This is my favourite reel that I’ve composed. I have to work for many hours to create and finish a tune, but this one wrote itself! I was a young teenager when I wrote it (in my parents back sitting room), and was hugely inspired by contemporary Irish traditional music at the time, especially using unusual time signatures and beats skipped or added on. I also wanted to feature the signature short rolls of Donegal fiddling, as you can hear in the piece, which also inspired my dad to think of the title! One of the highlights of my musical life was recording this piece for my first album with Bill Whelan on keyboards and Donal Lunny on bouzouki – a magical moment.
Rounding Malin Head [comp. Zoё Conway], reel
