An early warning for those planning a trip to Ireland:
On May 24th the second Tommy McCarthy Memorial concert will be held in Spanish Point Co Clare.
[this is also the first weekend of the week long Fleadh Nua in Ennis]
Last years line up made it probably one of the highest quality traditional concerts of the year and this year will be no different (I’ll post a programme as soon as it it becomes finalised).
The concert is held in memory of the great piper, cocnertina and whistleplayer Tommy McCarthy. All proceeds go to the Clare Cancer Centre.
Last year was a massive concert, the last musicianers straggled out the door at eight in the morning.
And it will be a rare opportunity to witness a concert appearance of the duet that is made up of the great concertinaplayer Kitty Hayes and myself (on pipes).
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-04-08 06:13 ]
I wish I could be there Peter. I once had the good fortune to be at Tommy McCarthy’s house in London, it was a birthday party, and all his amazingly musical offspring were there with him, playing great music.
I’m posting this because at this moment I’m re-listening to Tommy’s CD Sporting Nell, made quite recently in 1997, and would like to take the opportunity to recommend it to all board members.
Tommy played pipes, concertina and whistle on the record. Great playing, great tempo, great swing, highly recommended for anyone wishing to hear a highly skilled traditional player who is not trying to impress or show off, just letting the music speak for itself.
Another really great thing about this record is that the accompaniment is in perfect taste - there is none!
You can get the CD from http://www.custysmusic.com/ and elsewhere probably.
[quote]
On 2002-04-18 09:06, Teri-K wrote:
[quote]
That in itself would be worth the trip. I wish I could be there.
Teri
Maybe not, both Kitty and myself are nervous wrecks at concerts so we may make a complete mess of things.
Interesting glitch in the board that made it look like I edited your message. Which I didn’t.
Steve; Tommy also did a few set dancing tapes together with Eamonn MCGivney, seriously nice tunes on those, if you can find them.
And for those into other music, it was Tommy who played the tin-whistle on the 1970s cover of the classic ‘The lion sleeps tonight’
It is a great loss he is gone. You know, I was taking photographs of himself, Jacky Daly and Bobby Casey on St Pat’s day two years ago, we were messing a bit, they trying to duck from the camera, myself trying to get them anyway on a telephoto-lens. Tommy and myself were due on one of the floats, depicting a few parts of recent history, they had myself dressing up as David Trimble, orange sash and bowler and all that. Jacky thought it was an out-fit too dangerous to wear but everybody liked it, probably because they thought I looked like a ‘prod’. Anyway, Bobby was one of the adjudicators and so offcourse we won first prize for best float.
Six weeks later Bobby unexpectedly died. While waiting outside the funeral home to go in and pay our respects I gave Tommy a few prints of the pics, he was obviously moved. Hardly two months later we went up the same road again for his own funeral.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-04-24 15:26 ]
One of the organisers, Jim Carroll has provide a list of the artists apearing at the concert at the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point startin 8.30.
If you can, go.
McCarthy Family (Jacqueline, Marion, Bernadette, Tommy), Tom’s grandchildren (Annie-Ruth, Siobhan, Lucy, Maisie, Padrac), Henry Benagh, Nollaig Casey & Arty McGlynn, Miriam Collins and Clare concertina players, Ollie Conway, Eamon & Geraldine Cotter, Ita Crehan, Angela Crotty, Jackie Daly, Tim Dennehy, Maeve Donnelly, Mick & Jane Flynn, Kitty Hayes, Noel Hill & Brian McGrath, Michael Hynes, Maire & Conor Keane, Tommy Keane, John Kelly, Peter Laban, Tony Linnane, Patrick Lynch, John Lyons, Padraig MacMathuna, Sean MacNamara, Eamon McGivney, Meati Jo Sheamuis O Fatharta, Brid O Donoghue, Sean Talty, Michael Tubridy, The Young Mullagh Set Dancers
Peter
I only wanted to say how much I appreciate your informative event notices as well as all your other postings. (I don’t know how you have managed to resist responding as yet to the thread about comparing Irish Traditional to jazz music, but I’ve been anxiously awaiting))
I wish I could visit Ireland again next month to hear you and all the other very fine musicians, but I can’t this year, so here’s what I will do…I shall in about an hour release a pint of Guiness from its present confinement, effect a full and complete transfer to its new temporary container, and whistle my very favorite tune in honour of your fine self…
Slainte, or as we say here, May your Puck always find the Net !
[Aside: “Puck” is a Canadian reference to the propelled object in ice hockey, and is not a form of goat]
Just posting this to get the concert on top of the list again and bring it to your attention. Surely at least a few of you could be able to make it?
Steve[and others interested] , the tape I mentioned above is Set dances of Ireland vol. 1 The musicians are Tommy McCarthy, Eamon McGivney, Michael Tubridy and Junior Crehan.
The music is for two Clare sets ; ‘the Myserks’ and ‘the Orange and Green’ and music for ‘a Stack of Barley.’. Jigs reels hornpipes a few polkas and some single jigs played for dancers. Tight music that doesn’t need or get enhancing. Pure Clare music played on concertina fiddles and flute. Michael Tubridy said it was the nicest recording he ever worked on, the Chieftains can stick that one in their pocket.
Another CD I may suggest in this context is ‘Gleeson’s revellers; Dear friends we meet ; a session recorded on the 16 of june 2000 in aid of the Clare 250 Cancer Centre’ All proceeds of this recording go to the Cancer centre. The music was recorded live by many of the sundaynight ‘regulars’; There are solo duet trio and group tracks [the group playing for the dancers] Among the instrumentalists both Jackie Daly and Conor Keane play accordeon, Geoff Wooff , Susie Cox and Kitty Hayes play concertina, Michael Downes and John Joe Tuttle play fiddles just to name a few; there’s lovely singing from Rosie Day, Roisin White, Aine ni Cheallaigh, Kitty Hayes, Vincent Boyle and others.
The recording is generally considered to capture the atmosphere of the session well, it is well worth having and buying it supports a great cause. Both the Knotted Chord and Custy’s will have some copies left.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-05-05 12:34 ]
Eh Peter,
I would have liked to be able to see you perform, but I have a trip to Paris planned with my girlfriend on the concert’s weekend. Maybe if we break up until then… 
I had a question for you, would you happen to know a whistle and flute player called Geraldine “something”. She’s about thirty, kinda blond short hair. She was my whistle teacher at Willie Clancy last july, and she lives in Ennis. She plays often in a pub in Ennis, with a buddy of hers who also plays flute. Well, I know this sounds like “do you know someone called John who has a blue jacket” but I would like to get back to her and get some private lessons at one point, and maybe by any chance you’d have her information.
I’m actually thinking about moving from Limerick city to Ennis at one point. The music in Limerick, well, sucks. (from my point of view). At least compared to what I could get in Ennis. I don’t know why I’m telling you this, it’s good to have someone to talk to sometimes I guess
On 2002-05-05 12:37, Azalin wrote:
I had a question for you, would you happen to know a whistle and flute player called Geraldine “something”. She’s about thirty, kinda blond short hair. She was my whistle teacher at Willie Clancy last july, and she lives in Ennis. She plays often in a pub in Ennis, with a buddy of hers who also plays flute. Well, I know this sounds like “do you know someone called John who has a blue jacket” but I would like to get back to her and get some private lessons at one point, and maybe by any chance you’d have her information.
I’m actually thinking about moving from Limerick city to Ennis at one point. The music in Limerick, well, sucks. (from my point of view). At least compared to what I could get in Ennis. I don’t know why I’m telling you this, it’s good to have someone to talk to sometimes I guess >
Most likely Geraldine McNamara, she plays a lot with Siobhan Peoples, Josephine Marsh and that crowd. More a flute player though that one.
Yeah, no music to speak of in Limerick city and Co alike. Clare’s the place for it.
Not in Kinvarra so this weekend are you
Peter,
I might actually be able to make it to the concert. Do you know how much is a ticket, and if buying the same day is safe enough? Have you heard of a cheap B&B around town? Thanks.
On 2002-05-06 17:17, Azalin wrote:
Peter,
I might actually be able to make it to the concert. Do you know how much is a ticket, and if buying the same day is safe enough? Have you heard of a cheap B&B around town? Thanks.
I would have liked to be able to see you perform, but I have a trip to Paris planned with my girlfriend on the concert’s weekend. Maybe if we break up until then…
Well, better not speculate on that last one.
It’s a tenner to get in, I think you’ll get in on the night, tickets can be had at Custy’s and Knotted Chord and locallly. Plenty of B&B’s Barker’s is close to Spanish Point and you can book it over the net
Sporting Nell is (also) available now at the Shanna Quay online store, just in case you can’t find it elsewhere.
Steve
http://www.shannaquay.com
Thought you had your commercial posting already this month
;-0
That Last posting was merely helpful Peter, rather than commercial.
(If you believe that, you can fold gravy!)
Steve
[ This Message was edited by: The Weekenders on 2002-05-08 15:27 ]
I don’t mind Steve “get it at Shanna Quay” posts, but I think that the price is putting up with all the ribbing and quips that others choose to im part on him.
So, Steve, if you complain about Peter’s posts, I’ll go back to the Whistleshop. 
I think Peter’s Posts are brilliant!
Steve 
(honest)
If I had Loren’s temperament I would step in and call you a liar and a troll but I think I better leave you to it Steve.
On 2002-05-09 03:35, Peter Laban wrote:
If I had Loren’s temperament I would step in and call you a liar and a troll but I think I better leave you to it Steve.
Sounds like you just did, Peter (only not as honestly as Loren would do). I don’t consider myself to be a liar. I don’t know what a troll is, to be honest, so I can’t comment. I do think that when you want to insult someone, though, you have to tell them straight. Most of the time, you hide you barbed insults behind jokes, which always get my hackles up. I’ll just tell you right out, as I did in my private mail to you. I’m not really one for street brawls, I think it’s undignified, but I am capable of standing up for myself. At least this time, you didn’t wink and joke. it’s an improvement.
By the way, I had a long chat with Paddy Keenan last night, both before his gig at Dolans, and then afterwards (and Tommy O’Sullivan, too). It turns out that he did found the Bothy Band!
Steve
Darn I knew I missed something, the Paddy Keenan “concert” !
Oh well, from what I know a troll is a disgusting creature that can regenerate itself when hurt, so when it’s dying you gotta destroy it with fire or acid or something. I think that in D&D a troll is somwhat a strong creature, but nothing compared to a Leach or Vampire…
Kay, so now you’ll be able to understand Peter’s insults, or your next reply to a commerical post…