Damanta was formed in 2005. In 2003 I learned how to play the bodhran from Michael Viens at the Wolf & Hound in Vancouver. Then went to Ireland and began playing the uilleann pipes (and dabbling in whistles) and, in 2005, bought my first lute (of the Irish bouzouki type) from The Four Corners in Galway. My uilleann pipe teachers have been few: Tim Fanning (Vancouver), lessons in Milltown, then John McSherry in Belfast (Lunasa, Sharon Shannon, At First Light). Damanta was taken as a name from a poem I'd translated into song, "We Are Damned" -- despite the fact that 'damned' is not the most common use of the word "damanta" in Ireland (certainly not in some dialects like Connacht or especially Arainn, and Inis Mór.) Articles on Damanta.com are the best way to hear more of the story. Many musicians have come and gone from this project, but the idea to continue producing some of the 200+ Damanta songs I've written and tell the stories in them lives on. Unfortunately, recording and producing and hiring musicians is very expensive. But, I know some of you like Damanta and I love it. So, get ready for more music. sincerely, Elegwen Ó Maoileoin elegwen.com Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.