North

The elder sister of Cara and former frontwoman of 90s Irish powerhouse Déanta, Mary Dillon has followed up her 2010 EP debut with a solo long-player that makes one regret she has taken so long to stand alone in front of a microphone. North finds the Dungiven-born singer drawing on material from Ulster’s traditional back-catalogue in the company of a backing band that can boast some illustrious names: Dillon’s onetime Dèanta colleague Clodagh Warnock on fiddle, Solas guitarist Eamon McElholm, Neil Martin on whistle and Cara Dillon providing backing vocals on the wistful ‘Ballyronan Maid’.

But it’s Mary who takes centre stage, with a lightly-worn authority to make the disc squarely her own, delivering one beautifully executed set of glinting, cut-crystal vocals after another. The lovingly crafted recital showcases a voice sensitively attuned to the material. With a soulful, stripped-back acoustic accompaniment there’s much to enjoy in the bleak beauty of ‘Knocknashee, the lively lilt of ‘When a Man’s in Love, the jaunty love song ‘Bleacher Boy’ and a haunting new take on Dillon’s signature song, ‘John Condon. All in all, North is a fine first outing that promises much for Mary Dillon’s future solo career and for Sí Van, her newly announced partnership with fellow singers Niamh Parsons and Tíona McSherry.