It was a lunchtime concert, but unique.
About 100 people were there plus a class of school children that popped in and thoroughly enjoyed it.

With all those people and a large hall, Claire was totally acoustic, no PA, no mikes, no electrics but every note from her harps and voice were crystal clear, precise and very moving. The volume was perfect.

There were other professional harpists and other musicians in the audience and they were amazed at Claire's unplugged presentation and boldness in choice of music. There were also, young folk, elderly people who were brought to tears by the emotion of the music - and a rambler's club of very sturdy smiling seniors.

Claire's entrance was stunning. Wearing her beautiful signature red velvet vintage dress she floated down a period stairway and onto the stage where her two harps were waiting. She had her dramatic antique Erard peddle harp and traditional smaller Irish made Celtic Harp, which is what she plays on most of her recordings.

Her set started with Brian Boru's March, a popular favourite which Claire announced as the first music she ever played on harp. This was followed by the popular and beautiful Siuil, A Ruin that Claire sings with a unique vocal arrangement.

Continuing with tracks from her "The Lilt Of The Banshee" CD, Claire moved into "The Flower Of Maherally O" which she performed with more gentleness than on the CD - and it was wonderful to see the audience light up in response. A very beautiful version of "The Salley Gardens" followed.

On "Dancing In The Wind" Salley Gardens is instrumental, but the tenderness of Claire's vocal version for this concert brought a smile to every face. Allso from "Dancing In The Wind", Claire followed with "He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven which caught the attention of many of the ladies in the audience.

The MP3 hit, Bi Iosa Im Chroise, Oh Jesus every moment, was an instant huge hit with this live audience too as it grabbed the second loudest applause.

Then Claire surprised me by performing my personal request, a song she rarely performs in public "Fields Of Fassaroe" which really came alive and caused the elder ladies of the audience to come and talk to me about it, after the concert, rather than Claire :-) They were astounded by the song's uniqueness, intimacy and originality, and by their own shock of enjoying this song that's outside their regular listening boundaries. 

Another surprise followed that entertained the audience and showed Claire's dexterity. It caught me with my mouth open and forgetting to take pictures. Claire played both harps together with a melody of Claire's own "The Robin's Jaunt" tune with "The Lilting Banshee"

A moving "Planter's Daughter", also on "The Lilt Of The Banshee", was followed by "She Moved Through The Fair" which was performed without introduction.

Going back to "Planter's Daughter", Claire dedicated it to the poet Austin Clarke who wrote the words. With most songs, Claire told wonderful relaxing little stories that also included a dedication to each of the people who inspired and motivated her musical career along. The whole concert was like a biography, not of many words, but enough and very interesting. Her words were part of Claire's very well spaced, well times, and very balanced performance.

Then its was onto another surprise, another track from Claire's very personal but very beautiful "Out Of The Ordinary" album called "Symbolic". This is a very erotic, slightly chilling, gothic song that many of us can relate to with many events in our lives. 
The audience loved it !!!!

A short tune, "The Clergy's Lamentation", also played with Claire's dual harps trickery, was followed with a heartfelt beautiful version of Danny Boy. I've said this before, but Claire sings this as if it is a new song that nobody has ever heard, with incredible passion and she hits those high notes with precision and without strain like nobody else I have heard
- also on "The Lilt of The Banshee".

...... and then she floated back up the stairs that she had floated down earlier to an endless applause, with no encore as Claire realized some folks were already late back to work.

Claire did return to mix with her audience and sign CDs. The way she handled her fans after the show, I wish every artist could have
witnessed it. Claire creates very real lifelong fans from people of all ages. She shares more stories, listens to the stories of the fans and moves into an informal relaxing ceilidh - and those people will remember those moments for the rest of their life too.

I'll always remember the look on a young Japanese girl's face after she left Claire with her signed CD and her memory of her chat with her. Her beam of happiness will be unforgettable. Her name was Yoko :-)