A Feeling In The Blood: Traditional Fiddle Music From Donegal by Néillidh Boyle – A Raw, Heartfelt Journey
If you’re looking for something that feels like stepping into a smoky pub in rural Ireland or sitting cross-legged on an old rug while stories spill out of battered fiddles and weathered voices, A Feeling In The Blood is your ticket. Released in 2011 under Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, this album isn’t just music—it’s a living, breathing piece of Donegal’s soul. It’s messy, raw, and real, with field recordings, interviews, and tunes so steeped in tradition they feel like they’ve been passed down through centuries.
Now, let me tell ya about two tracks that stuck with me long after the last note faded. First up, there’s "Sráid Na MBúrcach (Song And Air)". This one hits different right from the start. There’s no big production—just the haunting melody of Néillidh Boyle’s voice paired with the delicate pluck of strings. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. You can almost picture him leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, letting the words flow like he’s telling you a secret. There’s a kind of ache in this track, a nostalgia that digs deep even if you don’t understand every word. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to sit still for a moment, breathe it all in, and maybe cry a little. Or at least I did.
Then there’s "The Harvest Home (Hornpipe)". Oh man, this tune? Pure joy wrapped up in rollicking energy. If “Sráid Na MBúrcach” is the quiet heart of the album, then this is its dancing feet. The fiddle work here—courtesy of Con Boyle and Paddy Boyle—is absolutely electric. Every bow stroke feels alive, like it could leap off the record and pull you onto the floor. Listening to this hornpipe, I couldn’t help but tap my toes and grin like an idiot. It’s impossible not to move when these guys get going. By the time it ends, you’ll wish you had someone to grab by the hand and whirl around the room with.
What strikes me most about this album is how unpolished it feels—and I mean that as a compliment. These aren’t studio-perfect performances; they’re snapshots of people playing because they have to. The mix of styles—Celtic airs, jigs, reels, speeches, and interviews—makes it feel less like an album and more like eavesdropping on a family gathering where everyone has a story to share. There are moments where the recording crackles or someone laughs mid-tune, and instead of ruining it, those imperfections make it better. They remind you that this music comes from somewhere real, somewhere human.
And honestly? That’s what stays with you. Not just the notes, but the feeling behind them. Listening to A Feeling In The Blood, you realize how much music means to the folks who made it. For them, it’s not just entertainment—it’s life. It’s memory. It’s connection.
Here’s the kicker though: halfway through the album, there’s a speech where someone talks about bagpipes. Bagpipes! Of all things. And instead of tuning out, I found myself laughing. Because that’s what this album does—it draws you in, makes you care about stuff you never thought you’d care about. Like how bagpipes sound weirdly beautiful when you think about them hard enough.
So yeah, give this one a listen if you’re craving authenticity over polish, heart over hype. Just don’t blame me if you end up booking a flight to Donegal afterward.
Artist:Néillidh Boyle Album: A Feeling In The Blood Traditional Fiddle Music From Donegal
Neil O'Boyle (1864-1938), a Donegal fiddler, was born in Easton Pennsylvania to Irish parents Patrick Boyle and Annie Sweeney who returned to Ireland when Neil was eight years old.
Real Name
Néillidh Boyle
Name Vars
Neillidh Boyle
Néillidh Boyle
Néillidh Ó Baoill
Néillidh Ó Baoill / Neillidh Boyle
Interesting fact about Album
Here’s something cool: the album *A Feeling In The Blood Traditional Fiddle Music From Donegal* isn’t just music—it’s like a time capsule of Irish culture. Released in 2011, it blends fiddle tunes, airs, and even spoken word interviews. Néillidh Boyle, the man behind it, doesn’t just play; he talks about the stories and traditions tied to the music. You’ll hear tracks like *Sráid Na MBúrcach* and *The Harvest Home*, but also raw, unfiltered moments—like Danny O’Donnell chatting with Robbie Hannan or Annie Boyle reminiscing about Séamus Ennis. It’s not just an album; it’s a living piece of Donegal’s soul, recorded to keep these traditions alive for future generations.
