Best of 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 #285-6: Tin whistle player Clodagh Holland
- 11 February 2009
Two reels played on tin whistle by Clodagh Holland from Eglish, Co. Tyrone. The first tune is a lovely setting of “The Swallow’s Tail”, and the second is “The Curlews” composed by Josephine Keegan.
The music was recorded at the Ulster Fleadh at Warrenpoint, Co. Down in July 2004.
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- ComhaltasLive #285-5: Edel Fox and Shauna Davey
- 10 February 2009
Concertina player Edel Fox plays two reels starting with “The Bag of Spuds”, joined by harper Shauna Davey. This recording was made during the 2004 the Comhaltas Concert Tour of North America.
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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 #285-3: John McEvoy (fiddle) with John Wynne (flute)
- 27 January 2009
A fiddle and flute duet by John McEvoy and John Wynne fro Co. Roscommon, recorded in March 2007 at the Nyah festival in Cavan. They play two reels known collectively as “Moran’s Reels” - called after Johnny Moran, a fiddle & flute player from Elphin, Co. Roscommon.
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- ComhaltasLive #285-2: Nuala Hehir (accordion) with Liz Gaughan (fiddle)
- 26 January 2009
A selection of jigs played by Nuala Hehir on accordion and Liz Gaughan on fiddle. They learned the first tune from Clare concertina player Gearóid O’Halloran, and they associate the second with Leitrim fiddle player and composer Joe Liddy. Nuala is from Ennis, Co. Clare and Liz is originally from Manchester, England and is now residing in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. This recording was made in 2003.
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- ComhaltasLive #285-1: Orlaith McAuliffe plays ‘The Moving Cloud’
- 21 January 2009
Continuing our look back at a few items featured during 2008, this is concert flute player Orlaith McAuliffe, recorded in April 2007 at the West London Comhaltas 50th Anniversary Concert in Hammersmith. Orlaith has won several All-Ireland titles and is the current Under-18 champion. She plays a set of reels, commencing with “The Moving Cloud.”
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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 #284-6: Mulcahy Family in Concert
- 13 January 2009
We conclude the programme with a selection of jigs: “The Shaskeen Jig”, “The Humours of Castlefinn” and “The Carraroe Jig”, played by the Mulcahy family from Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. Mick Mulcahy is on button accordion, Louise on flute and Michelle on fiddle. The music was recorded at the West Limerick 102 FM Concert in Abbeyfeale in November 2007.
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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 #284-4: Innisfree Céilí Band Barn Dance
- 11 January 2009
2008 All-Ireland Senior Céilí Band champions, the Innisfree Céilí Band from Sligo play the “Peach Blossoms” barn dance. This clip was originally broadcast on ComhaltasLive in 2008.
Band members are: Cormac Mac Diarmada, Damian O’Brien and Oisín Mac Diarmada, fiddles; Máire Nic Dhiarmada Finbar McGreevy and David Sheridan, flutes; Paul Finn, button accordion; Oliver Loughlin, piano accordion; Charles O’Connor, piano and Daragh Kelly on drums.
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- ComhaltasLive #284-3: Ernestine Healy on Concertina
- 10 January 2009
A set of reels commencing with “The Pidgeon on the Gate”, played on concertina by Ernestine Healy from Claremorris, Co. Mayo, with accompaniment on the harp by Cathy Potter from Co. Armagh. This selection was recorded at the Comhaltas Tour of Ireland concert in Birr, Co. Offaly in October 2007. This ComhaltasLive video clip was originally posted in early 2008.
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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 #284-1: Banjo Great Gerry O’Connor
- 8 January 2009
To kick off the new year, this week we have selected some of the highlights from the earlier part of 2008. First, banjo maestro Gerry O’Connor plays two reels: “The Bag of Spuds” and “The Copperplate”, which were recorded in Gerry’s home town of Nenagh in October 2004, after the release of his CD “No Place Like Home.” Gerry is now in the final stages of completing his new CD.
