If ever you get a chance to visit The Clare Glens you will not be disappointed. They are a beautiful wooded area, very picturesque, with walkways on both sides of the Clare River. The Glens are very close to Newport, County Tipperary, and are only…

This hornpipe as played on this recording comes to us courtesy of fiddle player Liz Knowles. The original sources for the tune, Denis Murphy and Charlie Mulvihill (fiddle and accordion, respectively), recorded it for Ciarán Mac…

Composed by the legendary Scottish fiddle player Niel Gow in 1799, this tune's title is apparently a reaction to the temporary prohibition of distillation in Scotland due to the failure of that year's barley crop. Played on this recording by master…

Fiddle player Gearóid Ó Laidhigh and flute player John Darcy recorded this tune, a composition of Mr. Ó Laidhigh's, for Ciarán Mac Mathúna. Ciarán traveled throughout Ireland recording musicians and singers,…

Broadcaster and collector Ciarán Mac Mathúna recorded this tune from John Ryan, the concertina player from County Tipperary, who lived on Thomas Street in Dublin City, across the street from the headquarters of the old Pipers' Club. The…

Concertina player John Ryan lived on Thomas Street in Dublin, just opposite the old Pipers' Club. One can only imagine the music echoing up and down the streets of that part of the city! Ciarán Mac Mathúna visited John Ryan's home and…

Traditional Irish music is on a strong footing, due in no small way to Peig and Mick Ryan from Murroe, County Limerick. At a time when the music was unpopular, Peig and her husband Mick worked diligently to promote Irish music and culture in all its…

Mrs. Crotty from the town of Kilrush in County Clare played this set dance for Ciarán Mac Mathúna's radio programmes, Ceolta Tire and A Job of Journeywork. I had the honour of playing it with Mrs. Crotty in her home many years ago. As I…