<![CDATA[The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/items/browse?sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CIdentifier&sort_dir=d&page=2&output=rss2 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:38:40 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Champaign Jig Goes to Columbia, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/535

Story

During that 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.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-10_The_Champaign_Jig_Goes_to_Columbia-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Lament for Mick Mackey]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/716

Story

Poet Críostóir Mac Gearailt penned the words of this song in tribute to one of Ireland's greatest sportsmen, the mighty Mick Mackey from Ahane, County Limerick. Mick Mackey played hurling for his native county in the 1930s and '40s, and the county depended on him to bring home the McCarthy Cup, the prize for winning an All-Ireland championship. Like many before me, I had the honour of shaking Mr. Mackey's hand. My father had introduced me to him when they worked together for the ESB, the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland.

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!

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-09_Lament_for_Mick_Mackey-Song.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:23 -0800
<![CDATA[Lagan River, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/534

Story

David Curry's broadcasts from the BBC studios in Belfast were eagerly awaited in my home. He broadcast many fine tunes, including this one, which Nicole Rabata and I arranged for flute and fiddle. Not having the tune's original title, I have named it for the river that flows through Mr. Curry's hometown of Belfast.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-08_The_Lagan_River-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[New Road to Sligo, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/533

Story

David Reiner composed 'The New Road to Sligo'. It is played for us by Liz Carroll. David told me that he composed this tune 'to tell the story of a musical road trip, from the bold beginning in G minor, to the detour into B flat, to the simpler and lyrical third part.'

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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10-07_The_New_Road_to_Sligo-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Port an Deoraí]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/532

Story

This lovely and unusual slip jig is played here by Geraldine Cotter. It may also be found in her collection of fifty traditional Irish tunes called Rogha, Geraldine Cotter's Choice.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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10-06_Port_an_Deorai-Slip_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Achonry Lassies]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/682

Story

Yet another great old tune that was given to me by Chicago fiddle player Johnny McGreevy. The young fiddle player Tina Lech, one of my favourite musicians, plays the tune for us on this track.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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10-05_Achonry_Lassies-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Figuring it Out]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/681

Story

I tried as best I could to learn this tune from a tape made in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paddy Gavin in Balbriggan, County Dublin, almost forty years ago. The tape was damaged a little but one could hear a great session of music played that night by the Gavin family and Jimmy Keane from Chicago. At one point on the tape, someone sat down at the piano and begin to pick out the melody of the reel heard on this track, as though composing, reading, or trying to remember it. I loved the tune and what I could make out of it, so I reconstructed it in my own way, whilst trying my utmost to remain faithful to what I could decipher of the original version. After all that and years later, I spoke to Kathleen Gavin, who recalls being at the piano that night sight-reading the tune from a piece of manuscript paper. The tune's origins remain a mystery. Its composer may not like my reconstruction, or how I played it on this track, nor the title that Kathleen has suggested. Please know though, whoever you may be, that we certainly like your tune or composition, and we thank you for it.

P.S. It has come to our attention that this tune is a composition of Leitrim fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist Joe Liddy. He titled the tune "The Sweat House."

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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10-04_Figuring_it_Out-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[For Denis Moynihan]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/696

Story

Dancing master Denis Moynihan, as he was known before he officially changed his name to its Irish version, Donncha Ó Muineacháin, was a popular teacher of Irish dance. He was known throughout Ireland for his choreography and repertoire of older steps. Some of these were passed down to Donncha from the County Cork dancing masters Joe O'Donovan and Cormac O'Keeffe, and we mustn't forget his own dance teacher, the Grand Lady of Irish Dance, Peggy McTaggart. The set dance played on this track by Séamus McGuire and Garry O'Briain was learned from a recording of Larry Redican who introduced the tune as 'For Denis Moynihan'; this perhaps implies that Redican composed the tune.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-03_For_Denis_Moynihan-Set_Dance.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[One-Horned Buck, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/680

Story

Another tune from the legendary Cathal McConnell. He gave me this tune, and the others in this collection, during that visit to Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, over thirty years ago (see 'Cathal's Reel').

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-02_The_One-Horned_Buck-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Paddy Cronin's Reel]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/679

Story

Paddy Cronin was always very eager to learn new tunes. Paddy loved 'going through the books' with his fiddle in hand. He had a vast store of old tunes and an amazing repertoire, including this reel, played here for us by the lovely ladies of music, Liz and Yvonne, the wonderful Kane sisters from County Galway.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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10-01_Paddy_Cronins_Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Edenderry, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/678

Story

Larry Gavin sent this tune to me on a tape over thirty years ago. Getting a tape of music from Ireland, and more especially from Larry, was always special. I was always assured of getting a new tune or two from my good friend. On this track we hear Joanie Madden playing the version found in O'Neill's 1001 collection, the same version that was played by Larry so long ago. Lar, I still have that tape. Thanks for the memories.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
09-29_The_Edenderry-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Old Schoolmaster, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/677

Story

'Maestro' Seán Maguire played this tune in the key of A major at a concert in Kilfenora, County Clare, many years ago. My friend Sally K. Sommers Smith Wells reminded me that it somehow was like the song 'Love Will You Marry Me?' Brendan Bulger from Boston plays the tune, a version of which may be found in O'Neill's 1001 collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-28_The_Old_Schoolmaster-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Magic Slipper, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/571

Story

Flutist Nicole Rabata joins me to play 'The Magic Slipper', a polka I learned from Boston accordionist Billy Caples. Mr. Caples was a well-known musician who had his own orchestra during the Dudley Street era of music and dancing.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
09-27_The_Magic_Slipper-Polka.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:17 -0800
<![CDATA[Tulla Lodge]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/676

Story

Martin Hayes, the great fiddle player from East Clare, gives us this beautiful rendition of a tune I have given the title 'Tulla Lodge'. This tune was given to me by Larry Gavin.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-26_Tulla_Lodge-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Grover Jones' Waltz]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/733

Story

The great Appalachian fiddle player Alan Jabbour recorded this tune for me with Ken Perlman on banjo and Pete Sutherland at the piano. Alan told me that Grover Jones loved to play this tune on his fiddle, and even when in the company of other musicians without his fiddle he would always request this waltz. Although Mr. Jones did not compose the tune, it was because of his enthusiasm, love, and eagerness to hear it that his name automatically became associated with it. Dr. Jabbour also told me that he learned the waltz from the legendary West Virginia fiddle player Henry Reed. Listen to the beautiful, sensitive, and refined music of Alan Jabbour. Alan, I have listened to this track many times and every time a little happy tear runs down my face. Lonesome music, my friend.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
09-25_Grover_Jones_Waltz.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -0800
<![CDATA[Killaloe Reel, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/675

Story

My nephew Damien Connolly plays a reel of his own composition. In his words he tells us about his native Killaloe: 'I am very proud of my hometown of Killaloe, County Clare. I lived there for twelve years before moving to Ennis. Killaloe is my first love, as it were. Every morning I would open the window and look out on the hills of the surrounding countryside and breathe in the fresh air. I have so many fond childhood memories from that old town. It's situated right on the river Shannon, so it's a beautiful place indeed... A couple of years ago, I purchased a bouzouki off eBay, tuned it up, and this is the tune that fell right out.'

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-24_The_Killaloe_Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Quinn Family, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/414

Story

Shannon and Matt Heaton give vibrant life to a barndance which I first heard on the long-playing record Music from the Glens. The album featured the talented Quinn family from New York, hence the title I've given the tune to honour this musical clan led by Mister Louis Quinn of County Armagh.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-23_The_Quinn_Family-Barndance.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:10 -0800
<![CDATA[McDonnell-Garvey Hornpipe, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/451

Story

On this track we once again hear Josephine Keegan performing one of her compositions. The tune is dedicated to her friend, the late Máire McDonnell-Garvey, who was a fiddle player and the author of a number of books about her native province of Connacht.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-22_The_McDonnell-Garvey_Hornpipe.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:12 -0800
<![CDATA[Pádraig O'Keeffe's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/531

Story

I first heard this tune played by Nicky McAuliffe and Connie O'Connell on two fiddles. They played it at a concert in Miltown Malbay at the Willie Clancy Summer School in 1988. They learned the tune from a Pádraig O'Keeffe manuscript. Here we listen to fiddle player Kevin Burke playing the jig in his unmistakable lilting style.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-21_Padraig_OKeeffes_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Edward on Lough Erne's Shore]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/715

Story

There are a number of songs that mention Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, and much has been written about this beautiful spot. Rita Gallagher's performance of this song is a dream. Listen as one of Ireland's great singers tells the story.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-20_Edward_on_Lough_Ernes_Shore-Song.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:23 -0800