Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Shaun Davey, Rita Connolly, Liam O'Flynn and band perform a song inspired by Gráinne Mhaol.

Composer, singer and musician Shaun Davey is perhaps best known for his musical composition 'The Brendan Suite', which tells the story of the 6th century voyage of Saint Brendan from Ireland across the Atlantic. The piece mixed traditional and classical musical instruments.

His latest work, Granuaile, has a similar mix of genres and is inspired by 'Grace O'Malley', a book written by Anne Chambers, telling the story of the life and times of Gráinne Mhaol. Grace O'Malley (1530-1603) was also known as Gráinne Mhaol or Granuaile, the Pirate Queen.

Ripples in the rockpools
Ripples in the sea
Ripples in the sand dunes rolling into Connemara

Shaun Davey's tribute comes in the form of a suite of ten songs based on the book. From this suite, Shaun Davey and Rita Connolly perform 'Ripples In The Rockpools'. They are accompanied by Liam O'Flynn and band.

This episode of 'The Late Late Show' was broadcast on 28 February 1986. The presenter is Gay Byrne.