Liam O'Flynn is one of the finest names in the Irish traditional music world and one of the most respected, so it was no surprise that the reception at the Pillar Room in the Rotunda Hospital to mark the release of his new album, The Piper's Call, was packed with big names from the Irish music scene. Seamus Heaney was invited to launch the CD and he was his usual eloquent self, ruminating on the Greek origins of stringed and wind instruments. Next up on the stage was Charlie McCreevy TD on a flying visit. Charlie was in school with Liam in Kill, Co Kildare and in a most un-politician-like moment of self-deprecation, declared that Liam was "a great credit to the town, more than I ever was". Liam's father, also Liam O'Flynn, taught the pair or as Charlie put it "taught me everything I don't know". Speeches done, it was time for the musicians to take to the stage. Liam was joined by a bare-footed Steve Cooney, Artie McGlynn, Rod McVey and Sean Keane of The Chieftains, who also plays on the album. The night kicked off with An Droichead, the tune composed for the inauguration of the President, Mrs McAleese, and then moved on to some pieces from The Piper's Call. The godfather of the Irish music scene, broadcaster Ciaran Mac Mathuna, was there with his wife, singer Dolly McMahon and their extended clan - Padraig, Ciaran Og and Deirdre Mac Mathuna. Nicholas Carolan of the Irish Traditional Music Archive chatted about an album of rebellion songs by Frank Harte and Donal Lunny - 1798 The First Year Of Liberty - that was launched with a party in the archive on Thursday night. Liam O Maonlai and Fiachna O Braonain of the Hothouse Flowers were there fresh from releasing their new album, Born - Fiachna is also in the middle of wedding plans with his fiancee, photographer Suki Stuart. Other singers included Paul Brady and Francis Black, who has a new album coming out shortly, as well as John Sheehan of the Dubliners, who was just back from Germany. Philip King, who made a documentary about Liam, The Piper's Call, was there together with the cameraman Cian de Buitlear.
Other big fans and friends included writers Maeve Binchy and Gordon Snell; Theo Dorgan of Poetry Ireland; Bernard McLoughlin of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre; Doireann Ni Bhrian, and flautist Brian Dunning.