This riveting performance (at Riverbank Arts Centre on March 22nd) weaves the distinct strands of film, live music and images to allow the audience to experience a four-year artistic response by Cormac Breatnach, arising out of a single traumatic event which affected him from the age of 13 into his adulthood.
Breatnach's brother, Osgur, was one of three men wrongfully arrested, tortured and forced to incriminate himself for a crime he did not commit – the Sallins Mail Train Robbery in 1976, which was to become the longest running trial in Irish criminal history.
Whistle player Cormac Breatnach was immersed in the Irish musical tradition from early childhood. Throughout his long career he has played with artists as diverse as Elvis Costello, Vanessa Williams, Donal Lunny, Bernard Purdie and Susan McKeown and has recorded many albums to date. Cormac's music is highly influenced by jazz and blues.
Cormac Breatnach (Whistles and voice) will be joined by Daire Bracken (Fiddle and loops) and Martin Tourish (Accordion).
The is the final performance as part of an Arts Council Funded tour.
Listen to Track One of The Whistle Blower (on YouTube) and see the wonderful motion graphics created by Luis Poveda to accompany the track.