Cork-based Nomos were an Irish traditional music band during the 1990s. The group formed in 1990 and consisted of Niall Vallely on concertina, Vince Milne on fiddle, Frank Torpey on bodhran, Gerry McKee on bouzouki, and Eoin Coughlan on vocals and bass. They have been described as one of the "most popular Irish bands of the 1990s," and as "one of the more innovative and fiery Irish traditional bands".

Origins of the band

Originally the group included Liz Doherty on fiddle and

John Spillane John Spillane (born 1961) is a singer-songwriter from Cork, Ireland. Background Spillane grew up in the Cork suburb of Wilton, in a family of five boys. He was educated in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown. Raised by his mother, she ...

on vocals and guitar. Doherty and Spillane formed Nomos with Vallely, Torpey, and McKee at University College Cork. The band followed a musical path begun by artists such as

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, Altan,

Natalie McMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has record ...

, and

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The Sound

The group's fiery sound centered on Vallely's innovative and dynamic concertina playing and Milne's flashy fiddling. Milne's contributions displayed both his

West Cork West Cork ( ga, Iarthar Chorcaí) is a tourist region and municipal district in County Cork, Ireland. As a municipal district, West Cork falls within the administrative area of Cork County Council, and includes the towns of Bantry, Castletownber ...

heritage and his affinity for bluegrass. Vallely, of Armagh, also composed and played the low whistle. The rhythm contributions of Coughlan have been compared to

and the Bothy Band, and the bassist/vocalist also writes some of the group's songs. Torpey hails from Wexford, while McKee was born in Lisburn.

Discography

Albums

*''I Won't Be Afraid Anymore'' (1996) *''Set You Free'' (1997)Thomas Andrew DuBois ''Lyric, Meaning, and Audience in the Oral Tradition of Northern Europe'' 2006 - 0268025894 " the song is illustrated by the Cork ensemble Nomos on their album Set You Free (1996, track 9). The album notes by Niall Vallely identify the song as common throughout Ireland but state that the present tune is typical of Munster, ..."

References

{{reflist Irish folk musical groups Musical groups from Cork (city)