Today we mourn the loss of Tommy Browne of Cree in West Clare.
One of the stalwarts of West Clare music, Tommy was a whistle player who would dance a few steps or give a few lines of a song if the occasion arose. Some of you may have seen him during the Willie Clancy week in recent years listening to his grandsons playing lovely music in the street and he himself would be a great crowd pleaser dancing a few steps.
Thanks for posting this. Sad news indeed.
I used to head out to Cree to meet both him and Tom Carey. He, Like Tom, was an absolute gentleman.
When he found out that I lived in Dublin he asked me whether I knew his son. I asked Tommy whether the son played music to which he replied “no, but he lives in Dublin”. I never knew whether he was serious or just pulling my leg.
Sad indeed John. I knew you’d be the first, and probably only, to respond. I hope you’re well.
Yes, himself and Tom Carey. I went to Walsh’s in Cree a few times a long time ago. One of their haunts.
I have a DVD Comhaltas did at some point, filmed over a long day in Looney’s beside the bridge over the Annageragh River. It was one of very few encounters I had with Comhalras but we were asked and what else would we be doing on a dark winter’s day..A large group played for sets for hours for the filming and some duets etc were filmed as well. Iit was very dark and misty by the time we got out of there and I had to drop Kitty Hayes back home. Anyhow, there’s a segment on the DVD with three whistleplayers , Tommy, Michael Falsely and I can’t think who the third was. A bit of chat and some music from Tommy, , if I remember correctly. Peadar Crotty, Tom Carry, Michael Falsey, Kitty Hayes and others that were there on the day are gone snd now Tommy as well.
All those links with the past, but the young Brownes have lovely music now, Colm in particular is a lovely concertina player. The wheels keep turning.
Willie week is in the air an, typically, it’s 13 C, gales and rain today. But the pipes are going well.