Pat Simmonds penned this review.
Breandán Ó Beaglaoich is truly a man for all seasons. Teacher, broadcaster, television presenter, singer, musician and traveler, he traverses all these forums with ease, staying true to his Kerry Gaeltacht roots. During the nineties, while his older brother Seamus was making big waves with Steve Cooney, Breandán was quietly tipping away doing little bits here and there — slowly gaining international recognition for his talents. A band called Beginish (Small island) brought him to a wider audience in North America and stints with The Boys of the Lough increased his profile in Europe. The Begley family is so well known in Ireland that he needed no introduction there.
This is Breandán’s second solo effort, following on his 2000 release We Won’t Go Home ’til Morning — and mighty fine it is too. Five of the 13 tracks are songs in both English and Irish and the rest show off his capable skills on melodeon (single row box) and accordion (double row box). County Kerry is famous for slides and polkas and we get a couple of gems here from the “special occasions only” drawer, along with a blast of well known jigs and reels. Nephew Gavin Ralston is at the helm producing with Neil Martin and Noel O’Grady accompanying.
Breandán is a fine singer in the West Kerry style. The songs are relatively simply delivered, bereft of any over production and excess ornamentation, but with a sense of gusto that is reminiscent of a house party in the wee hours. This kind of exuberance is a watermark for the area and can be heard through the music of Breandán’s family and contemporaries.
The CD sleeve deserves mention. Notes for each selection are in both English and Irish and lyrics for all songs are included. They are easy to read and well presented; much like the music they are clutter free and look after themselves. All in all It Could Be a Good Night Yet is a thoroughly excellent record and highly recommended. A night in the company of Brendan Begley and friends is a very enjoyable experience and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him on this side of the pond.
(Self-released, 2002)
