James Graham

Tiocfaidh amhránaithe is ceoltóirí ó Albain le chéile le hamhránaithe, ceoltóirí is rinceoirí na hÉireann ag féile nua i mBaile Átha Cliath, 26-28 Bealtaine, 2011.  Is é príomhaidhm Feis na nGael ná nasc a chruthú idir ceol is cultúr na hAlbain is na hÉirinn, tré amhránaithe is ceoltóirí Albanacha is Éireannacha a thabhairt le chéile ar bhonn rialta lenár gcultúr a roinnt. Tabharfaidh Feis na nGael ardán don dá dhream le sraith seisiúin is ceardlainne. Is le cabhair airgidis ó Cholmcille, – clár comhpháirtíochta idir Foras na Gaeilge, an foras a bhfuil sé de chúram aige an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig, an foras a bhfuil sé de chúram aige an teanga Ghaelach agus an cultúr Gaelach a chur chun cinn in Albain agus ar bhonn idirnáisiúnta – atá an fhéile ag rith. Cruthaíonn Feis na nGael nascanna le dreamanna eagsúla anseo in Éirinn amhail an Chomhdháil Cheilteach, Club Amhránaíochta an Ghóilín agus Club an Chonartha.

I láthair ó Albain beidh an bheirt amhránaithe James Graham agus Linda NicLeoid, chomh maith leis an bpíobaire/fidléir (fós le cintú). Beidh Rónán Ó Riagáin, fidléir agus rinceoir ar an sean nós agus (fós le cintú), amhránaí sean nóis ó Éire i láthair, chomh maith le ceoltóirí eile.

Tá clár cuimsithe curtha le chéile don deireadh seachtaine. Beidh seisiúin ar siúl oíche Déardaoin in Áras Foras na Gaeilge i gcomhpháirt leis an gComhdháil Cheilteach, oíche Aoine i gClub na Múinteoraí i gcomhpháirt le Club Amhránaíochta an Ghóilín agus oíche Shatharn i gClub an Chonartha. Beidh dhá cheardlann á eagrú ar an Satharn – rince ar an sean-nós agus Amhránaíocht i nGaidhlig, i gClub an Chonartha. Beidh ár gcairde ón mBriotáin ag ceiliúradh linn oíche Shatharn leis. I rith an lae ar an Aoine, tabharfaidh na cuairteoirí Albanacha cuairt ar bhunscoil lán-Gaelach i mBaile Átha Cliath lena gcuid ceol is teanga a roinnt orthu.

Tuilleadh eolais ó / Further details:
Deirdre Nic Éanruig: 087 2621537
Seán Mac Suibhne: 087 2939512
Email: feisnangael@gmail.com
Suíomh idirlíon/Website: feisnangael.com

Feis na nGael, 26-28 May, 2011

Singers and musicians form Scotland will join their counterparts here in Ireland at a new festival in Dublin at the end of May. The main aim of Feis na nGael is to promote the shared linguistic and cultural heritage of Ireland and Scotland, by welcoming Scottish singers and musicians to join with Irish singers and musicians on a regular basis. Feis na nGael will provide a platform for the two groups through a series of sessions and workshops. This is funded in the main by Colmcille – now a partnership programme between Foras na Gaeilge, the body charged with the promotion of the Irish language and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the body charged with promoting Gaelic language and culture in Scotland and internationally. Feis na nGael creates links with other bodies here in Ireland such as the Celtic League, the Góilín Singing Club and Club an Chonartha.

Visiting us from Scotland will be two acclaimed singers James Graham agus Linda NicLeoid, as well as the piper/fiddler (still to be confirmed). Rónán Regan, fiddler and sean nós dancer from Ireland and (still to be confirmed), sean nós singer from Ireland will be present, as well as other musicians.

There is a comprehensive programme planned for the weekend. On Thursday night there will be a session in Foras na Gaeilge in conjunction with the Celtic League, on Friday a visit will be paid to the Góilín Singing Club and on Saturday we will join our Breton friends in Club an Chonartha. Two workshops will be held on Saturday – sean-nós dancing and a workshop in Gaelic singing. During the day on Friday the Scottish visitors will pay a visit to an All-Irish primary school to share their music and language with the children there.

Reachtáilfear Féile Chomórtha Joe Éinniú i gCarna, Conamara ag deireadh na míosa seo, ón Aoine 29ú Aibreán go Domhnach 1ú Bealtaine 2011. Déanann an fhéile seo comóradh ar shaol agus ar shaothar ceoil an amhránaí chlúití ón Aird Thoir, a bhásaigh i Seattle agus atá curtha ina pharóiste dúchais. Is ceiliúradh cúig bhliana fichead atá i bhféile na bliana seo mar go bhfuil an fhéile ar an bhfód ó 1986, agus ag dul ó neart go neart.

Tugtar tús áite san fhéile don amhránaíocht ar an sean nós agus d’amhránaíocht thraidisiúnta i dteanga ar bith ach cuirtear fáilte freisin roimh an gceol úirlise agus an damhsa. Is í Róisín Nic Dhonncha as an Aird i gCarna, a dhéanfaidh an seoladh oifigiúil in Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim ar an Aoine 29ú Aibreán ag 7.30pm.

Siad príomh imeachtaí an chláir i mbliana: Seoladh an leabhair ‘Bright Star of the West: Joe Heaney, Irish Song-Man’ atá scríofa ag Dr. Lillis Ó Laoire & Dr. Sean Williams; Seoladh leabhair de Chumadóireacht Ceoil Mharcuis Uí Iarnáin as Ruisín na Manach – ‘An Chearc Fhraoigh’; Seisiúin Ceoil agus Amhránaíochta; Ceardlanna Amhránaíocht ar an Sean Nós, Damhsa ar an Sean Nós agus Ceol Úirlise (ceardlanna ar fad saor in aisce); Seoladh Dlúthdhiosca nua de chuid an bhoscadóir Danny O’Mahony as Ciarraí; Cuairt ar uaigh Joe Éinniú; Comórtas Amhránaíochta don Aos Óg; Taispeántas agus cur i láthair ar an Veidhlín Hardanger ón Iorua; Ceadal Píobaireachta agus Portaireachta le h-aíonna as Alba agus Éire; Céilí agus Seiteanna. Beidh taispeántas pictiúir agus ábhar ón bhféile le 25 bliain anuas ar bun i gcaitheamh na deireadh seachtaine chomh maith.

Bíonn an-tóir i gcónaí ar cheolchoirm na féile agus is cinnte gur amhlaidh a bheidh i mbliana, mar go mbeidh cuid de na h-aíonna is mó i saol an cheoil ag tabhairt faoin stáitse in Óstán Chuan Charna ar an Satharn ag 7.30pm: Na hAlbanaigh – Mairí Smith, Ailean Domhnullach & Griogair Labhruidh, Danny O’Mahony, Patsy Broderick, Mick Mulkerrins, Liz & Yvonne Kane, Róisín Nic Dhonncha, Bairbre De Búrca, Ciarán Somers, David Power, Pádraic Ó Flatharta, Rosie Stewart, Nell Ní Chróinín, Cormac Ó Beaglaoich, Emma Ní Shúilleabháin agus Torgeir Straand ón Iorua. Ticéid €20 le fáil ó Óstán Chuan Charna (095) 32255.

Tuilleadh Eolais :

Micheál Ó Cuaig – (095) 33599 / michealocuaig@hotmail.com

Áine Ní Chuaig (086) 3778055 / ainenichuaig@yahoo.ie

Beatha Seosamh O hEanaigh

The Joe Heaney Commemorative Festival of Traditional Singing and Music takes place in Carna Village, in Connemara, Co. Galway over the May bank holiday weekend: 29 April–01 May 2011. This annual event, celebrates the life and musical achievements of the legendary singer who died in Seattle, USA, and is buried in his native parish. This year is a special celebration to mark 25 years of the festival, which has grown from strength to strength over the years.

Pride of place at the festival is given to Sean Nós, and Traditional Singing in any other language, but instrumental music and dancing are also catered for. The official opening will take place at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim on Friday 29^th April at 7.30pm. Guest speaker is Róisín Nic Dhonncha.

Some of the main events in this year’s programme include two book launches: ‘Bright Star of the West: Joe Heaney, Irish Song-Man’ by Dr. Lillis Ó Laoire & Dr. Sean Williams; and ‘An Chearc Fhraoigh’ which is comprised of musical compositions by Carna flute player and maker Marcus Hernon; premiere launch of the long awaited solo album from North Kerry box player Danny O’Mahony; Sean Nós Dancing and Singing Workshops; Instrumental Workshops (all workshops free of charge); a visit to Joe Heaney’s grave; A presentation of Norway’s musical traditions with Hardanger fiddle player Torgeir Straand and Traditional Singer Arnfinn Staurheim; Children’s Singing Competition, where the Joe Heaney Perpetual Cup will be presented; Piping and Lilting Recital with artists from Ireland and Scotland such as Mick O’Brien, Seán McKiernan, Fiachra O’Regan and Allan McDonald; Céilí and Set Dancing.

An exhibition of photographs and material celebrating 25 years of the festival will also be held at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim throughout the weekend.

A main feature of the festival is the traditional concert which takes place in Carna Bay Hotel on Saturday 30th at 7.30pm. A host of artists will perform on the night, including: Mairí Smith, Allan McDonald & Griogair Labhruidh (from Scotland), Danny O’Mahony, Patsy Broderick, Mick Mulkerrins, Liz & Yvonne Kane, Róisín Nic Dhonncha, Bairbre De Búrca, Ciarán Somers, David Power, Pádraic Ó Flatharta, Rosie Stewart, Nell Ní Chróinín, Cormac Begley, Emma O’Sullivan and hardanger fiddle player Torgeir Straand from Norway. Tickets are €20 and are available in advance from Carna Bay Hotel (095) 32255.

Marcus & PJ Hernon & Family will provide music for dancing throughout the weekend, accompanied by the great Don Stiffe and there will be plenty of Informal Singing and Music Sessions held in Carna Village during the festival. All festival events available at: www.joeheaney.org

Ben Lennon was born into a musical family in Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim, in 1928, the eldest of four sons.  His father, uncle and grand uncle all played fiddles and his mother Sally played piano and could also play fiddle, accordion and banjo.  Their home was always open to callers and many of the locality’s musicians were regular visitors.

Ben Lennon

Ben received his first music lesson at the age of ten from a dancing master named Seán O’Donoghue, from Ballyshannon.  The young Ben also learnt much from nearby Fermanagh fiddlers John Timoney and John Gordon and from local piper, fiddler and flute player Francis John McGovern and ended up with a mixture of North Leitrim/ Fermanagh/Sligo styles. The old 78s coming back from America were also inspiring, especially those of Coleman, Morrison and Killoran.
Ben left for England in 1949 and, following in his father’s footsteps, he studied the clothing trade in London before returning to work in Limerick, Cork and later Donegal. In all these places he met and played with an interesting array of local musicians including the Russells, Paddy Canny, Vincent Griffin, Francie Donnellan, Séamus Connolly, Con Foley, Jim Sullivan, The Carroll brothers, Mick Milne, Dick Nangle, Joe Burke, Danny Meehan, John Doherty, Frank Curneen, Phil Rooney.
While working in Cork, Ben formed a band with Jackie Daly, Charlie Piggott and Gary Cronin, playing every Thursday night in summer in the Sunset Ridge Motel in Blarney. In 1989, shortly after retiring from the famed Magee & Co of Donegal, Ben recorded  Dog Big, Dog Little, an album on the Claddagh Records label with Fermanagh musicians Séamus Quinn, Ciarán Curran and Gabriel McArdle. He was involved in a family album on the Gael Linn label in 1993 entitled Dance of the Honey Bees and in 1999 he recorded The Natural Bridge, in the company of his many musical friends, sons Maurice (Stockton’s Wing) and Brian and his brother Charlie, also an accomplished fiddle player.
In 2006, he helped produce (with Charlie and son David) a tribute CD to one of his great heroes – local fiddle player John Gordon.  Ben’s music also features on Within a Mile of Kilty, a CD celebrating the rich  local fiddle playing area. His most recent recording, entitled Rossinver Braes, was recorded in 2008 and is a duet album with west Limerick concertina player Tony O’Connell.
In addition to his many TV appearances, himself and Charlie were the subject of a Sé Mo Laoch documentary profile for TG4. In 2007, in an unprecedented move by Leitrim County Council, both brothers were honoured for their music and awarded the Freedom of Leitrim.
He teaches at the annual Joe Mooney Summer School in Drumshambo and at  Willie Clancy Week and is often heard playing at various concerts, lectures and recitals.
A much loved character, he is affectionately known in traditional music circles as “Lord Leitrim”. His music is full of warmth, heart and Leitrim lift, with a strong emphasis on timing, tempo and phrasing and his name is synonymous with tasteful fiddle playing, rich in tradition and style. He now lives in Rossinver, just four miles west of his native Kiltyclogher, with his wife Patsy and can often be heard enjoying a tune with local accordion player and friend, Jim Connolly.
In 2011, he was awarded the TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Concertina player Noel Hill was born in 1958 in Lissycasey, eight miles south west of Ennis in Co Clare into a large family with seven siblings. His parents and grandparents, on both sides, all played concertina. Initially Noel learnt from his mother and father and he was also particularly influenced by his uncle Paddy Hill, a man who held many musical evenings in the family home. These introduced Noel to the to the playing of Paddy Murphy, Willie Clancy, Paddy Canny, Peadar O’Loughlin, John Reid, Mickey Hanrahan and many more. To this day much of the music he plays, comes from the music he heard as a child from these great Clare musicians.
His talent quickly became apparent and by the age 17 he had already recorded the album Inchiquin with the group of the same name: fiddler Tony Linnane, guitarist Tony Callanan and banjo player Kieran Hanrahan. Callanan and Hanrahan left to form Stockton’s Wing and in 1979 he teamed up in the studio with Corrofin fiddle player Tony Linnane. The result was the celebrated album Noel Hill and Tony Linnane, which won immediate recognition and is regarded since as a classic recording. Their unique blend of concertina and fiddle earned them live concerts at home and abroad and they also recorded with Christy Moore The Iron Behind the Velvet (1978) and Planxty: The Woman I Loved So Well (1980).
The two drifted apart when Noel moved to Dublin while Tony stayed in Clare.
1985 saw Noel duetting on another outstanding album. This is the masterful I gCnoc na Graí recording with Tony MacMahon and a group of Clare set-dancers, recorded in Dan O’Connell’s bar in Knocknagree, in the heart of Sliabh Luachra. This album captured the energy of a country house or pub dance in all its glory.
The Irish Concertina One followed in 1988 and was voted the Irish Folk Album of the Year.  He recorded Aislingí Ceoil in 1993 with Tony MacMahon and Iarla Ó Lionáird. From the mid 1970s to 1980, he guested on many recordings, namely those of Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Paul Brady, Christy Moore and Mick Hanly.
He is noted for his evolved style and his name has been synonymous with great concertina playing for the past thirty years. PJ Curtis wrote of him in Notes from the Heart:

“Here we have a stylist who has taken his instrument to new heights without compromising the tradition from which he springs . . . Noel shapes each tune as a finely sculpted piece of intricate musical art, delicacy and beauty”.

His most recent CD is The Irish Concertina Two recorded in 2005 with Alec Finn, Arty Mc Glynn, Brian McGrath, Liam O’Connor and Steve Cooney. One critic, described it as “a masterclass of traditional expertise and music accomplishment”.
Noel Hill has toured all over Europe, North America, China, Hong Kong and Australia and has taken the concertina from the house dances of Co. Clare to stages all over the world while at the same time keeping his style firmly rooted in the tradition of his native county. He teaches concertina at the The Noel Hill Irish Concertina Schools in Ireland and throughout the United States. He lives in Connemara with his two children, Ashling and Seán, who are continuing the family musical tradition.
In 2011 he was honoured with the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award.

Irish Minstrels and Musicians, by Capt Francis O’Neill (1913). A key work in the bibliography of Irish music.

Irish Folk Music – A Fascinating Hobby, by Capt Francis O’Neill (1910). Includes ‘Hints to Amateur Pipers’, by Patsey Touhey.

Pipemaker Bill Haneman from Skerries is to be congratulated for putting online these two very important books in the story of Irish music.

O’Neill’s The Dance Music of Ireland
O’Neill’s Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melodies
All of the Captain’s original scores

The Complete Collection of Irish Music, George Petrie. 1902. Ed. George Stanford. (In PDF format).

Annals of the Irish Harpers, by Charlotte Milligan (1911). Bunting, O’Neill and many more.
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Notes on the Beginning of Concertina Playing in Ireland, 1834 – 1930, by Dan Worrall:
http://www.concertina.com/worrall/beginnings-concertina-in-ireland/

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A History of Irish Music, by William H Grattan Flood (1905). From the 6th century to the harp festivals of the early 19th century.

On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, Eugene O’Curry (1873). Includes writings on ancient musical instruments. More Here.
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Irish Melodies, by Thomas Moore.
A classic collection with lots of lyrics and informative footnotes.
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Irish Melodies: The Original Airs Restored and Arranged for the Voice with Pianoforte Accompaniment, by Charles Villiers Stanford (1895). Includes notes by composer and academic Stanford. What a grand title!
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Songs of Old Ireland: A Collection of Fifty Irish Melodies.
The words by Alfred Percivel Graves, the music arranged by Charles Villiers Stanford (1882).
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Songs of the Glens of Antrim, and More songs of the Glens of Antrim, by Moira O’Neill (1922).

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The poets and poetry of Munster: A selection of Irish songs by the poets of the 17th century. With poetical translations by James Clarence Mangan, and the original music; biographical sketches of the authors; and Irish text revised by W.M. Hennessey, M.R.I.A. Ed. by C.P. Meehan, C.C (1884).

Joyce Collection of Irish Music and Song. By Patrick Weston Joyce. At the ITMA.

Ballad Sheets from the Leslie Shepard Collection. By Leslie Shepard (1917–2004).

Guide to Irish Dancing 1902. J.J. Sheehan (Seaghan O Siothchain).

Harding’s All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Dances. By Ed Harding, 1922.

Clare concertina player Noel Hill heads the list of recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil (Traditional Music Awards) for 2011. Born and reared in Caherea in west Clare but now living in the Connemara Gaeltacht, Noel is widely regarded as one of the major figures in Irish music whose concerts and recordings have developed the concertina to a new level and broadened its appeal to a new audience.

Initially Noel learnt from his mother and father and he was also particularly influenced by his uncle Paddy Hill, a man who held many musical evenings in the family home. These introduced Noel to the to the playing of Paddy Murphy, Willie Clancy, Paddy Canny, Peadar O’Loughlin, John Reid, Mickey Hanrahan and many more. To this day much of the music he plays, comes from the music he heard as a child from these great Clare musicians.

His talent quickly became apparent and by the age 17 he had already recorded the album Inchiquin with fiddler Tony Linnane, guitarist Tony Callanan and banjo player Kieran Hanrahan. His most celebrated album is undoubtedly Noel Hill and Tony Linnane, recorded in 1979 to immediate recognition and regarded since as a classic recording.

Another outstanding album followed in 1985. This is the masterful I gCnoc na Graí recording with Tony MacMahon and a group of Clare set-dancers, recorded in Dan O’Connell’s bar in the heart of Sliabh Luachra.

This year’s Gradam recipients represent a wide range of talents. Those honoured in the various categories include a legendary Leitrim fiddler, a world-renowned pianist and academic authority, an exciting young piper from the eastern shores of Galway bay, a Grammy-nominated Chicago-born composer and performer and a multi-talented West Kerry singer and flute-player best known for her playing with the world-renowned traditional groups Danú.

Gradam Ceoil TG4 now has its own excellent website: www.gradam.ie/

Gradam Saoil TG4 (Hall of Fame): Ben Lennon

Cumadóir TG4 (Composer): Liz Carrol

Amhránaí TG4  (Singer): Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

Gradam na gCeoltóirí TG4 (Musicians’ Award): Micheal O Suilleabhain

Pádraic Keane hails from Maree, Co. Galway, and was born into a popular musical family in 1991.  He is a second year student in NUIG doing a BA degree in Irish Studies.
His father Tommy is a well known piper, originally from Waterford, who was taught by the piper Tommy Kearney. His mother Jacqueline McCarthy is a very respected concertina player and is the daughter of the late Tommy McCarthy from West Clare who was a multi-instrumentalist playing pipes, whistle and concertina.

Ben Lennon, the eldest of four sons, was born into a musical family in Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim in 1928.  His father, uncle and grand uncle all played fiddles and his mother Sally played piano but was also a multi-instrumentalist. His brother Charlie, now living in Spiddal, Co Galway, is a well-known fiddle player and composer.
Ben received his first music lesson at the age of ten from a dancing master named Seán O’Donoghue, from Ballyshannon.  The young Ben also learnt much from nearby Fermanagh fiddlers John Timoney and John Gordon and from local piper, fiddler and flute player Francis John Mc Govern. The old 78s coming back from America were also inspiring, especially those of Coleman, Morrison and Killoran.
Ben left Kiltyclogher for England in 1949 and following in his father’s footsteps he studied the clothing trade in London before returning to work in Limerick, Cork and later Donegal. In all these places he met and played with an interesting array of local musicians including the Russells, Paddy Canny, Vincent Griffin, Francie Donnellan, Séamus Connolly, Con Foley, Jim Sullivan, The Carroll brothers, Mick Milne, Dick Nangle, Joe Burke, Danny Meehan, John Doherty, Frank Curneen, Phil Rooney.

Liz Carroll, fiddler and composer, was born in Chicago of Irish parents. Her father came from Tullamore and played the accordion and her mother’s father from near Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick, played the fiddle.
Liz began classical violin lessons at the age of nine from Sister Francine, all the while absorbing the Irish music her father played in the home. Soon she began attending meetings of the local Irish Musicians Association and hearing the great Chicago traditional musicians of the time, including fiddler Johnny McGreevy, pianist Eleanor Neary, accordion players Kevin Keegan and Joe Cooley, flute players Séamus Cooley and  Kevin Henry, and piper Joe Shannon. All this led to her win, at age 18, of the Senior All-Ireland Championship, and she began her life as a musician and composer.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, a native Irish speaker, spent the first few years of her life on the Gaeltacht islands of  Inis Oírr in Aran and Cape Clear off  the Cork coast.  Her father Feargal plays the fiddle and she frequently accompanied him to sessions in her formative years. Later, when the family moved to the West Kerry Gaeltacht of Corca Dhuibhne, she joined Siamsa Tíre, spending six years performing in their various shows. While in Kerry her singing developed, learning and gaining influence from local singers such as Áine Uí Laoithe, Eilín Ní Chearna and the famous Begley family.
She studied at the University of Limerick and was awarded an MA in Traditional Music performance in 2002. As part of the course she produced a solo album of tunes and songs entitled Réalt na Maidine/Morning Star.  She now works as a tutor in the university. She is singer with the group Danu and released her first major solo CD in 2006 entitled Daybreak/ Fáinne an Lae.

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin has balanced his career as a performer, composer, and recording artist with his academic work.
He was born in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and studied music at University College, Cork, under Aloys Fleishmann and Seán Ó Riada and gained a doctorate on the music of Tommie Potts is from Queens University, Belfast. In 1990, he was visiting Professor at Boston College, founding  Archive for Irish Traditional Music in America.
In 1994, on his appointment as the first Chair of Music at the University of Limerick, he founded the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. It has already graduated over 2000 students from over 40 countries from across the world in 13 degree programmes, many of which are the first of their kind in the world.

The awards were presented at a special recorded concert in the Wexford Opera House on April 2.

http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/clar/gceol/gceol.asp

Singers Sarah and Rita Keane were born in Caherlistrane, Co Galway – Rita in 1923, and Sarah c1919. They were the daughters of Matt Keane and his wife May (née Costello). Their father played Jew’s harp, while their mother, from a family of singers and musicians, collected songs; her large repertoire included Lord Donegal, a version of an old ballad Lord Lovel.
They were aunts to singers Dolores, Sean and Matt Keane.
Rita learned to play accordion and Sarah played fiddle. With their parents and siblings they made up the Keane Céilí Band, formations of which performed from the 1930s into the 1980s.
Singer Len Graham, who often visited the Keane home in Caherlistrane, wrote in Folk Music Journal in 2010, (Full Article):
“I was to become a regular visitor at their home in Caherlistrane over the years, where I enjoyed their music and kind hospitality. They soon built an extension to their traditional thatched cottage, which they called “The Northern Wing’, to accommodate in comfort the Ulster musicians and  friends, such as Joe Holmes, Cathal McConnell, and others, who would come along with me from time to time. The north-east Galway area was a Gaeltacht the day before yesterday, and one of the seminal collections of Irish song was made there in the early years of the twentieth century by Eibhlin Bean Mhic Choisdealbha, and published in 1918 under the title Amhrain Mhuighe Seola.
“Some of these songs survived in Rita and Sarah’s repertoire, including ‘Moll Dubh an Ghleanna’, ‘Sail Og Rua’, ‘Ta Mo Chleamhnas Déanta’, ‘Anach Cuain’ and others. In addition, many English-language traditional songs of local, national, and international interest are currently sung by various members of the Keane family. Sources for their extensive song and music repertoire came from family, neighbours, visiting singers and musicians, but a particular welcome was made in the past to the Irish Traveller community, who were regular callers to the Keane household and, along with their tin-smithing skills, were great carriers of the song and music tradition. This tradition continues in Caherlistrane with a whole new generation of singers and musicians in the Keane family”

The sisters came to national and, later, international prominence in 1968 through their widely-acclaimed album, Once I Loved, a collection of songs in Irish and English, produced by Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains for Claddagh Records. Paddy said they were so easy to work with and when they sang, they sang to one another and in perfect pitch and timing.
The album was warmly received. Eric Winter wrote in Folk Review that the sisters did not put a note wrong. “No pretences, no show, just an honest-to-goodness job of truly big singing.” (the album was reissued in CD format in the 1990s)
The Keane sisters graced many international stages and in the 1980s they performed on occasions with their niece Dolores and nephew Sean in Scandinavia and gave a workshop at the Stoehill Festival in the US.
In 1985 Sarah and Rita were joined by many other family members, including their singing sister-in-law Bridie Keane (nee Comer) on the album Muintir Uí Chatháin.
In 1997 Demon Records released Rita and Sarah’s album recorded in Caherlistrane by Barry Farmer and titled At the Setting of the Sun.
The broadcaster Ciarán Mac Mathúna counted Rita and Sarah among the greats of Irish traditional music, saying they had played a “crucial role in keeping traditional music alive when it was at its lowest ebb”.
In 2006 the sister were awarded the TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to traditional music and song.
They last sang together in public in May, 2009, in Tí Coili, Galway. Rita died a month later aged 85 on June 28, 2009. Sarah died on December 21, 2010.

Aoife Ní Bhriain, daughter of Dublin piper Mick O’Brien, has won the Seán Ó Riada traditional fiddle competition, broadcast live from Cork on Raidió na Gaeltachta. Martin Hayes helped judge the event via Skype from New York.
His fellow judges, Seán Keane of The Chieftains, and Liam O’ Connor, TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2002, were both present at the concert in Cork.

The winner Aoife was presented with with the specially designed gold medal, Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada, and the prize money of €5,000. She hails from Raheny in Dublin, and comes from musical stock – her father is the piper Mick O’ Brien, and her mother Fidelma, a music teacher, is an accomplished fiddler.
Aoife (20) began learning classical violin at the age of two, and never formally learned traditional fiddle, but picked it up naturally from the music she heard played at home. Speaking after her win, Aoife said she was absolutely over the moon, and still shocked that she had won. She is currently studying for a BA in Performance and Musical Arts in Leipzig, Germany, and will return there on Monday.
The competition was inaugurated by Peadar Ó Riada on his traditional music programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil in 2010 and there were over 60 entrants including musicians from France, Canada, Russia, Australia, USA, Ireland and the UK, and the 15 finalists included three fiddlers from America, one from London, and one fiddler who has travelled all the way from Australia to take part.
The Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada gold medal has been specially designed by Cashel goldsmith Pádraig Ó Mathúna, as well as €5000 prize money. Ó Mathúna took almost 4 months to design the medal, which is engraved on one side with a portrait of Seán Ó Riada and features a design on the other side inspired by Dán Aimhirgín – Song of Amergin – uttered by the Milesian druid Amergin as he first set foot on Irish soil. This side of the medal is done in the La Tene style to indicate rhythms of music, using repoussé technique. The medal consists of 2 silver plates back to back, and following the competition on Friday Pádraig will engrave the winners name and the year into the medal, and it will then be coated in gold.

The finalists were as follows:
Ivan Roberts Sydney, Australia
Micheál Cherry Dublin
Claire Egan London
Devin Sheperd Chicago USA,
Aoife Ni Bhriain Dublin
Rebecca McCarthy-Kent, Waterford
Armand Aromin West Warwick, USA
Tara Breen Co. Clare
Aidan Connolly Dublin
Heather Mullen Chicago, USA
Mairead Hickey Cork
Melanie Houton, Donegal
David Doocey Mayo
Martin Dowling, Belfast
Maedhbh Boyd Ennis

Sponsors of the prize include the Library in UCC, the Music Dept in UCC, Cork Co. Co and some private contributors.

Singer Sarah Keane

Sarah Keane, the last surviving member of her generation of the famous musical family from Caherlistrane, Co Galway, died on December 21, 2010. She was aunt of singers  Dolores and Sean Keane.
Sarah, who was 92, died at the family home at Carragh, Caherlistrane. Along with her sister Rita she had a store of rare folk songs and they displayed a style of traditional Irish singing in unison, which attracted interest among a new generation of lovers of Irish singing.
Sarah grew up in a musical home and, along with her brothers and sisters, played in the family band, Keane’s Ceili Band, for many years. They were frequently featured on programmes on Radio Eireann, especially Ceili House and in 1968 Sarah and Rita record their debut album Once I Loved, produced by Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains for Claddagh Records.
Paddy said they were so easy to work with and when they sang, they sang to one another and in perfect pitch and timing.
Rita passed away in June 2009.
The Keane sisters graced many international stages and in recent years they performed on occasions with their niece Dolores and nephew Sean around Europe and in Scandinavia.
In 1985 Sarah and Rita were joined by many other family members, including their singing sister-in-law Bridie Keane (nee Comer) on the album Muintir Uí Chatháin.
In 1997 Demon Records released Rita and Sarah’s album recorded in Caherlistrane by Barry Farmer and titled At the Setting of the Sun (Mustrad Review).
In 2006 the Keane sisters made a trip to Cork to collect a Life Achievement Award from TG4.
Since the death of her sister Rita, Sarah was lonely but still continued to take an interest in music and as recently as September she was present at a concert given by Dolores for the opening of the Tuam Trad Festival.

See Singers Rita and Sarah Keane

Irish traditional music has gone into space with the US/Russia joint space station mission which tooks off from Kazakhstan.
Astronaut Catherne ‘Cady’ Coleman has packed a traditional Irish concert flute given to her by Chieftains musician Matt Molloy.
Cady is a committed Irish traditional musician and told a press conference on December 14 that she intended playing Irish music in space, the first time it has been heard beyond the bounds of earth.
Matt Molloy told The Irish Times that he had met the NASA astronaut ten years ago after playing a concert in Houston.
“We had done a concert and as always we had a tune afterwards with local musicians. It transpired she played the flute and we have been friends ever since,” he told the paper.
He says Cady told her: “Your music always brings me to a special place so I thought I’d bring yours to one. I was really moved.” Matt said.
He says the flute that she will play the Irish music on is a very special one.
“It was made in the late 1890s or early 1900s and I could not possibly put a value on it but it’s very special to me. She is a fine accomplished flute-player so it is in good hands” he said.
Cady will be based on the space station for six months where she will join two Russian crew and another American

Singer Paul Brady has been awarded the 2010 Tenco Prize for Songwriting. The prize has been awarded to a songwriter every year since 1974, with previous winners including such talent as Joni Mitchell, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.

The award was inspired by the Italian songwriter Luigi Tenco, who died in 1967. Seven years later Club Tenco started up the prestigious prize, and the ceremony has been held every year since in the north-western city of Sanremo, Italy.

Brady began his career as a folk singer in the 1970s with The Johnstons. He went on to release his debut solo album Welcome Here Kind Stranger in 1978. He told Hot Press: “My decade of doing nothing but traditional music is a huge part of my musical history and still very much a part of my consciousness.”

Since then he has released 13 albums, the latest being 2010’s Hooba Dooba.

Dublin’s planned statue of Luke Kelly has become a victim of Ireland’s economic woes. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) had agreed to install a statue to honour the Dubliners legend at a cost of €85,000, but it has since retracted its promise because of its own financial difficulties. “Recently when the DDDA were brought before the council they made it very clear that there was no funding available,” according to Councillor Christy Burke. You were looking at €85,000, and I didn’t think that the DDDA were that short of funding that they couldn’t honour Luke. I was disappointed for Luke and his family, because meetings had been going back and forth for the planning and for locations for the statue.” A DDDA spokesperson said: “Docklands CEO Gerald A. Kelly stated recently due to the present economic conditions the authority is in no position to contribute financially to the project.” Cllr Burke, who first suggested the statue six years ago, said he has been left with no choice but to plead with U2 singer Bono — along with Phil Coulter and Enya — for the cash needed after funding for the memorial was withdrawn. Cllr Burke told Joe Duffy on Radio Eireann: “Bono said he’d never met him but that he was a great fan, and Mr Coulter sang with him, and Enya is out there in her Dalkey Castle as well. There’s also Chris De Burgh. “If they all got together, the money could be found. Luke would have been the main man at the time, and he was an ambassador for Ireland when he was abroad. He was a most respected figure. “Maybe some good guardian angel will come forward. I’m going to try and find a sponsor — this statue is a long time coming. Maybe the music industry and its senior figures would come together with their thoughts about Luke,” Cllr Burke added. Profile of Luke Kelly

There are two new books out -  from Len Graham and John Hoban.
Joe Holmes – Here I Am Amongst You. Songs, Music and Traditions of an Ulsterman, by Len Graham.
This an account of the folklore and repertoire of one of the most influential singers and traditional fiddlers in Ireland – Joe Holmes (1906–78) of County Antrim.
It journeys into the heart of a diverse traditional life in Ulster giving a detailed and comprehensive account of the world of a singer musician in the 20th century: one which knew little religious or community boundaries – with house dances and song sessions, mumming customs at Christmas, shinny playing, haymaking in summer, whilst journeying to other parts of Ireland to share music with great singers and musicians  such as Sarah and Rita Keane of Galway, John Doherty of Donegal and Denis Murphy of Slieve Luachra in Kerry.

It publishes some eighty songs of love, politics, early classic ballads, songs of emigration and of local interest, together with transcriptions of over fifty dance tunes ranging from mazurkas, polkas, schottisches, quadrilles, lancers, hornpipes to jigs and reels, reflecting the varied influences and traditions of Ireland and Scotland.

Singer Len Graham is a native of County Antrim who has been living for many years in An Mullach Bán, south Armagh. He is a renowned traditional singer with a rich recording history spanning over thirty years with over twenty highly acclaimed albums. More at Four Courts Press.

From The Plain of the Yew Tree: The Lifetime Journey of a County Mayo Musician, by John Hoban
This is the story of Mayo singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and teacher John Hoban. It takes the reader on a journey through music and time across the five continents. The author invites us to join him on his rambles through Ireland, London, Australia, America and many other places, meeting, listening to, and playing with every kind of ‘musicianer’. Poets, artists, writers, mystics and people from every walk of life are travelling on this mystery train with John as he unravels his life memories and explores his deep relationship of trust and belief in music.
Music has been his guide and his constant companion through good times, bad times and other times. Music has been survival itself for John. This tale presents us with the tapestry of a life lived through music, providing us with a rare insight into the life of a modern-day singer and musician. It’s tale told in an unmistakably West of Ireland voice, with humour, sensitivity and devotion.
John Hoban from Castlebar is known for the unique and deeply personal nature of his music. The ultimate multi-instrumentalist, he plays fiddle, melodeon, guitar, banjo, percussion, mandolin, mandocello, harmonica etc in addition to being a singer and composer.
The introduction is by Christy Moore who writes: “Meeting Johnny Hoban is always like a good Fleadh Cheoil for me.”

John also has a new CD out, called Episodes. More on both  at johnhoban.net

Following up on the success of An Jig Gig, TG4 is preparing another talent competition.This time the Irish language TV channel’s show will search for Ireland’s most entertaining family.
From The Clancy Brothers and the Fury Brothers to Clannad, or the sean-nós dancing of the Cunninghams, the Irish family has entertained us down the decades with traditional music, dance and song.
Over 13 episodes, the new show, titled Feis & Blood, will seek the family to entertain the nation.
All entries must be made up solely from family members and must consist of at least two people.
If you like to sing and dance with your brother, sister, parents or grandparents, the producers want to hear from you.

Do you sing, dance or play music with with your niece or nephew? Or spend Sunday evenings doing your own version of Riverdance with your cousins? Perhaps you enjoy playing music with your uncle?
To apply, go to http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/stud/feis/index.asp and fill out the online form. Alternatively, you can call 01-284 3877 and ask for Críona or Siobhan.

Once you have applied, you will be contacted to attend your local audition. From the auditions, the most entertaining families will be invited to take part in the show. If you are called to take part in the series, the next stage will be to record your first round show in Dublin.
The first round shows will be recorded on 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th January 2011. If you are selected for the show, you will only be required to come to Dublin for just one of those dates.

Bobby Gardiner was born in Aughdara, near Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, in 1939 into a family steeped in traditional music. His mother Delia palyed concertina and melodeon and his brother Mick was an accordionist, while his uncles Mick, Tom and Peadar Doolan played melodeon and fiddle.

Bobby Gardiner

The young Bobby soon began playing himself, starting on the concertina and, later on, switching to the button accordion when he had saved up enough to buy his own grey Paolo Soprani. “In those days there were no music lessons, so if you wanted to learn an instrument you taught yourself.
Since no teacher was available, tunes were often learned from old 78s: Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran, James Morrison, the Flanagan bros and the Westmeath concertina player William Mullally. Later on he would discover the recordings of PJ Conlon and Paddy O’Brien of Nenagh.
The house dance tradition was still going strong during Bobby’s youth and he spent many a night playing with his friends and neighbours, Micleen Conlon, Miko and Gussie Russell, Paddy Killourhy and Tom Doolan.
Bobby could recall the musicians sitting on an improvised stage on top of the kitchen table and being well supplied with bottles of stout and slices of currant cake. Further opportunities to hone his skills came when Bobby, not yet 20, joined the Kilfenora Ceili Band and later on, during a stay in Armagh in 1957, Malachy Sweeney’s band.
Bobby emigrated to the USA in 1960 and joined his sister Mary and brother Michael in New Haven, Connecticut, where he worked on the railroad and at other jobs. Two years later, Justus O’Byrne De Witt, who had heard Bobby on the Jack Wade Ceili Band record released by his label, contacted him to arrange the recording of the album Memories of Clare.
He also did some session work for Colonial records. “It all began in 1962 when I backed Paddy Killoran, we’d get maybe a couple of hundred dollars for a day’s work,” he told Irish Music magazine. “You’d go into the studio and cut a few sides, as simple as that, no drop in or over dubs, just play it straight. We didn’t even listen to the play back; the first time we’d hear what we had played was when the recording was released. The LPs must have sold well enough as they asked us back to make more. I only ever got my session fee for the recordings, we never earned any royalties and the label owned the master tapes.”
Although Bobby was drafted into the US army the following year, he was soon back playing at sessions in the Catskills with the likes of Joe Cooley, Andy McGann and Sean McGlynn.
“Bobby Gardiner was hot property then, recalled New York accordion player Billy McComiskey, who’s first contact with the B/C box was when he heard Bobby playing in the Catskills in the early 1960s.
In 1970 Bobby returned to Ireland with his wife Ann, settling in Burncourt, Co Tipperary. Over the years he made further recordings and toured with CCE in Europe, the USA and China. He continues to be in much demand, as a musician and as a teacher. He has been a familiar figure at Willie Clancy Week, playing at workshops for set dancers.
He has also become increasingly involved in teaching music in the Munster area, with the Music Department at UCC and, more recently, the Regional College in Waterford. Benny McCarthy of Danu is among his past pupils. He still plays both the old push/draw style and the B/C style “depending on the tune”. He likes the old style playing of Oliver Devaney and also enjoys John Regan, Joe Burke, Joe Cooley, Tony MacMahon and Finbar Dwyer.
He got married in Fermoy to Ann Kearney, a Tipperary singer. The newly-weds returned to America where their first daughter, Kelley was born. A call to the family farm a year later beckoned them back to Ireland and they settled in Burncourt, a small village in south Tipperary near the town of Cahir, where they had two more daughters, Fiodhna and Lynda. His playing has inspired all three daughters to follow his musical footsteps.

Discography

The High Level, Bobby Gardiner, 2010.

Bobby Gardiner – Accordion, Clare Records, 1958.
Memories of Clare, Gael label, 1962, reissued by Copley, 1995.
Bobby Gardiner at Home, Release, 1979.
The Best of Bobby Gardiner, CCE, 1982.
The Master’s Choice, Bobby Gardiner, Ossian, 1989.
The Clare Shout, Bobby Gardiner with Mel Mercier, Ann Gardiner, Lynda Gardiner, Own label, 1995.
The High Level, Bobby Gardiner with Mel Mercier, Ann Gardiner, Lynda Gardiner, Own label, 2010.

Bobby Gardiner with Marcus Maloney on Banjo

The Dubliners are getting their biggest crowds in years on a sell-out European tour – ironically because the band have seen their audiences swelled by the new wave of Irish emigrants.
“It’s been a shock to see so many of our best young people now trying to make a fist of it away from home,” says singer Patsy Watchorn.
“We love to see them but you wonder how many have been forced to leave Ireland. And it’s not just in Europe. John Sheahan used to organise tours in England once every two or three years. Now it’s far more regular. Every place is sold out – Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester. The Irish have gone back there looking for work.”
Patsy is currently off the road himself after getting a disc in his back removed. “The lads have gone off to Germany without me, but hopefully I’ll be back with them before the end of the month,” he says.
The Dubliners are 50 years on the road in 2012.

Ceoltóirí Chluain Tarbh, which survived the Clontarf Classac controversy in Dublin in 2008, goes from strength to strength. They were guests of Dublin Lord Mayor Gerry Breen at the Mansion House on October 29, 2010, where he unveiled the organisation’s new logo, and presented graduation certificates to CCT musicians.
The Lord Mayor expressed his gratitude and that of the City Council, for the huge contribution CCT has made to traditional music and the cultural life of the city generally.
CCT has been active in Dublin for nearly 50 years and many of the country’s best known traditional musicians learned their music with the organisation.
“CCT is busier than ever, said Maurice Mullen, Chairman of CCT. “In September over 60 additional children enrolled in classes run by CCT. This is an unprecedented intake of new music talent for us. Our adult music classes have also seen an increase in numbers, and we have exciting plans for developing our teaching, performance and social  activities for the future.”
Mr Mullen thanked traditional music followers everywhere for the support they have shown CCT, particularly since it’s expulsion  from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The Clontarf branch was dissolved by Comhaltas, without appeal, within months of the completion of the €9 million Clasac Centre on the Alfie Byrne Road in Clontarf nearly three years ago, he said.
Mr. Mullen said the 400 members of the Clontarf branch  had been treated disgracefully by Comhaltas but had shown their determination  to rebuild into a great new organisation of Ceoltoiri Chluain Tarbh,  to continue its work for traditional music in Dublin. “The support of the local community and public representatives has also been vital in helping us to bounce back and  grow as never before”.
He added: “Our new logo  sends out a clear signal of our pride and confidence in who we are and what we do”.
The row, which erupted in 2008, centres on an accusation by Comhaltas that the Clontarf branch mismanaged the finances during the construction of the centre. Comhaltas said the costs reached crisis point in 2007 when the project ran up €2m worth of debts to contractors which Comhaltas had to step in and clear.
Comhaltas also claimed Clontarf had tried to reclaim Vat on the building even though the ard comhairle had already received this refund in the form of a Government grant. As a result, Comhaltas dissolved the Clontarf branch.

Michael Flatley at 52 returns this week to the stage in Belfast as Lord of the Dance.
As he opens the show’s latest tour, with himself as the lead, Flatley says he’s not in the least bit worried that age has slowed him down, and that fans will be as thrilled as they always have with his world-famous dancing feet.
“I don’t see age as a problem,” he told the Sunday Express in London.  “Fifty is the new 30. Let’s be honest about this; now I’m older there are certain things I can’t tackle. One thing I am doing is preparing for the show much earlier. There’s no way I can it do it all in a couple of months any more.
“I keep myself at striking distance to fully fit, I never let myself go. People will not expect me to be a Rudolf Nureyev, but I’m planning to lift the roof off those arenas anyway.”
His Lord of the Dance continues to tour the world, and next year marks the 15th anniversary since the show’s debut in Dublin.
Michael will tour with the show until early December. His travels will also take him to Dublin for three shows at the O2 Arena next month, several dates throughout the U.K., and Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Michael and his wife Niamh, together with their three-year-old son Michael Junior, live for most of the year at their restored mansion, Castlehyde, in Co. Cork.  Little Michael, if his dad gets his way, will eventually head to England for his education.
“My wife has already contacted Hill House public school. I want him to speak with the confidence that comes with the right education and I don’t think he would get it in America,” he said.
Being happily married has also added to his joy, he says.
“God has really smiled on me. Every Friday evening Niamh and I dress up to the nines for dinner, and I take my wife to our formal dining room in Castlehyde. I pour her a glass of red wine and put on Frank Sinatra and we dance. That’s the best dance of my life, and I’ll do that every Friday evening until the day I die,” he promises.

Galway accordionist Máirtín O’Connor was confirmed a master yesterday when NUI Galway awarded him an honorary degree.

The celebrated musician, who was accompanied by his parents, wife Sietske and family, struck up a few tunes on his accordion after the ceremony. Two of his three daughters, Ciara and Sinéad, played the violin with him over lunch.

O’Connor began playing accordion at the age of nine, and was a member of many of leading traditional music groups including Midnight Well, De Dannan, The Boys of the Lough and Skylark. His first solo album A Connachtman’s Rambles (1979) established him as a solo musician and proved a major critical success. The Road West (2005) his fourth solo album featured 13of his own compositions, including the title track.

The box player has recorded with many national and international artists, such as Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Tanita Tikaram, Townes Van Zandt, The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Davy Spillane and The Waterboys. He was the first recipient of the Allied Irish Bank Traditional Musician of the Year Award.

Peter Horan, link to Coleman.

Co Sligo flute and fiddle player Peter Horan died on October 17, 2010, in the North West Hospice, Sligo.
Peter Horan was born on June 25, 1926, in Bunnanadden, Killavil, in Co Sligo. Killavil lies near Ballymote in that musical part of south Sligo which also gave birth to Michael Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran, Lad O’Beirne, Seamus Tansey and many others.
His mother, Margaret (nee Davey), played fiddle, melodeon and concertina and his father was a traditional singer.
Peter played with the Glen Ceili Band, made up of Killavil musicians and whose number included Fred Finn. He also played with the Coleman Country Ceili Band which toured America in 1972 and which included Seamus Tansey. He also enjoyed playing with Martin Whynne – the two grew up together in Bunnanadden.
He was known for having developed a unique style influenced by the local Sligo fiddling tradition. For nearly 30 years he performed as a duet with the famous fiddler Fred Finn. More recently he performed with Sliabh Luachra fiddler Gerry Harrington and the pair released a CD called The Merry Love to Play. He continued to perform and teach in Ireland and at Irish arts festivals around the world, including the Catskills Irish Arts Week and the Ennis Trad Festival.
In 2002 he received the Irish Music Awards Hall of Fame award. In 2009, St. Angela’s College Sligo and NUI Galway recognised and honoured Peter as one of South Sligo’s most talented and best known traditional musicians by awarding him an Honorary Master of Music. When Peter was informed of the Masters degree, he revealed that he had sung with the choir in Killavil Church for 72 years.
“His authentic, natural style, which is firmly rooted in the Coleman tradition, stands out as a unique musical talent and resource within our region and our country.. . .” the NUIG citation read.

He is survived by his sister Winnie, his brother Joe, his sister-in-law Maura, his son Paul and daughters Geraldine, Noelle, Brid and Olive, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Death Notice

Discography
Music of Sligo (with Fred Finn), Comhaltas, 1986, LP only.
Music at Matt Molloy’s (various artists), 1992
The Mountain Road – Tunes Popular in South Sligo (various artists)
Fortune Favors The Merry (with Gerry Harrington), 2005
The Sound of Coleman Country. Various Artists Featured Appearance (2006)
The Merry Love to Play (with Gerry Harrington), Clo Iar Chonnachta, 2007