Céilí with Donie Nolan & Taylor’s Cross Ceili Band

‘’Music and Songs of West Limerick’’ presented by Donie Nolan

Join musician and singer Donie Nolan on the Friday afternoon of this year’s summer school for an informal hour or more of music and song from his native area of West Limerick. Donie, leader of Donie Nolan & Taylor’s Cross Ceili Band, is one of many renowned musicians and singers from this part of the country, an area steeped in a rich tradition of music, song and dance. Names such as the Mulcahy Family, (father Mick and daughter Michelle & Louise) and the Murphys, (Donal, Seán, Kevin, Eilish and extended family), from Abbeyfeale come to mind as well as a flurry of West Limerick box players including Derek Hickey, Dan Brouder, Domhnaill de Barra, Pa Foley, William Larkin, Gerald Culhane and the aforementioned Mick Mulcahy and Donal Murphy. Singers Con Greaney and Liam Woulfe, both from Athea, West Limerick, are just two names that spring to mind – indeed Liam’s dad Timmy Woulfe has been a regular attendee at Pat Murphy’s Set Dancing workshops and the céilithe in St Brigid’s Hall at the South Sligo Summer School down the years. Following Donie’s presentation on Friday afternoon, he and his band will be playing for the Friday night Céilí. A great day for West Limerick in South Sligo as we welcome them back to Tubbercurry after a brief absence of a few years.

‘’The Leeds Irish Music Community’’ presented by Des Hurley & Chris O’Malley

The Irish Community in Leeds has particularly strong musical, historical and family connections with the bordering North Mayo communities around Bonniconlon, Attymas, Foxford, Lahardane and Crossmolina.
Des and Chris will be joined by members of and musicians from the Leeds-Irish community now living in North Mayo and South Sligo - including Des's older brother Michael - for an afternoon of traditional Irish music, fond memories and reminiscence.

Untold Stories: The Irish Community in Leeds

https://www.untoldstories.co.uk/

‘‘The Significance of Bodhrán & Bones in Traditional Irish Music’’ presented by Junior Davey

The name Junior Davey is synonymous with bodhrán and bones playing in traditional Irish music circles and Junior’s longstanding dedication to his art is deeply rooted in a sense of place and a great understanding of the musical legacy he is steeped in and has been surrounded by all his life. A native of Clooneigh, Gurteen, Junior’s dad Andy was a fiddle player with his own distinctive style but very much reflecting the style of the area of Gurteen and South Sligo. This Wednesday afternoon presentation will put the spotlight on the percussive interpretation of the music and tunes and will be a fitting interlude during this year’s summer school, sitting perfectly between the much anticipated Tribute Concert on Monday night honouring Junior Davey’s legacy over many years as tutor and the Thursday evening recital, featuring Junior and his Bodhrán class – always a highlight of the week.

‘’Harmonious Traditions: Exploring fiddle & flute Duets in South Sligo and East Mayo’’ presented by John Wynne & John McEvoy

The distinctive sound of a fiddle and flute duet is particularly associated with this area and in their presentation, John McEvoy & John Wynne, both deeply rooted in the tradition of fiddle and flute duet playing, will share their love and knowledge of this particular duet combination. When one thinks of fiddle and flute duets from the area, the names Peter Horan & Fred Finn and Jimmy Murphy & James Murray immediately come to mind as well as the fiddle and flute duet combination of Tommy Healy & Johnny Duffy. This is just to name a few.
In more recent times, the fiddle and flute duet playing of Philip Duffy & Liam Kelly, Oisín Mac Diarmada & Damien Stenson and Cian & Caoimhe Kearins for example, all in their own way reflect influences from the South Sligo/East Mayo style of those duet players gone before them.
This link will bring you to the PDF of the booklet published by Topic Records to accompany the album ‘Memories of Sligo’, a recording of Tommy Healy and Johnny Duffy, with Reg Hall on piano accompaniment, recorded in London in the mid 1970’s. Tommy was from the village of Montiagh, a small cluster of houses in Curry parish near the Mayo border. He and Johnny were second cousins, Johnny’s grandmother and Tommy’s grandfather being brother and sister. The two cousins both emigrated to London in the mid 1940’s. Well worth a read to whet your appetite:

https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/TSDL335.pdf

Interactive Talk: ‘‘Trad Tech Talk’’ presented by Stephen Doherty