Curlew's Cry by Barry Kerr

In Irish folklore, the curlew holds a deep symbolic presence, often associated with omens and the Otherworld. The curlew’s mournful, whistling cry was often believed to be a call from the spirit world, especially in liminal spaces like bogs and shorelines. These birds were thought to signal the presence of spirits or the Sídh. At home on Lough Neagh, fishermen were wary of venturing out on the water when a curlew was calling from high in the clouds. The curlew’s cry has been poetically interpreted as a lament, connecting it to themes of sorrow, exile, and longing in Irish literature and oral tradition.
The auspicious folklore surrounding birds in our tradition fascinates me, and the practice of augury runs deep in our pre-history. In this modern world, and at this crossroads in our relationship with our environment, we can reflect on the traditions of our forefathers to again find meaning and hope, so that we can once again live in harmony with our natural world, our environment and each other.
This album has been a long time in the making – not in the sense of studio time and the recording process, but as an outworking of thoughts and memories, of stories and truths within myself. In it, I hope you find a sense of the love that I have found in its creation. I have gathered together songs I have written and songs that I cherish. There are common threads and messages running through each, and meaningful connections that I have discovered in the singing of them.

Barry Kerr

Barry Kerr is an acclaimed Irish composer, singer-songwriter, and visual artist from Co.Armagh now based in Connemara. A touring musician for over two decades, he has collaborated with some of Irelands most renowned artists and was the recipient of the inaugural Liam O’Flynn Award from the National Concert Hall.

barrykerr.com