The Mystery is a collection of songs by Irish singer-songwriter Enda Reilly that wanders between Irish mythology, history, landscape and some of the mysteries closer to home.

The journey begins with Amergin's Mystery, an ancient incantation attributed to the poet and druid of the legendary Milesian invasion of Ireland. From there we travel beneath the bogs of Mayo to imagine the people who built the Céide Fields 5,500 years ago, hear the Tuatha Dé Danann galloping towards the Cliffs of Moher, and live through Oíche na Gaoithe Móra — the terrifying Night of the Big Wind of 1839.

Along the way there is W. B. Yeats, Inishbofin and the Twelve Bens, a traditional Irish song given a darker turn, a fiddle player keeping the old music alive far from Ireland, and a day in Dublin as the city said goodbye to Shane MacGowan. Other songs turn towards emigration, love, home and the people with whom we share our lives.

The album closes where it began, with a mystery — this time Reilly's own:

“Somehow, I feel as though inside the aging shell of a body, some part of us doesn't age at all. What happens when we're gone is a mystery that will be revealed when we get there.”

Perhaps some mysteries are better sung about than solved.

NOTES FROM ENDA ABOUT THE ALBUM AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT. (2020) Conceived, written, recorded and mastered by myself in 13 days in Dec 2020. I began to write the songs for this Christmas Album in a hospital carpark (due to Covid restrictions) in Michigan as I was waiting for my wife’s procedure to be completed.(All went well and she is recovering!) So what brought on the Christmas Songs? It’s been a few years since I wrote a Christmas Song, (Some of you might remember Christmas Wings?), so in the back of my mind I guess I was looking for angles to tackle the subject. And then in the course of a few days the concepts came out and were developed in the studio with overdubs etc. I wasn’t sure if all five new songs would make the cut but I’m proud of them all so I hope you like them. It’s important for me to be as truthful as I can about my beliefs and I didn’t want to do a one dimensional Christmas album. As I mention in one song “I’m not sure if I believe in Christmas” but that doesn’t mean I can’t join the chorus and enjoy this traditional celebration. I hope this collection of Christmas songs gets you in the spirit of Christmas and makes you think about your connection with it. The fact that I won’t make it home to Ireland this year is tough, but then again, does it really matter where we are in the world with lockdowns etc. happening due to covid? We need to stay connected with friends and family in the new ways imposed upon us and keep enjoying the music old and hopefully new. Happy Christmas Everyone! Listen to the album on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and right here on this page to the right or below. Recorded, mixed and mastered in Reaper. Equipment used includes RME babyface interface, Neumann Tlm103 mic, Taylor 310 CE guitar, Crafter Mandolin, Samick electric guitar, bodhrán, some effects pedals, harmonica. Thanks to Soundstack for the royalty-free sleigh bells samples, via freesound.org

SONG NOTES 1 GETTING CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS That feeling of excitement that we got as kids in the run up to Christmas is a special thing, going to meet family, religious events, cards coming in the mail all building up to the excitement of Christmas Day. With events happening on zoom and delivery vans dropping by every hour and plenty of various restrictions no matter where you are in the world this year is different but even in this context I hope you feel the excitement of the days counting down. 2 IT’S CHRISTMAS EVE The penultimate day. Some people working half-days in offices and elsewhere others off already to prepare the big dinner. And always a day for the pub in Ireland in the past to meet up with friends before everyone goes off to see their families. 3 TÁ AN NOLLAIG LINN (CHRISTMAS IS WITH US) Relief that the year is almost over and we are now at Christmas. A note home to friends in Ireland, sadness that I can’t make it home but thankful for the bit of magic and mystery that Christmas brings. 4 CHRISTMAS TRUE My wife is a wonderful person and this is a love-song for her. She has strong faith, which is enough for me to leave my skepticism aside and enjoy the season with her. 5 DON OÍCHE ÚD I MBEITHIL (FOR THAT NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM) I heard the Nashville Celts do a wonderful version of this traditional Irish song and I found myself creating my own version this year. There is magic in the melody and simplicity in the story. It doesn’t get more Irish Christmas than this! 6 SING ALL THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS THAT YOU KNOW I guess the message here is embrace it. Sing a song. It’s good for you! A light hearted take on joining the chorus, despite excuses you might have to not join in!