I know a number of boardmembers will be travelling in these parts so maybe this is a relevant announcement for them.
A special concert will be held in Glor Irish music centre in Ennis Co Clare on June 9th: Brid O Donohue will present a concert of all her whistle pupils. It’s along similar lines of her annual Christmas concerts, which are always thoroughly enjoyable.
Appearing will be loads of young whistlers, many of whom will be doubling up on other instruments (fiddles, pipes, concertinas flutes, harps etc) , the band of older (13-17 year olds) pupils the Ceoltoiri Laichtin Naofa is a traditional group that will lift your heart. Ofcourse Brid will be appearing herself and will be joined by a number of special guests: concertinaplayer Kitty Hayes and myself will be appearing (and looking forward to it) and a very special appearance will be made by Paddy Canny, who for a very special occasion will be joined by his daughter Mary and granddaughter Eimaer on fiddles and his grandson Gerard on whistle and harp.
Several generations of musicians will be playing on stage, showing the continuity of the music of Co Clare.
I am just back from the concert and it was another brilliant night. Fair play to Brid for her effort organising this. The event was a testament to her ability to motivate young people and her ability to pass on her music to new generations.
Bringing whistles and music to young children and give them a good start and the enthusiasm to carry it on is a special gift and it takes a special musician to pull it off.
Concerts like this also show the essence of what ‘tradition’ is: continuity and passing on music within a community. Several generations played side by side on stage from the youngest whistleplayers of five-six years right up to Kitty Hayes, nearing eighty and Paddy Canny, going strong well into his nineties.
The concert itself was a mix of pupils from Brid’s music classes, a number of special guests, Brid’s own family group and a grand finale where everybody came on stage for the final few tunes. During the final tunes over a hundred children were on stage, playing whistles, flutes, fiddles pipes and concertinas and it was great to sit in the middle of them (with I may add my twelve year old son by my side playing the concertina ).
MC for the concert was fiddleplayer and Clare FM presenter Joan Hanrahan.
A few pics:
Twin whistleplayers:
The greatest of them all: Paddy Canny:
Three generations: Paddy joined by his daughter Mary Coughlan on fiddle and Mary’s children Eimear and Gerard :
Brid’s family (Deirdre, harp, Sinead, whistle, Sean, flute, Eiblish, pipes and Liam concertina):
