Feis Áth Cliath will take place in the Clasac Theatre on March 14th Register now! Have a look at recently uploaded photos on Photo Gallery

Welcome to my new blog

Please click on this link to visit my blog.  Be sure to check in frequently for information on upcoming gigs and to see what happened in the past weeks.

Avondale Workshop

The annual workshop in Avondale will be held on the weekend of April 24th-25th.  We will have a full programme featuring music, art & crafts, nature walks, sports and the history of Avondale.  We can accommodate only a max of 25 on the Saturday, but all are welcome for the Sunday activities.

 

 

Cuimhneachán Ceoil launches in Ring!

Attending from Dublin, Danny and Madge Deegan, Singers, Brian O'Connor, Uilleann Pipes, Eoghan Stapleton, Box, Lucy Costello, Fiddle, Pat O'Connor, Fiddle, Whistle and Guitar.

From Ring, Dungarvan, Mattie Fahy, Flute and Whistle, also his daughter Aoife, Ann Kelleher (Mulqueen) and many other local musicians.

 

 Traditional Music

Traditional music is alive and well in Cabinteely!  Not only is traditional music performed but at least one person is actively engaged in composing new pieces.

Pat O'Connor,music teacher, player and composer has recently completed a book, Cuimhneachán Ceoil, which contains 53 new compositions, as well as the stories behind the compositions.  As you know there is a story behind every piece of music!

The book contains the sheet music for each song as well as the story that inspired the music.  A CD of the tracks is also being produced.

We are currently working on a second CD which we hope will issue by the end of the year.  The new CD is being recorded in Belturbet at the Railway Road Studios and will feature the music of Fintan McManus, Eddie O'Kelly, Martin Donohoe, Brian O'Connor, Lucy Costello and Eoghan Stapleton

 

 

 

 

Samples From Cuimhneachán Ceoil

The book contains the 40 new compositions, with the sheet music followed by the story behind the composition and also providing a photograph of the subject.

One of the pieces is Did You Get Your Ticket From Arthur and here is the story of the piece:

Arthur is a wonderful old friend of mine, he is 85 years old, same age as Aunt Maureen, and one of life’sgentlemen.

Every Christmas for years, Arthur has been selling tickets for the Blackrock Hospice as part of the Cabinteely Cross Roads Ceili event. Nobody gets away from Arthur’s clutches till they buy at least one book. He politely stops conversations at tables and says "Did you get your ticket from me yet?" There is no point in saying no, because the book will be left with you for collection either later or the following week.

He is a highly respected member of Cumann na bPiobairi Uilleann, Comhaltas and he is also a fiddle maker.

Talking of fiddles, a couple of years ago on St. Stephen’s Day, I had Arthur and my family invited for dinner, Arthur arrived with a hand made Box Fiddle which he had only just completed. So as you already know, music takes priority in this house, so naturally, it had to be tuned and played straight away. He wasthrilled with the sound and the music continued for perhaps half an hour before I remembered that I should in fact be cooking. Well the spuds got stuck to the pot. I rescued what I could of the meal, and put on a bag of rice!

Listen to the track