Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Folk music--Scotland]]> Polkas--Ireland]]> Concertina music]]> Mac Mathúna, Ciarán 36142146]]> Neil, Paddy]]> McAuliffe, Nicholas]]> Ceolta Tire programme. He had recorded it from Paddy Neil, a concertina player from near Newport, County Tipperary. Paddy's version, in particular the second part, is different from what is usually played. Thanks to Monsignor Coen for learning and recording it for me, and to Nicky McAuliffe from County Kerry for the tune information.]]> Coen, Charles (concertina) 38213636]]> McElroy, Kevin (guitar) 70994386]]> Gow, Niel (composer) 28267017]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Coen, Charles ]]> McElroy, Kevin]]> Gow, Niel]]> ]]> More info.]]> 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]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Donohue, Gabriel]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Mouth music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Gardiner, Bobby 46363486]]> Gardiner, Bobby (lilting, accordion) (composer) 46363486]]> Magone, Barbara MacDonald (piano) 53396920]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Gardiner, Bobby ]]> Magone, Barbara MacDonald]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Mouth music--Ireland]]> Concertina music]]> Slides]]> Ryan, Mrs.]]> Mac Mathúna, Ciarán 36142146]]>
'My poor father is minding sheep
Me sisters and brothers are fast asleep
I've been out in the hay all night
Get up and let me in!']]> Coen, Charles (lilting) (concertina) 38213636]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Coen, Charles ]]> ]]> More info.]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Kaynor, David 11990483]]> Kaynor, David (fiddle) (composer) 11990483]]> Sutherland, Pete (piano) 28388860]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Kaynor, David ]]> Sutherland, Pete]]> ]]> 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]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Rabata, Nicole ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> McElroy, Kevin]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> O'Connor, Liam]]> Rabata, Nicole (flute)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Rabata, Nicole ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> 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]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Burke, Kevin ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Miller, Rodney (fiddle) (composer) 25930822]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Miller, Rodney ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Nugent, Sean]]> Nugent, Rosemary]]>
'I am a nice wee bouncing girl,
And my age it is scarce sixteen,
And when I'm dressed all in my best
Sure I look like any queen...

On the first of May I will make my way,
To the Magherafelt May Fair...

My mother cautioned me going out
Do not stay long in town
For if you do, your father and I,
On you we will surely frown.
Be sure to shun bad company
And of young men beware,
How nice you be, don't make too free
At the Magherafelt May Fair!'

Listening to those All-Ireland champion band members play along with Rosemary's singing, one can sense the exuberance and pride that they felt playing their music. For this collection, the march is played by Sean Nugent's son Larry on the flute, accompanied by Pat Broaders on the bouzouki.]]> Nugent, Larry (flute)]]> Broaders, Pat (bouzouki)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Nugent, Larry ]]> Broaders, Pat]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Edmonds, Phil]]> To The Dance Floor, released in 2006 by a Rhode Island-based group called The Gnomes. Among its members is Phil Edmonds, the composer of this beautiful tune. Phil and I went to the same school in Killaloe, where we learned to play the tinwhistle, and Phil's father, Eddie Edmonds, was one of my secondary school teachers. The words below are taken from the notes to their CD:

'The Celtic Tiger is the term referring to the system of economics and way of life in Ireland for the past several years. While it has resulted in much wealth for many people (not all), the Celtic Tiger is devouring Irish Culture. Wherever money and material possessions become a priority, the quality of life decreases. Phil wrote this air, "The Celtic Lamb", hoping that Ireland, and all of us, will move towards a more sustainable and gentler lifestyle.'

It gives me great pleasure to have another Killaloe man associated with this collection. Thanks, Phil, for the tune, and thanks to the rest of the band for their participation in this project.]]> Edmonds, Phil (whistle) (composer)]]> Torch, Cathy Clasper (fiddle)]]> Read, Otis (guitar) 309842361]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Edmonds, Phil ]]> Torch, Cathy Clasper]]> Read, Otis]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Boyle, Néillidh]]> Collins, Elizabeth]]>
Preferring to end this collection with lively, happy music, I asked my young musical friends, Kathleen Boyle from Scotland and Gráinne Murphy from Massachusetts, to do me the honour of recording the above-named tunes for this last track. These same jigs were recorded in 1937 by Kathleen's grandfather, the famed fiddle maestro Néillidh Boyle from County Donegal. The young ladies are joined by Néillidh's son Hughie Boyle, who plays piano, and together, with pride, they give us that same lift and drive associated with the wonderful music that is peculiar to County Donegal. I was thrilled when Kathleen invited me to join herself, her dad, and Gráinne in remembering her grandfather, completing an extraordinary musical circle. The torch has indeed been passed.

It so happens that the last tune on the track, 'The Connaughtman's Rambles', is the first jig I ever learned, and I did so from the 78 RPM recording that Néillidh Boyle recorded seventy-eight years ago. In a way, then, this track is symbolic of how Irish traditional music keeps coming full circle, shared back and forth between musicians across the broad Atlantic and across generations.

And lest I forget about the not-often-heard tune dedicated to a certain Biddy (a nickname for 'Bridget') from Sligo, my mind goes back in time to my grandmother sitting by the fireside listening to me trying to learn and play this fine jig. And so, in remembrance of my grandmother, Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford), a wonderful lady of tunes, songs, and stories, I hereby offer an account of the lyrics she had for 'Biddy from Sligo':

'Oh mother dear, may I go for a swim?
Yes, my darling daughter!
Mind the boys don't see your shins,
Keep them well under the water!']]> Boyle, Kathleen (piano accordion) 254341404]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> Boyle, Hughie (piano) 254643013]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Boyle, Kathleen ]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Doyle, Mike]]> Shepherd, Devin (fiddle) (composer)]]> Gavin, Sean (flute)]]> Miller, Brian (guitar) 265750111]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Shepherd, Devin]]> Gavin, Sean ]]> Miller, Brian]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Celtic harp music--Ireland]]> Guilday, Kathleen]]> ‘The First Slip’).

When Kathleen did arrive in Maine, guess what happened? Yes, my machine would not record. I was so upset, especially because she had driven over 150 miles for nothing. Well, that's not true: we turned the day into something special by having dinner and a nice bottle of wine while reminiscing about friends in Boston and our musical exploits together around New England. Kathleen did eventually get to record the slip jig, this time in her own home and with her own equipment. I ask myself if there was a jinx on this tune. Maybe it had something to do with its title. I'm puzzled. Anyhow I am grateful to you, Kathleen. Thank you, my friend. I think we beat the odds.]]> Guilday, Kathleen (harp)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Guilday, Kathleen ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Boyle, Néillidh]]> Boyle, Kathleen (piano accordion) 254341404]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Boyle, Kathleen ]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> McConnell, Cathal 65520190]]> Carroll, Liz 60417993]]> A Friend Indeed. Liz informed us in the liner notes of the recording that Armin Barnett and David Molk composed the tune while driving to Durham, New York. Liz called this smashing tune 'The Ride to Durham', and her playing is a delight to listen to. The lovely fiddle playing of John Daly from County Cork is heard on this track as he remains true to the version from the tape of Cathal McConnell's flute playing. John's fiddle playing is also a delight to hear.]]> Daly, John (fiddle)]]> Brehony, Kevin (piano)]]> Barnett, Armin (composer)]]> Molk, David (composer)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Daly, John ]]> Barnett, Armin ]]> Molk, David]]> Brehony, Kevin ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> musical evening at the Gavins' in Balbriggan so long ago, Jimmy Keane, the piano accordion player from Chicago, played this tune. He informed me that it is one of Liz Carroll's compositions, entitled 'The Champaign Jig Goes to Columbia'. It can be found in Liz Carroll Collected, a beautifully produced book of her wonderful compositions. Gráinne Murphy plays her version of the tune on this track.]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Carroll, LIz (composer) 60417993]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> Carroll, LIz ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Curry, David 68699117]]> Rabata, Nicole (flute)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Rabata, Nicole ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Reiner, David 23494779]]> Carroll, Liz (fiddle) 60417993]]> Reiner, David (composer) 23494779]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Carroll, LIz ]]> Reiner, David]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Penny whistle music]]> Rogha, Geraldine Cotter's Choice.]]> Cotter, Geraldine (whistle) 33569581]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Cotter, Geraldine ]]> ]]> More info.]]>