Iris Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, is a place steeped in Celtic heritage. A passionate vocalist who embraces the energy of the fully empowered feminine through a rich soundscape of soulful verses, raw emotions and traditional arrangements, Deirdre Ní Chinnéide chose Iris Mór as the inspiration for her new album, celtic passage.

The Celts believed in the existence of other worlds known as the “land of the SY” (spirit). Your druid, or shaman, could travel to these other worlds and return with insight into the problems and challenges of everyday life. celtic passage invites the listener to travel to this other world of the Celtic shaman, calling us back to the natural rhythms that connect us to a deeper and more joyful experience of life. This emotional journey explores themes of life and death, the earth and nature, the savagery of war, the redemption of love, and ultimately the miracle of life.

celtic passage is divided into four sections: samhain (Winter) a time of stillness and darkness where seeds are planted in anticipation of light, beginning with the song “Olvidados” where we remember the wisdom of our Celtic ancestors; Imbolg (Spring) where the earth receives the embrace of the sun, which opens with the song “Mother”; bealtaine (Summer), which opens with “Arise My Love,” brimming with the sound of possibility; and finally luganase (Autumn) with the melody “Si Gaoithe” calling us to sing our song with joy.

With voice, harp, violin, flute, bodhran, bagpipes and whistle, celtic passage is a musical journey into the land of the Spirit, a bold journey into the heart of this ancient tradition. For those who appreciate Celtic music at its most evocative, celtic passage sure to please.