Session
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- Darren Breslin at a Fleadh Session
- 1 November 2009
All-Ireland Senior button accordion champion for 2008, Darren Breslin takes the direct route to a session in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2009. From Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, Darren joins his grandfather Brian (on fiddle), Michael Curran (button accordion) and Gerry McMahon (guitar), both from Co. Tyrone. They play a set of reels: “The Boys of Ballysodare” and “The Bucks of Oranmore”.
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- ComhaltasLive #300-3: Jigs from a Fleadh Session
- 25 September 2009
A session in The Bridge Hotel Tullamore, taking place during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008. Musicians include Rosie Ferguson and Darren McGee on fiddles and Declan McGee on piano - all form Co. Down. They play three jigs, commencing with “Rosewood” and “The Woods of Old Limerick”.
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- ComhaltasLive #301 (Full Programme)
- 21 September 2009
This week we present some music recorded at the 2005 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, held in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. We also feature music from the Clare Champions concert of the same year, featuring returning Fleadh champions from that county.
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- ComhaltasLive #301-4: Martin Gaffney and Friends
- 17 September 2009
Martin Gaffney (flute), originally from Cavan and now residing in Dublin, and James Dillon (flute) from Listowel, Co. Kerry, play in a session recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2005 in Letterkenny.
They play a selection of reels: “The Belles of Tipperary” and “The Traveller”.
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- ComhaltasLive #301-3: Polkas from a Fleadh Session
- 16 September 2009
A selection of Sligo polkas played on flutes by Cavan native Martin Gaffney (now living in Dublin) and James Dillon from Listowel, Co. Kerry. They were recorded at a session at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2005, held in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
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- ComhaltasLive #301-1: Letterkenny Street Session
- 14 September 2009
Nuala Hehir (button accordion) from Co. Clare leads a street session at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2005 in Letterkenney, Co. Donegal. They play two reels: “The Skylark” and “The Humours of Lissadell”.
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- ComhaltasLive #302 (full programme)
- 12 September 2009
This week we bring you more music from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, including sets from Isaac Alderson (Uilleann Pipes), a fiddle trio from Pearl River, New York, the 2007-2009 Fleadh chairperson Attracta Brady, a street session from 2008, the Innisfree Céilí Band, Ronan Greene and Brian Lindsay playing in the fiddle competitions, and finishing up with some reels from the Allow Céilí Band.
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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 #291 (Full Programme)
- 7 July 2009
This week, ComhaltasLive includes the playing of Damien McKee (button accordion) and Séan Óg Graham (guitar), Áine Bird (fiddle), Ita and Matt Cunnigham (fiddle and button accordion), Mary Crowley (piano accordion), Coleen Shanks (whistle) and the playing of Pádraig O’Neil (fiddle) and Lindsay Moynagh (harp).
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- ComhaltasLive #291-3: Street Session with Ita and Matt Cunnigham
- 3 July 2009
A street session recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2003 in Clonmel featuring Galway musicians Ita and Matt Cunnigham with a lively selection of polkas. Ita won the All-Ireland senior fiddle title in 2000.
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- ComhaltasLive #281-1: Fleadh Session
- 1 December 2008
A selection of reels ending with “The Congress Reel” played by Sorcha Rooney (harp) from Sligo, Daire Mulhearn (button accordion) from Ennis, Co. Clare, Karen Hickey (fiddle), Fiachra O’Regan (uilleann pipes) and Pádraig O’Neill (fiddle) of Dublin. This was one of the many impromptu sessions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
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- ComhaltasLive #277 (Full Programme)
- 3 November 2008
This week brings more music from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, including impromptu sessions with the Maguire family, Mick O’Connor and Anton Mac Gabhann, along with Bronwyn De Paor, Dylan Foley, Aidan Connolly and Caoimhe Kearns playing in the under-18 fiddle competition.
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- ComhaltasLive #277-7: Maguire family session
- 2 November 2008
Another session by the Maguire family from Co. Fermanagh, with Christopher on accordion, Margaret on fiddle and Lorena on flute, with guitar accompaniment by Gerry McCaughey. They play a selection of jigs, ending with “The Wandering Minstrel.”
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- ComhaltasLive #277-6: Session with Mick O’Connor and Anton Mac Gabhann
- 1 November 2008
Next we present an informal session at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008 in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The session was anchored by Mick O’Connor (banjo) from London, Anton Mac Gabhann (fiddle), originally from Co. Cavan and living in Co. Meath for many years, and Eddie Whelan (guitar) from Birr in Co. Offaly. They play two jigs composed by Vincent Broderick, who died a few weeks before the Fleadh. The jigs are: “The Whistler at the Wake” and “The Old Flail.”
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- ComhaltasLive #277-1: Fleadh session with the Maguire family
- 27 October 2008
Christopher Maguire from
IrvinstownIrvinestown Comhaltas in Co. Fermanagh took second place in the Senior button accordion competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008. In this session, he is joined by his sisters Margaret on fiddle and Lorena on flute, with guitar accompaniment by GerryMcCaugheyMcMahon. They play a selection of reels, commencing with “The Limestone Rock.”The music was recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #267 (Full Programme)
- 19 August 2008
This week in ComhaltasLive we present Gerry O’Connor on banjo, a session and the Bridge Céilí Band from the Fleadh in Clonmel, Marion Collins on fiddle, concertina player Rory McMahon and Aidan O’Neill on fiddle.
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- ComhaltasLive #267-2: Session in Clonmel
- 14 August 2008
From Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Clonmel 2004, a session of reels led by the well-known McKeown family from Dublin. Uilleann piper Gabriel McKeown and his wife Mary (then on piano) were members of the Pipers’ Club Céilí Band who were the All-Ireland champions in 1975 and 1976.
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- ComhaltasLive #264-7: Some polkas from Monkstown
- 20 July 2008
A selection of polkas from one of the big sessions which take place every Wednesday night at Comhaltas headquarters in Monkstown, Dublin. These sessions have resulted in the publication of three books of session tunes, compiled by fiddle player and Comhaltas Projects Officer Brian Prior. Each book contains over 100 tunes arranged in session sets and is accompanied by a CD. Books and CDs are available for purchase from the Comhaltas website.
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- ComhaltasLive #256: Music from Fleadhanna (Full Programme)
- 25 May 2008
This week we present music from several fleadhanna, conventions and events around the world, including the 2004 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, North American Convention and Fleadh Nua, and the 2007 Munster Fleadh.
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- ComhaltasLive #256 - 4: Outside Session at Fleadh Nua 2004
- 22 May 2008
A group of fiddles: 5 in line with two reels: “The Bird in the Bush” and “The Skylark”. The musicians are Bernadette and Antón Mac Gabhann, Emma Woods, Garry Lynch and Anne Marie Mc Gowan who presented many of the early editions of ComhaltasLive.
This music was recorded at one of the many open-air sessions of Fleadh Nua 2004 in Ennis. Co. Clare. Fleadh Nua 2008 commences this weekend in Ennis, Co. Clare from May 18 - 26.