Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> Mouth music--Ireland]]> Graham, Len 48819645]]> Joe Holmes: Here I am Amongst You, is a must read! In 'The Parting Glass', Len wishes us goodnight and bids joy to all, but the feeling is tinged with the sadness of a goodbye. Len told me that Joe used to speed up the slow air of the song until it became the dance tune 'The Peacock's Feather'.

'The Parting Glass' somehow makes me nostalgic, bringing to mind many wonderful moments of joy and laughter as I reminisce on the years of recording and collecting for this project. These memories, the songs and music, will forever remain in my heart. Not wanting to say goodbye, I would prefer something a little more upbeat, in the spirit of what my father always said to me as I was leaving home: 'Never say goodbye, always say Cheerio'. So, I have chosen Len's song as a way of saying not goodbye, but for now, 'Cheerio'. Len, my friend, thank you for the wonderful singing, and for 'The Peacock's Feather' schottische at the end, a happy surprise!]]>
Graham, Len (vocals) 48819645]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Slides]]> Walter, Chrysandra]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) (composer) 33682623]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> Mackey, Michael 'Mick']]> Mac Gearailt, Críostóir]]>
In addition to Mick Mackey, the Limerick teams back in the 1930s and '40s that won All-Ireland championships had among them on the field men like Paddy Clohessy and the star goalkeeper Paddy Scanlon, who, as the song says, was 'defiant in the goal'. I got to know this great County Limerick goalkeeper and had the special honour of sitting beside him on a number of occasions when both of us travelled on the Killaloe-to-Limerick bus that wound its way through Castleconnell, where Mr. Scanlon would board. We talked at length about hurling and about other greats such as the mighty Christy Ring from Cloyne in County Cork. I have always had a fascination with the game's goalkeepers and, with my encouragement, Paddy would discuss the great ones. Doctor Tommy Daly from County Clare was many times mentioned in our discussion, as was the legendary Tony Reddin, who played in goal for counties Galway and Tipperary. I mentioned to Paddy Scanlon that I knew Tony Reddin: Tony lived in Banagher, County Offaly, and he often visited my sister's home, where I had the honour of chatting with him. Paddy Scanlon's praise for Tony Reddin was like that of many others, regarding him as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

Today, May 24, 2015, it is by some strange coincidence that I write these few lines whilst listening via Internet radio to counties Limerick and Clare battling it out in Semple Stadium, Thurles, County Tipperary, in the first round of the Munster Hurling Championship. This stadium has over the years established itself as the leading venue for Munster hurling finals and a field where other Limerick teams of the past paraded with pride before capacity crowds. And so, you stalwart heroes of the 1930s and '40s, Mick Mackey, Paddy Scanlon, and Paddy Clohessy, I somehow know that your hearts would be filled with pride were you to watch the Limerick team of today running up and down the pitch in Thurles, as they hopefully make their way to Croke Park, the stadium in Dublin where the All-Ireland hurling finals are played each September, to reclaim the McCarthy Cup.

Ann Mulqueen sings with pride Críostóir Mac Gearailt's song about Ann's neighbour, the great Mick Mackey, and the giants of hurling of days now long gone. A lot of ramblings, one might say, but memories worth remembering! The ramblings themselves are part of an Irish tradition whenever our national game of hurling is discussed. And always looking for a win, the hurler on the ditch could be heard desperately shouting, 'Come on, let the game begin! Never mind the ball, play the man!'

Thank you, Críostóir, for your lovely song and for permission to use it here. Thank you Ann, and thank you Micheál Ó Conghaile and Cló Iar-Chonnachta for permission to use this recording, along with the two other songs that Ann beautifully sang for us in this collection. All of the songs were taken from her CD Mo Ghrása Thall na Déise.

P.S. I, too, played in Croke Park, but not with a hurley!]]>
Mulqueen, Ann (vocals) 21766115]]> Mac Gearailt, Críostóir (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> Gallagher, Rita (vocals)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Violin music--Ireland]]> Viola music--Ireland]]> Cello music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Connolly, Lena]]> Brown, Bonnie Bewick (violin)]]> Lee, Julianne (viola) 316003328]]> Katz, Mickey (cello) 63719871]]> Connolly, Séamus (composer) 33682623]]> Creative Commons License
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Brown, Bonnie Bewick ]]> Lee, Julianne]]> Katz, Mickey]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk music--Ireland]]> Violin music--Ireland]]> Viola music--Ireland]]> Cello music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Walter, Chrysandra]]>
Anyway, as I drove home that night, many tears flowed like a river and the pain hurt, but the beginning notes of this tune came to me. As I sat in her hospital room for the next few days I worked on the air, writing it on the corners of the local paper 'The Boston Globe'. The end result is what you have on this track. It is played by my friend Bonnie Bewick Brown, a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Bonnie also arranged 'Miss Chrysandra Walter' for cello and viola and invited her friends to perform it, and they did so beautifully. I am forever grateful to Bonnie for this wonderful arrangement and for all the help she gave to me on this project. I know Sandy would be very proud of this tune and how it was played. My dear wife and friend Chrysandra will be forever remembered by me, and through this tune her memory will live on!]]>
Brown, Bonnie Bewick (violin)]]> Lee, Julianne (viola) 316003328]]> Katz, Mickey (cello) 63719871]]> Connolly, Séamus (composer) 33682623]]> Creative Commons License
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Brown, Bonnie Bewick ]]> Lee, Julianne]]> Katz, Mickey]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Kaynor, David 11990483]]> Kaynor, David (fiddle) (composer) 11990483]]> Sutherland, Pete (piano) 28388860]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Uilleann pipe music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> McConnell, Cathal 65520190]]> Cathal's Reel).

I gave the recording to my good friend Jerry O'Sullivan, who plays the tune on this track, but with his very own arrangement and interpretation. The phrasing, as one will see, is different from that of the written transcription of Cathal's playing. Fascinating, really, when one thinks of how music can be changed to suit the performer and the instrument. Thanks to both these fine exponents for their contrasting versions.]]>
O'Sullivan, Jerry (uilleann pipes) 31619251]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> McGann, John 275956837]]>
A more complete version of the tune is heard on this track, with my good friends the late John McGann playing guitar and Gabriel Donohue on keyboard. John was very involved with the transcription of the tunes for this project but, alas, he left us too soon. So in John's memory, perhaps 'Remembering Curly Remembering John McGann' might be a perfect title for this tune. Thanks, John, for all the music, stories, laughs, and friendship.]]>
Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) (composer) 33682623]]> McGann, John (guitar) 275956837]]> Donohue, Gabriel (keyboards) 103020997]]> Creative Commons License
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Connolly, Séamus]]> McGann, John]]> Donohue, Gabriel]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> Mo Ghrása Thall na Déise.]]> Mulqueen, Ann (vocals) (composer) 21766115]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Planxties]]>
In the 1980s, as part of a musical delegation to Washington, D.C., representing the State of Massachusetts, I had the honour of visiting the Old Post Office and hearing the bells ring. When in full peal, the bells can take up to three and a half hours to complete their continuous performance. However, my composition on this track takes only a few minutes. I am joined by Gabriel Donohue on guitar.]]>
Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) (composer) 33682623]]> Donohue, Gabriel (guitar) 103020997]]> Creative Commons License
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Connolly, Séamus]]> Donohue, Gabriel]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Power, Thomas]]> Rabata, Nicole (flute)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> McElroy, Kevin (bodhrán) 70994386]]> Creative Commons License
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Rabata, Nicole ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> McElroy, Kevin]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk music--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Flings]]> McCarthy, Dominick]]> McCarthy, Dominick (accordion)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> O'Connor, Liam]]> Rabata, Nicole (flute)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> McDonnell-Garvey, Máire 4192187]]> Keegan, Josephine (fiddle) (composer) 72741909]]> Donohue, Gabriel (piano) 103020997]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, Irish--Ireland]]> Mulqueen, Ann 21766115]]> Mo Ghrása Thall na Déise. The English translation of the lyrics is provided courtesy of Tomás Ó Ceilleachair.]]> Mulqueen, Ann (vocals) 21766115]]> Donohue, Gabriel (keyboards) 103020997]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> McMahon, Robbie]]>
Robbie McMahon, the master balladeer and composer, sings for us once again on this track. I first heard him singing this song around the same time as I did that interview with the lady from Killaloe. Robbie's compositions often tell of days gone by. He was a powerhouse of information and history, and his delivery of these songs had a way of transporting us back in time. He was a household name in County Clare, and in my home he was loved by all within.

The final verse in his song opens with a call for Father Dan. It was this same verse that appeared by kind permission on my mother's Memorial Card when she 'passed on to her eternal shore'. Thanks to my brother Michael for reminding me of Robbie's composition. The master kindly sang it for me again when I recorded him in his home in Spancilhill, County Clare, a few short years before he himself went to his place 'far beyond the sky'. The lines below are from that same last verse:

'Oh Father Dan, how are you, and come over here to me.
Come lay your holy hand on me for I am on my way,
To a land that's far beyond the sky where I'll have pains no more,
For God himself has called me to his own eternal shore.'

Robbie, we will miss you. Your likes will not be seen again.]]>
McMahon, Robbie (vocals) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Miller, Rodney (fiddle) (composer) 25930822]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Violin music--Ireland]]> Violin and piano music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Bygone Days. I am delighted to have the tune included in this collection.]]> Burnham, Michael (violin)]]> Lawrie, Margaret (piano) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Burnham, Michael ]]> Lawrie, Margaret]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, Irish--Ireland]]> Celtic harp music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Airs]]> 1000 Years of Irish Poetry.]]> Caesar, Pádraigín (harp, vocals)]]> Caesar, Siobhán (whistle)]]> Creative Commons License
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Caesar, Pádraigín ]]> Caesar, Siobhán]]> ]]> More info.]]>