Browse Content (34 total)
Come to the Fair
'Come to the Fair' was a very popular waltz/song played by The Kilfenora Céilí Band in the 1960s. I have always enjoyed listening to the band's singer Mary Higgins performing the song on a recording made at a céilí in…
Corney Drew's
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…
Dan Sullivan's
Another tune recorded by Dan Sullivan and his band, it is played on this recording by Billy McComiskey (accordion), Laura Byrne (flute), and Donna Long (piano). Their relaxed style brings out the beauty of the melody.
Farewell to Whiskey
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…
Flowery Hills of Scotland, The
According to Nicky McAuliffe, Michael Coleman and James 'Lad' O'Beirne, master fiddle players from County Sligo, recorded this reel on a 78 RPM recording machine in Mr. O'Beirne's home on November 5, 1941. I have not had the opportunity to hear that…
Gearóid Ó Laidhigh's
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,…
Golden Flower, The
My long-time friend Bill Black, who lives on Cape Cod, would often send tunes to my wife Sandy that he had composed in her honour. Bill's compositions greatly cheered my dear wife during her illness. She particularly liked his tune 'How Are You,…
Granny in the Woods
Tom Morrison from Dunmore in County Galway recorded this polka in the early 1920s. Catherine McEvoy, originally from Birmingham, England, and now living in County Meath, delights us with her recording of this same tune: two great flute players at…
Humours of Castlelyons
I am joined on this track by my friends Kathleen Lawrie from Birmingham, England, and Kevin McElroy from Freeport, Maine. Kevin played banjo and Kathleen played piano. I first heard this tune played by musicians from Ballinakill, County Galway on an…
Humours of Toonagh
This reel first came to my attention when it was played by a group of wonderful young musicians from Dublin. Their band, known as The Castle Céilí Band, made a big name for themselves in the 1960s and were much admired throughout…
Is It Any Good, Séamus?
Fiddle player, accordionist, and composer Eddie Kelly played this tune for me and asked, 'Is it any good, Séamus?' I recorded Eddie playing it in a session on the street at an All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil around 1990. The title somehow suggests…
Jack Coughlin's
I met Jack Coughlin only once, sometime in the early '60s. Jack was a lovely flute player in the lyrical and flowing style associated with East County Galway. He was living in London when I was introduced to him by my lifelong friend, master musician…
Jenny Dang the Weaver
This tune is also known as 'Tom Fitzgerald's'. A version may also be found in O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody. Thanks to Johnny McGreevy, who introduced this tune to me, and thanks to one of America's wonderful young musicians, Tina Lech,…
Jimmy Neary's
Jimmy Neary was a fiddle player from County Mayo who lived in Chicago. Johnny McGreevy, another fiddle player from Chicago and a hero of mine, gave me this tune in 1972 when I was on my first visit to that city, on the first ever Comhaltas…
Jimmy Neary's Polka
Another tune from the repertoire of fiddle master Johnny McGreevy. It is played on this recording by the talented flute player Shannon Heaton, who at one time lived in Chicago but now resides in Boston. Thanks, Shannon, for taking the time to travel…
Johnny's 21st Birthday
Dr. Tomás Ó Canainn wrote this tune and recorded it with his daughter Nuala to honour and celebrate the twenty-first birthday of their musical friend Johnny McCarthy. Their recording was named Béal na Trá and was issued in 1982 on the Outlet…
Liam Rowsome's
The name Rowsome is ubiquitous in the world of Irish music. Down through the years I have had the honour of playing music with the piping master Leo Rowsome and with his children, Leon, Liam, and Helena. Fiddle player Liam Rowsome composed this tune…
Lynches and Wards of Clogher, The
Throughout its illustrious career, the celebrated Kilfenora Céilí Band from north County Clare has had various band members with the surnames Lynch and Ward, including P.J. Lynch, Tom Ward, and Jimmy Ward. This composition by the…
Magpie in the Tree
And now to confuse things even more or, as they say at home in Ireland, 'to throw more turf on the fire', my brother Martin Connolly here plays 'Magpie in the Tree', which is yet another version of the classic jig 'Bryan O'Lynn'. Martin, a great…
Martin Woods' Reel
A fine fiddle player from County Clare was Martin Woods. I had the honour of playing with him often in the early 1960s. Both of us were members of a céilí band known as The Lough Derg. That was so long ago! Martin Woods had fine old…