Cathy Kingcome

In Irish traditional music circles, Catharine is known for her narrative portrait paintings of musicians – many of which were sold as postcard reproductions and have travelled all over the world. 

And, throughout the time she produced these paintings, from the mid-1980s to 2000 and up to the present day, she has been a fiddle player.

Her music inspired paintings and her fiddle playing are inextricably linked. This album and book bring them together for the first time.

Ar Shiúl Leis Na Sióga (Away With the Fairies) is a beautifully designed, coffee-table-style, 80-page hardback book, accompanied by a CD and digital download of the album. The book comprises 25 paintings from 1988-2000, with Catharine’s own notes on each. 

The album features over an hour of Catharine’s fiddle playing, accompanied by renowned Greek bouzouki player Mick Conneely and others. The tune choices include many that directly inspired the paintings, with details given in the text.