THOSE who built the Titanic, those who sailed on her, and those left behind populate the songs of Ismay's Dream - the debut solo album by singer/songwriter Padraig Lalor.

Padraig will perform the collection - accompanied by drummer Grieg Stewart, guitarist Danny Kilbride, violinist Sel Edwards and Gill O’ Shea on whistles - in Woodchester on Friday night.

Padraig is based in Belfast, home of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, where the Titanic was built.

The title Ismay's Dream refers to J Bruce Ismay of the White Star Line, whose dream was to build the biggest liners of the time.

There's also songs about Molly Brown who helped people escape the sinking ship and did well for herself in America, Jerome Burke who left a farewell message to his family in a bottle which found its way back to his home village. And a sad lullaby, Close Your Eyes, sung by a mother to her child as they are about to drown.

Padraig lived his formative years in the 1970s against the backdrop of the troubles in Northern Ireland. He worked as a freelance journalist in the 1980s; becoming Northern Irish correspondent for the Irish Post, before gaining a Scholarship to Ruskin College Oxford. It was in Oxford he formed the traditional Irish band Henry Marten's Ghost and started writing songs in the late 1990s.

Padraig's music has featured on TV & radio across the world. He has opened shows for Finbar Furey, the Dubliners, Craobh Rua and has taken his individual brand of Irish music to audiences in France, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium and the Channel Islands. ?

Padraig and friends perform Ismay's Dream at The Convent in Woodchester on Friday at 7pm.