The New Road/Cathal McConnell’s
This track is from our 2006 CD, Concert Tour of North America 2006.
The new road is a well known tune throughout Ireland. Published as a two-part reel in O’Neill’s Music of Ireland 1850 Melodies Collection, the third part that is now played is attributed to Paddy Fahey. The new road was also a great favourite of Ray Rolland,the accordion player from east Galway,who was one of the stalwarts of the London Irish Music scene from the late 1950s through to the 1970s.Whereas the tune is often heard with each part doubled,each part here is played only once,as Raymond Roland played and recorded it.
The second reel is a composition of the Fermanagh flute-player/singer and entertainer Cathal McConnell, one of the founding members of the one of the earliest groups to become internationally famous ‘The Boys of the Lough’.It was recorded by another internationally acclaimed group,Buttons and Bows,and thus continued to become one of the relatively new compositions which became absorbed into the general repertoire.This tune has particularly fond memories for the American CCÉ Tour 2006 Group.While on tour in Ireland Pádraig McGovern played this tune as one of his solo reels. Pádraig’s interpretation of the tune – including his intricate use of regulators- became a favourite with the entire group, musicians,singers and dancers alike,but no-one was more enthusiastic than Nora Butler who was constantly to be heard humming the tune,and invariably after a time the reel became known as ‘Nora’s Tune’to the group.
- Date
- 5 December 2006
- Tune
- The New Road/Cathal McConnell’s
- Created By
- Trad./Cathal mcConnell
- Source
- Concert Tour of North America 2006
| Performers/Subjects | Instruments |
|---|---|
| Comhaltas Concert Tour 2006 Musicians |
Comments
- Breandán
- 7 March 2007
- 9:03 AM GMT
Kenny, a chara—thanks for the well-considered response! I’ll pass this along to the person who researched the liner notes for the CD, and get back to you with a response.—Breandán
Hi,
Congratulations on posting some very fine music on the internet. Recordings such as these are a very valuable resource to musicians outside of Ireland, and much appreciated.
I would respectfully query your assertion, however, that Cathal McConnell composed the tune which you ascribe his name to. This reel was recorded by both Finbar Furey and Tommy Keane as “The Old Pigeon On The Gate” several years before “Buttons & Bows” recorded it under that name. I had always assumed that they had named it after Cathal because they had learned the tune from his playing, rather than him composing it. I posted this tune on the “session” website, and it was pointed out to me that it is in fact a major-key version of the better-known “Pigeon On The Gate” in E minor. I may be wrong, but to my knowledge, Cathal has never claimed authorship of this tune. Is there any basis for your assertion that he composed the reel other than it being given his name on the “Buttons & Bows” recording? I have a genuine interest in this, being a firm believer that composers should alway be given credit for their music, and indeed will ask Cathal about this the next time I see him.
Yours Sincerely,
Kenny Hadden [ Aberdeen, Scotland ]