Tunes for a Monday Morning

This week, while there's so much talk of walls, borders, and other means of dividing us from each other, physically and metaphorically, I've chosen five songs from the border-crossing Gaelic music tradition here in the British Isles.

Above:  "Arrane Sooree," a Manx Gaelic song performed by Ruth Keggin, whose aim is to bring Manx music, language, and culture to a wider audience. The song is from her second album Turrys (2016). The video was shot on the Isle of Man.

Below: "Buachaill��n Deas ��g M��," an Irish Gaelic song performed Skipper's Alley. This seven-piece band, based in Dublin, released their self-titled debut album in 2014.

Above: "A Ghaoil, Leig Dhachaigh Gum Mhathair Mi," a Scots Gaelic song performed by Julie Fowlis, who grew up in a Gaelic-speaking community on a small island in the Outer Hebrides. She's released numerous solo and collaborative albums; her most recent of the former is Gach Sgeul (2014).

Below: "Gura Mise Tha Fo Mhulad," a Scots Gaelic song performed Rachel Newton, from Glasgow. Newton plays with The Furrow Collective, The Emily Portman Trio, The Shee and Boreas as well as with her own band, the Rachel Newton Trio. The song is from her new solo album, Here's My Heart Come Take It.

And last, below: "Samhradh Samhradh," an Irish Gaelic song beautifully performed by The Gloaming. The band consists of folk music stalwarts Iarla �� Lion��ird (vocals), Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Caoimh��n �� Raghallaigh, and Thomas Bartlett. Their second album, 2, came out earlier this year.

Sheep drawings by Henry Moore (1898 - 1986)