Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Neary, Eleanor Kane 61343934]]> Nugent, Sean]]> McGreevy, Johnny]]> Noonan, Jimmy (flute) 78436746]]> Gurney, Dan (accordion)]]> Creative Commons License
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Noonan, Jimmy ]]> Gurney, Dan]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Turkington, Tom 73620634]]> 'Tom Turkington's in C Major').]]> Fraser, Kimberley (fiddle) ]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Barndances]]> McCarthy, Dominick]]>
Moving further along in years, my wife Sandy and I visited Sir Jimmy's hometown of Auchtermuchty, Scotland in the hope of meeting the maestro. Deciding that an unannounced visit might be intrusive, we continued on our journey.

This introduction to Dominick McCarthy's Irish Barndance may seem unusual; nevertheless, it seems appropriate to write about Sir Jimmy in order to write about his equally talented son Jimmy Shand Jr., accordionist, composer, and accordion tuner. On a recent visit to Auchtermuchty with my friends Drs. Jim and Cindy Polo, we were welcomed into the beautiful home of Jimmy Shand Jr. and his lovely wife Margaret. Jimmy had invited us, and on that trip I did not hesitate to knock on the door of the Shand residence. The kind warm hospitality that we received from Mr. and Mrs. Shand will now also be embedded in my mind. Music, stories, photographs, and holding Sir Jimmy's accordion were special treats on that occasion. 

And then our conversation turned to Jimmy Jr.'s music compositions. I told Jimmy that Dominick McCarthy from Clara in County Offaly had played the barndance for me over thirty years ago. Mr. Shand told me that he did not have any recollection of the tune. Upon giving Jimmy Jr. the sheet music, he began to whistle, and with a twinkle in his eye he smiled as the tune instantly came back to him. He was delighted to be reminded of this tune while saying it would be a welcome addition to his forthcoming book, Jimmy Shand, Jr. Music Compositions.

Unforgettable memories all around. Thank you, sir, for your composition and for the welcome that you and Margaret gave to Cindy, Jim, and myself. Jimmy, I hope you never stop playing and composing!


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Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Shand, Jimmy, Jr. (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> Shand, Jimmy, Jr.]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Gavin, Larry]]> Two Miles to Tulla in a set with 'The Plains of Mayo'.]]> Gavin, Larry (accordion)]]> O'Rourke, Micheál (fiddle)]]> Lennon, Charlie (piano) 303747212]]> Creative Commons License
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Gavin, Larry ]]> O'Rourke, Micheál]]> Lennon, Charlie]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Polkas--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Power, Thomas]]> Mac Mathúna, Ciarán 36142146]]> O'Hare, Kieran 53542795]]> Burke, Kevin (fiddle) 281258798]]> Creative Commons License
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Burke, Kevin ]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Banjo music--Ireland]]> Mandolin music--Ireland]]> Connolly, Séamus 33682623]]> Hebert, Brian (banjo, octave mandolin) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Gardiner, Bobby 46363486]]> Gardiner, Bobby (accordion) (composer) 46363486]]> Magone, Barbara MacDonald (piano) 53396920]]> Creative Commons License
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Gardiner, Bobby ]]> Magone, Barbara MacDonald]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Strathspeys]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Mette, Meghan]]> Meghan Mette was one of the musicians featured on 'A Polka for Matt'. She is the younger sister to Eliza Mette, who can be heard on 'Summer's Waltz'.

Here Meghan plays one of her own compositions and, below, she tells us in her own words how the tune came to be. What beautiful sentiments about our music and song from such a young person. It tells us much about her soul.

'Every summer of my life I have gone with my family down to New Hampshire to spend a week on Squam Lake. These weeks are always wonderful, but my fondest memories come from a time when I was much younger, a time when the entire family was able to join us at the lake.

For us, as children, the lake was a sea of mysteries waiting to be discovered and fully taken advantage of on sunny days: swimming, canoeing, going to the rope swing in Sandwich Bay, or maybe a motorboat ride out to the islands, setting up camp for a picnic. However, when a rainy day came along, we were far from disappointed. Today there would be a trip to Moultonborough. We would all pile into our cars and drive through the sprinkling rain – or the downpour – to Moultonborough Country Candy Shop.

The tired floorboards would creak as all of us children ran to collect our brown paper bags at the front of the candy bar, our mothers calling "Five dollar limit!" It is amazing, however, how much candy one can purchase for five dollars at a penny candy store. On the car ride home we would trade some candy – as long as it was an equal trade of course...

I wrote this strathspey in honor of those memories. Although we have grown up since then and many of my cousins no longer join us at the lake, we continue to go to Moultonborough once a year, because the tradition – like the music – must be passed on, never forgotten. Tradition is what allows us to hold the past dear, while all the time making and adding new memories and creations to our lives. We can never let these traditions die.'

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Mette, Meghan (fiddle) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> O'Brien, Paddy 28799446]]> O'Brien, Paddy (accordion) (composer) 28799446]]> Creative Commons License
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O'Brien, Paddy ]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Barndances]]> Connolly, Séamus 33682623]]> Ellis, Tony 29143698]]>
I was not at home when he rang me, but he played the tune onto my answering machine and asked if I had ever heard it. As soon as I received his message, I returned his phone call and told him that I had never heard the tune before.

Later, on one of his CD recordings, Quaker Girl, Tony recorded the tune for posterity and gave it the above title. I am very proud that my friend, the wonderful fiddle player Liz Knowles, kept Tony's interpretation and feeling in mind yet added her very own nuances, colour, and variations when she played the tune for this collection. Thanks, Liz!]]>
Knowles, Liz (fiddle) 68565066]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Concertina music]]> Mac Mathúna, Ciarán 36142146]]> Kierse, Paddy]]>
Monsignor Charlie Coen from New York State, formerly of Woodford, County Galway, did an excellent job playing the tune in the style of Mr. Kierse. We recorded the tune at my home in Maine. Kevin McElroy pulled out Sandy's old guitar and strummed along.]]>
Coen, Charles (concertina) 38213636]]> McElroy, Kevin (guitar) 70994386]]> Creative Commons License
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Coen, Charles ]]> McElroy, Kevin]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Highlands]]> Uilleann pipe music--Ireland]]> Sullivan, Dan 65878208]]> O'Sullivan, Jerry (uilleann pipes) 31619251]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Polkas--Ireland]]> Concertina music]]> Coen, Kathleen]]> Coen, Jack 49114583]]> Coen, Charles (concertina) 38213636]]> McElroy, Kevin (guitar) 70994386]]> Creative Commons License
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Coen, Charles ]]> McElroy, Kevin]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Polkas--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Galvin, Ellen]]> Keegan, Josephine (fiddle, piano) 72741909]]> Creative Commons License
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Keegan, Josephine ]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Uilleann pipe music--Ireland]]> Sullivan, Dan 65878208]]> McAuliffe, Nicholas]]> Old Irish Folk Music and Songs. Nicky, you are a walking encyclopedia!]]> O'Sullivan, Jerry (uilleann pipes) 31619251]]> Creative Commons License
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O'Sullivan, Jerry ]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Flings]]> Caples, Billy]]> McComiskey, Billy (accordion) 40711692]]> Byrne, Laura (flute)]]> Long, Donna (piano) 31607533]]> Creative Commons License
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McComiskey, Billy ]]> Byrne, Laura]]> Long, Donna]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Melodeon music]]> Conlon, Peter (P.J.)]]> Connolly, Damien (melodeon)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Barndances]]> Haley, Ed 60419553]]> McGuire, Séamus (fiddle) 43512454]]> O'Briain, Garry (guitar) 58691214]]> Creative Commons License
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McGuire, Séamus ]]> O'Briain, Garry]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Quinn, Frank]]> Noonan, Jimmy (flute) 78436746]]> Gurney, Dan (accordion)]]> Creative Commons License
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Noonan, Jimmy ]]> Gurney, Dan]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Hornpipes]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Kelly, Kieran]]> Mammoth Collection, where one is named 'Best Shot'. As my friend Peter Catto of Brookline, Massachusetts, cleverly suggested, 'When you fly by night, your best shot is to not fly at a lower level!' The tune is played on this track by Boston's own fiddle player, Brendan Bulger. Brendan gives the hornpipe a bouncy lift, clearly imparting his own unique musical imprint.]]> Bulger, Brendan (fiddle)]]> Knox, Bill (guitar)]]> Creative Commons License
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Bulger, Brendan ]]> Knox, Bill]]> ]]> More info.]]>