Browse Content (54 total)
- Subject is exactly "Accordion music--Ireland"
Frank Quinn's
Accordion player, fiddle player, and all-around entertainer Frank Quinn lived in New York and recorded for a number of record companies in the 1930s. I heard this reel played by him on an old 78 RPM recording. Jimmy Noonan plays flute on this…
Seán McCusker's
Mentioned earlier in this collection was The Pride of Erin Céilí Band from Fermanagh, a group of wonderful people who loved to play their music. One of the band members was flute and button accordionist Seán McCusker. Seán…
Patsy Hanly's
I played a recording of this reel for my friend Jimmy Noonan. The identity of the player was a mystery to me, but Jimmy's astute judgment identified the musician as Patsy Hanly, the flute player from County Roscommon. Who better, then, to play this…
Con Cassidy's
This tune bears the name of noted fiddle player Con Cassidy, and it may well have been played as a single jig in his native County Donegal. There was no doubt about West Limerick accordion player Donie Nolan's interpretation of it as a slide. He…
Ah, a Simple Little Yoke
When I visited the accordion master Finbarr Dwyer at his home in County Clare, he played this jig, which he had composed when he was about ten years old. Finbarr did not think too highly of the tune: he can be heard on the recording describing it…
Going Home
I have known and admired the music of Eamon Flynn since 1957. Eamon, like myself, lived in Boston for many years, and we often played music together. When Eamon decided to move to the state of Vermont he began to compose some smashing tunes,…
Bobby Gardiner's (Number Two)
The art form of lilting is demonstrated here by Bobby Gardiner. My grandmother Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford), herself a very good lilter, told me that 'jiggers', as she called them, were commonly called upon whenever musicians were not…
Dan Gurney's
The rock-solid accordion music of Dan Gurney is heard on this track. When I asked Dan if he composed any music he was very humble as he answered, 'I did but it's not much good'. I'm sure that those who listen to this track will love your tune, Dan,…
Sarah's Wedding
Paddy O'Brien from County Offaly made this tune for Sarah Kelly, the daughter of his friend and musical cohort, fiddle player James Kelly. All who attended Sarah's wedding had a wonderful day. Paddy, in his own unique style, performs it on this…
Lame Crowley
I knew that Billy McComiskey, Laura Byrne, and Donna Long, with their superlative musicianship, would be the right people to play this tune. I learned it many years ago from my long-time friend Mr. Larry Gavin. Billy was curious as to where the jig…
Duet, The
A hornpipe played with great feeling and understanding by the great accordionist, the one and only James Keane from Dublin and New York. This tune first came to my attention a number of years ago when Larry Gavin performed it at Aonach Paddy O'Brien,…
West Limerick
Another tune recorded the evening that Sandy and I traveled to Ardagh, County Limerick, to Peadar's Pub to record the exciting music of accordionist Donie Nolan. This is also a tune that Donie played in concert during our musical tour of Australia in…
Plains of Mayo, The
This jig is tune number 304 in [George] Petrie's Complete Irish Music. It is given a special melodic lift by Larry Gavin and Micheál O'Rourke on accordion and fiddle. Charlie Lennon adds his own unmistakable accompaniment on piano. They…
Old Mill Road, The
As I travel throughout the country, I have a compulsive habit of looking at street signs in the hope of discovering a good name or title for a new musical composition. I have seen a few variations on the above title and often wondered what road…
Healy's House
This fine tune comes to us through the courtesy of Richard Dwyer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer from west County Cork, now living in Ennis, County Clare. Richard graciously allowed me to use this excerpt from his solo accordion and…
Vanishing Keys, The
Many of my fellow chronic misplacers of keys can relate to the above title. What a great name for a great tune! It is played here in grand style by its composer Richard Dwyer in another excerpt from his solo CD In a Creative Mood. Richie's wonderful…
West Cork Maestro
When I visited Finbarr Dwyer at his home in Clarecastle, County Clare, he generously made a recording for me which included this less familiar composition of his. Finbarr was most humble and did not give his tune much credit, let alone a title. He…
Weaver Flynn
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Eamon Flynn wrote this tune to honour his wife Vicki. Vicki's maiden name was Weaver. This track comes from a CD Eamon recorded with our mutual friend Helen Kisiel, who is often sought after as a piano accompanist…
Homecoming, The
Kathleen Boyle, a great musician from Glasgow, composed this tune for her mother and father. They had returned home to County Donegal after living for forty-seven years in Scotland. Kathleen, who plays her composition on this track, travels back and…
Charlie Mulvihill's Jig in A
Accordionist, concertina player, and composer Charlie Mulvihill from New York composed this tune. Charlie was very friendly with the great Paddy Killoran, master fiddle player from County Sligo. When Paddy Killoran died, his wife Betty gave Charlie…