballyconnell' / 'Sailor on the Rock' / 'Lucky in Love'