Customer Reviews

Ragus: A Unique Irish Experience

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an Irish dancer, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that this style of Irish dancing is still practiced. This particular style is alive in the west of Ireland, but it's not taught in most Irish dancing schools. There is more hip and arm movements. I hope that this tradition stays alive, because it's truly refreshing to see the entire body move.

Also, I liked the fact that there was one principal female dancer and two male dancers. Usually it's the other way around - one guy and two girls. The only thing is that the video is not just dancing. There are many instrumental and vocal sequences. If you think that it's 100% dance, you'll be surprised.

I have seen Ragus live two years in a row at the Milwaukee Irish Fest and attended every one of their performances. Their performances are a great mixture of Irish dancing, singing and music.

I waited patiently for them to bring out a DVD and it was well worth it. The DVD was done professionally with very good video and sound.

This is the real deal! A fantastic group of musicians and dancers make this a great show of traditional Irish dance & song. There is no "star" to hog center stage, but a very balanced show of music, song & dance. Well worth the price - get this and enjoy!

Have watched this DVD a great many times and can say there's not a moment on it that's less than superb. Except perhaps the audience's inexplicable failure to join with enthusiasm in the chorus of "Green Grow the Rushes Oh". The dancing is marvellous, but the music! The haunting sounds of the band's pipes, strings and ?organ are extraordinarily atmospheric and the mood builds steadily. The "Song from Connemara" is one of the most lovely, poignant pieces I have ever heard. If you like Irish music and dance, you will watch this again and again. It has none of the brassy glitz of some more famous shows; it's simply a totally professional performance with some of the most accomplished folk singers, dancers and musicians alive putting everything they've got into it.

I think the previous reviewer got her star rating wrong, because she seemed to like the DVD. I haven't seen the DVD but I saw the Ragus show live in Dublin and it was great! Lovely music and great dancing. Also interesting songwriting from this group, who come from (or at least started in) the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland.

"Ragus" is the best Irish music and dance DVD I have every seen. The band plays traditional Irish music in the style familiar to me from "house parties" with relatives in Ireland. They are exraordinarily talents musicians. The dancers are very talented and gifted. This show has run for years in the Aran Islands and they have travelled worldwide and are very popular. You don't have to be Irish to love this group - although it helps. Their energy and talent are magnificent. It is a DVD you will enjoy again and again.

Fáilte! If your taste in entertainment is traditional Irish music and dancing, Ragus is a must have DVD. In contrast, Riverdance was a big stage production that was too preoccupied with Michael Flatly, special effects and not as true to real Irish roots culture.

This is a small theatre presentation produced on the island of Inis Mor. This is one of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, a Gaelic speaking location at the heart of traditional Irish culture that has not been exposed as much to non Irish influences. The music features absolutely excellent lead players Gary Roche on Uileann Bagpipes, Maurice Lennon on Fiddle and Fergal O'Nurchu on Button Accordian. Brian Garvin on Bodhran (Irish Drum) sets a very lively pace for jigs and reels, and Brian has one track of him alone with the dancers and pure percussion. Vocals are performed in English and Irish Gaelic by Fergal O'Murchu, Aileen O'Connor and Jim O'Leary.

All of which caught me off balance as someone that has been involved in Irish traditional music for years and not heard of the Ragus group or most of the players before. They need to become more than Inis Mor's best kept secret. I would rank the musical group right up there with Danu, Teada, Altan, Lunasa, or other well known traditional Irish Music bands. I was especially impressed with the Bodhran played by Brian Garvin using the new "Top End" style of playing. I would rank him at the same general level of the very best Irish players. I am eagerly awaiting their next CD or DVD. Slán agaibh!

This is from an Englishman. Many of you are familiar with the stirring sounds and beautiful melodies of Irish performance. Do yourself a favor and listen to Ragus - most especially, Act Two's Song From Connemara. Fergal's soaring, poignant, hauntngly beautiful rendition of this song eclipses the cost of the DVD. The other songs and dances are magnificent.

This is one of my favorite Irish music DVDs the selection of music is wide and excelently played. the dancers are fun to watch and make the visuals worth watching. And Irish humor is also well represented. This DVD gets played often around here. GRIZZ

If you enjoy traditional Irish music and dance, you will enjoy this DVD very much! I rented it and liked it so much I then purchased it!