On June 27 fluteplayer Mick O’Connor will launch his long awaited history of traditional music in Dublin 1893-1970.
And no better man for the job. Mick has been gathering material for this for decades and has a unique collection of photographs (over the years have seen some of the material he was putting together). It’s great to see the project has finally come to fruition.
I just received my invite but I don’t expect to make it to Dublin (I don’t like the long, late drive back to Clare and prices of accomidation in Dublin when staying over are prohibitive) and will have to wait until the Willie week to get my copy.
Mick just gave the opening lecture at the Willie week, based on some of the content of the book and gave the book its Clare launch
.
I have my copy, it’s a truly monumental work, the fruit of decades of research and close involvement with music in Dublin (and all over Ireland) . It is a true labour of love.
When ordering, bear in mind the book weighs 2456 g. The postage will add up.
Below, Mick and his old Castle Ceiliband friend James Keane, surrounded by Mick’s children and grandchildren, playing a few tunes at the end of last night’s proceedings. :
Thanks for posting. Can you tell me, are the Arnold’s, pipers from Trim, Co. Meath featured or mentioned in the book regarding the formation of the Piper’s Club on Thomas Street?
I just checked the index of the book but didn’t see any Arnolds listed.
The link comes up as ‘no longer active’ which may mean a number of things. Mick told me he was keeping sales in his own hands until he had recovered costs. The book was selling like hotcakes so perhaps the print run has sold out?
I saw Mick in the last two weeks, but it was at a funeral and we didn’t get to talk. Probably best to contact him and see what the story is.
Míle buíochas!
The Arnold’s are my great grand parents, and Barney McKenna, my grandfather’s cousin. I was a pro musician most of my life and have been working at tseac.ie for almost 20 years.
Book purchased thanks. I got a number for Mick from a friend and I’ll drop him a line.
Just to come back to this: in today’s Irish Times, Siobhán Long writes a review of a number of books including this one and also The sorrowful and the great’ by Sean Potts about fiddler Tommy Potts. The latter as yet unmentioned here but wonderfully worthwhile if you are into the man’s music (and why wouldn’t you be?).
Having come this far writing this post, I now see the review is not yet online (I have the print edition in front of me) but I’ll insert a link when it becomes available.
