Just heard on the Clare FM of the death of Mullagh accordeonplayer Michael Sexton. Most wellknown to some of you as the leader of the Michael Sexton Ceiliband , through his playing for dancing at the ceilis at the Willie Clancy Summerschool and beyond. One of the stalwarts of Clare accordeonplaying he played long ago in the Miltown based Laictin Naiofa Ceiliband as well as many others, including the Kilfenora.
some photos of Michael Sexton & family/friends
more photos of Michael SExton with his hohner Box & his Ceili band in full dress
The Michael Sexton Ceiliband was quite active playing at dances, socials weddings and whatnot. I think I have photos of him. Very shortly after I moved to Clare Bobby Casey and friends were playing in O’Connor’s in Cloonadrum, on the road to Kilrush, just before the turn to Kilkee. I drove out in spite of the Atlantic storm brewing out west. Bobby was there, Junior Crehan, Joe Ryan, possibly John Kelly [Jr]. There were however three accordeonplayers, Michael Sexton was there, Kevin Taylor played a huge piano accordeon and there was a third one whose name I can’t remember. It was not the night of fiddlemusic I hoped for, mind you it was good, but a night was dominated by the three boxes. I shot a film on the night, so I must have a few shots of the boxplayers. Four of the people playing that night are now gone.
On another occasion Barry Taylor did a talk on the Laictin Naoifa Ceiliband, almost all surviving members turned up, and played for a few sets. I remember Paddy Galvin, Michael Falsey, Michael Sexton, Micheal Mahony, Aidan Vaughan played the drums but there must have been more playing. It was quit a nice night. For some reason I went out that night without the camera, haven’t quite forgiven myself for that.