Tag Archives: concertina

DEEP in the leafy, rolling landscape of East Clare, lies a noted wellspring of traditional music. In towlands like Glendree, Kilclaren, Caher, Magherabaun and Maghera, a distinctive musical style and repertoire have been handed down with care and love. The village of Feakle has long been a focal point for this transmission of culture, drawing musicians from a wide hinterland stretching to Scariff, Bodyke, Tulla and Kilkishen. Establishments like Lena’s Bar brought together young, emerging musicians with legends such as John Naughton, Martin Rochford, P Joe Hayes, Francie Donnellan, Mikey Donoghue, Paddy Grogan, Joe Bane and Bill Malley.  At the feet of these giants, upcoming generations immersed themselves in the riches of East Clare. Among them was the acclaimed concertina player, Mary MacNamara. She and her brothers and sister sat by Lena’s hearth listening and learning for more than a decade.  This year, after a “labour of love,” and with the support of The Arts Council, Mary realised a life-long …

LISSYCASEY native and virtuoso concertina player, Dr Jack Talty has been appointed to the staff of University College Cork (UCC). The multi award winning performer, composer, producer and educator has a diverse range of academic interest and will join the staff of The Department of Music, as a Lecturer in Irish Traditional Music. Dr Talty is the founder of the traditional music label, Raelach Records, and, as a performer has travelled extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia. To-date, he has contributed to over 80 albums to date as a musician, producer, composer, arranger, and engineer, most notably with Ensemble Eriu. A Licentiate of the London College of Music, and a BA and BMus graduate of University College Cork, Dr Talty has been awarded the Mary V Hart Memorial Award; The Seán Ó Riada Memorial Award; a UCC Societies Guild Bene Merenti award, and a UCC Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann award.  He holds an MA in Music Technology from …

INTERNATIONAL tributes have been paid following the passing of the acclaimed Bellharbour concerntina player, Chris Droney, who passed away on September 9, at the age of 95. Broadcaster, teacher and musician Kieran Hanrahan, who spoke at Chris’s funeral on Saturday last, said, “He was a chieftain in Clare. Some called him a druid and leader.” The Ennis man credited Chris Droney with inspiring a blossoming of traditional music in the county town and across Clare. “When Chris would come to Ennis for the Fleadhs, he was really what I would call a mega figure,” Mr Hanrahan said. “He was a national figure in the ‘60s and ‘70s and yet he was still so accessible. He always had a word of encouragement, especially for the youth of Ennis in those days. He took a delight in young people playing music. He was always so lovely and so decent. As a person, he was unassuming and an absolutely gorgeous character.” In one …

ONE of the most interesting tunes you’ll hear on the radio this year is Ballyvaughan musician, Daithí Ó Drónaí’s Mary Keane’s Introduction. The track features Daithí’s grandmother, who is in her 90s, talking about having “several boyfriends” in her youth, resisting efforts to be set up with a Carron farmer and how she met her future husband in Kilfenora. Her words and laughter, combined with her grandson’s dance music, make for a sound that is absolutely unique and the track won Daithí a nomination for the Choice Music Prize Song Of The Year award. If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s well worth looking up on YouTube or Spotify. Speaking about it last week, Daithí said he wanted to push the limits of dance music a little, and do something with a strong theme. “That track was a weird one. I was writing a new EP and I had just finished a very strong pop album. I was getting a …

MAIRÉAD Considine can’t help but admit to clear pride at the fact that Moyasta will host up to 70 traditional music musicians this weekend for the 13th Crotty Galvin Festival. Her native townland, Shragh, is just a couple of miles away and it was while at primary school there that her love of music was honed. Mairéad attributes this to Yvonne Griffin, who taught her at Shragh National School. “She is definitely responsible for me playing and she is probably responsible for my career path as well. She was such an influence and so passionate. She used to teach me at break time,” Mairéad, who teaches at Ennistymon National School, recalled. This weekend’s festival commemorates the seismic contribution made to traditional music by the Crotty brothers and Nell Galvin. “Growing up, Peadar would have been one of the musicians you would have wanted to play beside. I would also have known of his younger brother, PJ. When you’re young, you …

CLARE concertina-player, Chris Droney is to be honoured with the TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award at TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2014, which takes place a the University Concert Hall on Saturday, April 12. This year’s Gradam recipients range over a wide spectrum of talents. As well as the venerable North Clare concertina-player Chris Droney, they include the Limerick-born doyen of Irish musicology in North America, Mick Moloney; one of Connemara’s most versatile sean-nós singers; a member of the latest generation in a Sliabh Luachra musical dynasty; and a trio of musicians whose musical collaboration has brought to life again a unique musical manuscript trove from Munster that had lain dormant for 130 years. Chris Droney has been selected for this year’s TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award. Born in 1924, Chris is a noted concertina stylist from Belharbour, who has followed in the footsteps of his father, James, and grandfather, Michael (1829-1927), who also played concertina. Chris learned to play by ear and parental …

LEGENDARY concertina player, Chris Droney from Bellharbour has been honoured as the recipient of this year’s TG4 Gradam Saoil (Hall of Fame). Chris was born in 1924. His father, James and grandfather Michael (1829-1927) also played concertina and Chris learnt by ear and parental example from the age of eight. He began his musical career by learning two tunes The Wearing of the Green and Clare’s Dragoons. His first public appearance was at the age of 14 in Johnson’s dance hall in Kinvara for which he was paid half a crown. He went on to play in several bands and from 1956 he won ten All-Ireland medals – nine solo and one for a duet with fiddler Gus Tierney. His son, Francis and daughter, Ann have also won All-Ireland titles on concertina. Many of his grandchildren are continuing the family tradition on concertina and some, most notably Daithí, are playing fiddle. In 2004 his contribution to music was honoured by …