Browse Content (119 total)
- Collection: Reels
Ballykinler Reel
Here, Larry Redican introduces and then plays a reel he composed to memorialise his friend, the Dublin fiddle player Frank O'Higgins. Ballykinler, in County Down in the North of Ireland, was an army base used as an internment camp during the War of…
Jackson's
Nicky McAuliffe gave me the name for this tune. It may be attributed to the eighteenth-century piper Walker 'Piper' Jackson from County Limerick. This is another of the tunes played for me fifty years ago in Tralee, County Kerry, by Julia Clifford…
Rolling Hills of Clare, The
The rolling hills and valleys in east County Clare, close to the river Shannon, are known for their beauty. This area is well-known too for its music. Here Damien once again plays the fiddle on another of his compositions. Yes, as I've said, I am…
Miss Cathy Chilcott's
The amazing and distinctive fiddle music of Liz Carroll from Chicago is featured on this track. Here, she performs one of her own compositions in the creative playing style which is very much her hallmark. I am honoured that this great player so…
Sandy's Reel
The first time that I heard New England contra dance music was in 1972 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was on an LP recording of The Canterbury Country Dance orchestra from New England. Among the members of that band was Bob McQuillen, the prolific…
Tara and Dáire
Marie Reilly, the fiddle player from New York, played this reel at a Gaelic Roots Festival concert at Boston College, her alma mater. Thanks to Marie for bringing the tune to our attention. I did my utmost to find the tune's composer in order to give…
Tom Turkington's in G Major
The young Cape Breton fiddle player Kimberley Fraser gives us an exciting blend of Irish and Cape Breton fiddle styles. She plays another reel from the music of County Tyrone fiddle player Tom Turkington (see 'Tom Turkington's in C Major').
Bobby Gardiner's (Number One)
Master accordionist Bobby Gardiner from Clare composed this reel. I first heard it on an LP he recorded in Ireland, produced by his fellow accordionist Dermot O'Brien: exciting and wonderful music. When I asked Bobby if he would perform it again, for…
O'Brien's Tower
Paddy O'Brien, the learned and beloved accordionist from County Offaly who now lives in Minneapolis, recorded 'O'Brien's Tower', one of his many compositions, for me while on a visit to the home of Sally K. Sommers Smith Wells and her husband Paul…
Dunboyne Straw-Plaiters
The reel played here by Jerry O'Sullivan is another tune from the music of Boston's Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band. Nicky McAuliffe told me that the tune is in P.W. Joyce's collection, Old Irish Folk Music and Songs. Nicky, you are a walking…
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…
Jack Rowe's
Recorded by Seán Maguire, the celebrated master fiddle player, with Josephine Keegan on piano, as well as by Maeve Donnelly and Peadar O'Loughlin on their CD The Thing Itself. A version of this tune was given to Breandán Breathnach by…
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…
Bird's Nest, The
Tina Lech, a former fiddle instructor at Boston College, performs this tune for all of us to hear. Tina learned the reel from a tape I gave to her of Larry Redican, the Dublin fiddle player who lived in New York. The tune's title was given to me by…
Cornboy, The
When we were traveling throughout America on the first Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann tour of champion musicians, singers, and dancers in 1972, I had the great pleasure of playing this reel with fiddle player Paddy Glackin. Paddy…
Bridge at Newtown, The
'The Bridge', as it was affectionately called, was home to Dinny O'Brien, concertina and fiddle player. It was also the home of accordionist Paddy O'Brien, my musical colleague in the 1960s and '70s. The bridge in question is on the road between…
Scully Casey's
John 'Scully' Casey, father to the great County Clare fiddle player Bobby Casey, was a well-known and respected fiddle player in his day. Bobby, in his generosity, recorded this reel for me years ago. It is played on this recording by Gráinne…
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,…
Carraigín Ruadh
Another composer of fine tunes was fiddle and flute player Brendan Tonra from County Mayo, who immigrated to Boston around 1959. Brendan played this tune, one of his compositions, on a recording made in 1979 by the Boston branch of Comhaltas…