Piano
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- ComhaltasLive #300-2: Jigs from 2008 Scoil Éigse Tutors
- 24 September 2009
Three Scoil Éigse Tutors from 2008 play a selection of three jigs, commencing with “An Lurgadán” (by Junior Crehan) and ending with “The Geese in the Bog”. The performers are: Eibhlín Ní Mháille (banjo), Edel McLoughlin (piano accordion) and Gráinne Hambly (harp), and the music was recorded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #300-1: Barn dances from Tullamore
- 23 September 2009
We present a selection of Barn Dances played by Scoil Éigse Tutors at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, fimed in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.. Playing here are Niall Keegan (flute), Gary Lynch (fiddle), Peter Staunton (accordion) and Ann Marie Acosta (piano). The tunes were all originally recorded by Michael and James Morrison in the 1920s/30s.
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- ComhaltasLive #302-4: Fleadh Session from 2008
- 7 September 2009
A street session at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008 in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, including: accordion player Tom Lawlor from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Teresa Larkin (piano accordion) and Dermot Maher (bodhrán), both from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, and Joanne Ward from Castleconnell, Co. Limerick on fiddle.
They play two reels: “George White’s” and “The Corner House”, which was composed by Paddy Kelly. Incidentally, Tom is also well known as a repairer and tuner of accordion and concestinas and has manufactured a number of accordions.
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- ComhaltasLive Programme #289
- 21 June 2009
This week we bring you the fine playing of Jimmy Keane and Seán Cleland from Chicago, Dylan Foley, Rose Flanagan and Donal Clancy from New York, Aisling Mc Phillips from Fermanagh, Dean Warner of Armagh, Sligo player Deirdre Hurley and the Bridge Céilí Band.
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- ComhaltasLive #289-4: Piano Accordion player Dean Warner
- 17 June 2009
Piano accordion player Dean Warner from Lurgan, Co. Armagh plays a set of jigs. Dean is originally from Leeds, England.
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- ComhaltasLive #289-1: Jimmy Keane and Seán Cleland from Chicago
- 14 June 2009
Chicago, USA musicians Jimmy Keane (piano accordion) and Seán Cleland (fiddle) play a selection of reels: “Johnny Doherty’s March”, “Mother’s Delight”, “The Mountain Road” and “Mc Fadden’s Handsome Daughter”. This recording was made at the North American Comhaltas Convention held in Parsippany, New Jersey in March 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #285 (Full Programme)
- 12 February 2009
We continue to take a look a look back at some favourite selections from ComhaltasLive in 2008. We feature the playing of Orlaith McAuliffe (flute), Nuala Hehir (accordion) with Liz Gaughan (fiddle), John McEvoy (fiddle) with John Wynne (flute), Billy McComiskey (button accordion) with Felix Dolan (piano), Edel Fox (concertina) with Shauna Davey (harp), and whistle player Clodagh Holland.
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- ComhaltasLive #285-4: From North America, Billy McComiskey and Felix Dolan
- 28 January 2009
Recorded at the Comhaltas Convention of North America held in Parsippany, New Jersey in April 2004 are Billy McComiskey (button accordion) and Felix Dolan (piano). They play two jigs composed by Billy and called after his two grandmothers: “Nora Sweeney’s” and “Elizabeth Cullen’s”.
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- ComhaltasLive #284 (Full Programme)
- 14 January 2009
To kick off the new year, this week we have selected some of the highlights from the earlier part of ComhaltasLive in 2008. We hope you enjoy these fine players, including Gerry O’Connor (banjo), the band Cruinniú, Ernestine Healy (concertina), Cathy Potter (harp), the Innisfree Céilí Band, Joe (button accordion) and Joannie Madden (flute), Felix Dolan (piano) and the Mulcahy family of Mick (button accordion), Louise (flute) and Michelle (fiddle).
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- ComhaltasLive #284-5: Joe and Joannie Madden
- 12 January 2009
Sadly, the end of 2008 saw the passing of one of the most popular of Irish traditional musicians in the USA, accordionist Joe Madden. Joe emigrated from his native Co. Galway in 1956. This set of reels, featuring Joe, his daughter Joannie (one of the great exponents of the concert flute and leader of “Cherish the Ladies”) and Felix Dolan on piano was recorded in April 2004 at the Comhaltas North American Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey. Joe introduces the reels, including “The Caucus” and two which he learned from the playing of Mike Rafferty and Johnny Doherty. The wonderful rapport between himself and Joannie is evident in the music.
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- ComhaltasLive #284-2: Cruinniú at Nyah
- 9 January 2009
A selection of reels played by the group “Cruinniú” at the Nyah Festival in Cavan in March 2007. The first two reels, composed by Vincent Broderick, are “The Milky Way” and “The Crock of Gold”. The third reel is “The Green Mountain”. The Nyah Festival is organised each year by Cavan accordion player and teacher Martin Donohoe.
The members of the group are: Áine Bird (fiddle), Anne Marie Grogan (flute), Caitlín Ní Gabhann (concertina), Siobhán O’onnell (bodhrán and vocals), Jack Talty (piano) and Ryan Graham (guitar). Accordionist Damien O’Reilly was unavoidably absent on the night.
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- ComhaltasLive #283 (Full Programme)
- 4 January 2009
This week on ComhaltasLive we feature members of Craobh Bheartla Uí Fhlatharta Comhaltas in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, including the champion concertina/fiddle duet of Gearóid and Seán Keane, Ciarán Fitzgerald on flute and concertina, his sister Áine on concertina, the entire Fitzgerald family playing together, and Seán and Gearóid Keane joined by Cormac Murphy.
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- ComhaltasLive #283-5: The Fitzgerald Family
- 2 January 2009
A selection of jigs featuring all the Fitzgerald family of Celbridge, Co. Kildare: Áine (concertina), Seán (fiddle), Ciarán (fiddle) and their parents John (button accordion) and their mother Mary (piano).
The first jig was composed by Ciarán at 11 years of age and is called “The Ballyferriter Jig”. They learned the second tune from fiddle player Liz Keane, and the third tune is “Princess Nancy”.
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- ComhaltasLive #283-4: Áine Fitzgerald playing Concertina
- 1 January 2009
The youngest member of the Fitzgerald family at ten years old, Áine plays two reels on concertina: “The Chicago Reel” and “The Providence Reel” with piano accompaniment by her father John. Áine, who took third place on under-12 whistle at the 2008 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is also an accomplished sean-nós singer.
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- ComhaltasLive #283-3: Ciarán Fitzgerald on Concertina
- 31 December 2008
Now on concertina, Ciarán Fitzgerald plays two reels: “Master Crowley’s” and “Paddy Fahy’s” with his father John, originally from Co. Kerry, on piano.
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- ComhaltasLive #283-2: Ciarán Fitzgerald on Flute
- 30 December 2008
A set of reels: “Bonnie Kate” and “Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel” played by the current All-Ireland under-12 concertina champion Ciarán Fitzgerald. He has also won All-Ireland titles in concert flute and English singing. Ciarán here plays concert flute with his father, John, on piano.
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- ComhaltasLive #282 (Full Programme)
- 28 December 2008
This week on ComhaltasLive we feature the fine playing of the Under-18 Trio champions Niamh Keegan (fiddle), Siobhán Rafferty (piano accordion) and Áine Hogan (flute), the Scoil Éigse tutors Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh (concertina) and Danny O’Mahony (button accordion), duet champions Gearóid (concertina) and Seán Keane (fiddle), the playing of Fionnán Mac Gabhann (uilleann pipes) with Conor Hanrahan (guitar), the trio of Dylan Foley (fiddle), Blaithín Loughran (button accordion) and Céitlin Finlay (banjo), concluding with Sean Nós dancer Brian Cunningham at the Scoil Éigse 2008 tutors’ concert.
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- ComhaltasLive #282-1: Under-18 Trio Champions
- 18 December 2008
2008 All-Ireland Under-18 Trio champions play a set of reels: “The Belles of Tipperary” and “St. Ruths’ Bush”. The musicians are: Niamh Keegan (fiddle), Siobhán Rafferty (piano accordion) and Áine Hogan (flute), all from the Castleconnell/Ahane/Herbertstown branch of Comhaltas in Limerick. Incidentally, all three were members of Carraig Áille Grúpa Cheoil, which also won first place.
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- ComhaltasLive #280-1: Darren McGee and Rosie Ferguson
- 20 November 2008
Three reels played by fiddle players Darren McGee and Rosie Ferguson, with guitar accompaniment by Declan McGee, all from Co. Down. The first reel (in the key of C), is associated with Larry Redigan and Andy McGann, the second (in F) is “The Humours of Westport”, and the third is “Roaring Mary.”
The music was recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #272 - Full Programme
- 21 September 2008
This week we bring you more from the Scoil Éigse Tutors’ Concert at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, including Ernestine Healy (concertina) with Geraldine O’Callaghan (fiddle), Janet Harbison (harp) with Mícheál Ó hAlmhain (whistle), Sabina McCague (harp), Máire Nic Dhiarmada (flute), Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes) and Oisín Mac Diarmada (fiddle) with Pádraig King (button accordion), Eileen Gannon (harp) and Kelly Winter (piano accordion) with Seán Cleland (fiddle), seán-nós dancing by Brian Cunningham and an item from the full complement of tutors.