Book Launch at Kruger's Pub

Last Sunday there was a celebration for the posthumous launch of the biographical book Are you Going Home Now? by Michael Delaney (Mícheál Ó Dubhshláine.) The event took place at Kruger’s Pub in Dún Chaoin which is said to be the most westerly pub in Ireland. Michael was, until his recent retirement, the principal of Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Gobnait, Dún Chaoin and was once at the centre of a local controversy that became a national issue. It was even featured as cover story for National Geographic at the time. Michael began teaching at the school in an unofficial capacity after the government of the day closed the school in 1970 and local people funded his salary. For more information on Michael go to Gaelport.

One thing I have to say for the people of West Kerry is that they really know how to celebrate- how to make an occasion special. There was a great turn-out for the book launch with poets, singers and musicians aplenty. We even had some songs in the old style (sean nós.)

There is in any case a great session every Sunday evening at Kruger’s with box player Aine Ui Laoithe, whistle and bohran player Eilín Chéarna and fiddler Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh. Although the standard is very high, it is an open session with a welcome to visiting musicians. Aine and Eilín have a very good CD of music and songs of the Blasket Islands called Mná an Oilean.

I will give a source for the book Are You Going Home Now? as soon as distribution is worked out.

Irish Music Sessions

Finbarr's Folly

Here is a poem that I wrote about our cat. It describes actual events of our first weeks together. The illustrations were done by Christine.

Finbarr’s Folly

't was on a stormy winter night
The rain was pouring down
As I went out into the dark
And walked around the town



I heard a little kitten cry
Her pain it touched my soul
I peered into the darkness
The wretch was in a hole



With all the dirt and oily black
She scarce looked like a cat
With slimy hair and skinny tail
She looked more like a rat


I bundled her inside my coat
And headed for the house
What was I to tell my wife
That I had found a mouse?



How could you bring that creature home?
Was how she greeted me
How could I leave it lying there?
Was plain enough to see




The kitten was a sorry sight
She really was so ill
We took her to the vet in town
And had to pay the bill





Her skin was plagued with ringworm
And mites were in her ears
Her fur was full of fleas
And her eyes were wet with tears





My wife, she caught the ringworm
It spread all over her skin
And I, I felt so guilty
Having brought the nuisance in.






Cat was banished to the balcony
Looking out upon the bay
And I made for her a little house
With a cozy bed of hay






Now she looks so pretty
With fur that’s soft and white
The children like to play with her
And she brings us all delight





We call her Finbarr's Folly
My wife came up with that
And, thinking it all over now
I'd still bring home the cat

Harmonica and Traditional Irish Music

The harmonica is the world’s best-selling musical instrument. It is inexpensive, easy to carry around and it is suitable for many different kinds of music, from blues to rock to folk and even classical music.

Back in Cork in the 40’s and 50’s, whenever people got together for a social event it was inevitable that there would be singing and music. Often somebody would pull a harmonica out of his pocket and sometimes that person was me.

There was lots of music in our house since I grew up in a family of fiddle players. There was my grandfather who would have played with a Slíbh Luchra style being from Kishkeam which is in the North-west corner of County Cork. He would hold the fiddle very low on his chest and played with a great lilt and was very strict about rhythm. He often told me how he learned from his father. My father played too and my older brother played very well. The tradition is being carried on by my son Kieran who can be heard now and then in the sessions in Dingle. That makes five generations.

To participate in a session you need to have at least two diatonic harmonicas, a ‘G’ and a low ‘D’. I tried using a chromatic harmonica and found it difficult since there are too many draw notes for the above mentioned keys and I got out of breath. There is one problem to be overcome with the ‘G’ if you have the standard 10 hole model and that is-there is no low ’E’. You can however modify it. For instructions on how to make the modification go to the website of Steve Shaw and click on “Tuning-A Big Issue”. Steve does a great job of explaining all you things you need to know harmonicas for session playing so I will leave that to him.

I go out to play in the sessions in Dingle a couple of times a week. When I first started, four years ago, I destroyed a harmonica every two to three weeks. That was when I consulted Steve Shaw who pointed out that a harmonica has to be blown softly. He recommended using an amplifier. From then on I had no further trouble with the destruction of the instruments. However, amplifiers are not always welcome at the sessions. They had to put up with me until I discovered a new type of harmonica developed by Hohner USA called the XB-40. Pat Missin has a good review on the product.


XB-40 was made especially for musicians that wanted to bend the notes. It is, however, also much louder than other harmonicas. For the past six months or so I have been able to manage without the amplifier and without destroying the instruments. XB-40 is available in several keys including the essential ones for Irish music namely, 'G' and 'lowD'. The cost is about $80 in the US and about £48 by mail order from England. I frequently use Harmonicas Direct in the UK ; they have good service and reasonable prices.

Technorati Tags: Traditional Irish Music Harmonica

Thomas Moore

You don’t hear the songs of Thomas Moore much anymore. I have been surprised when I played his tunes at the pub sessions that many people had never even heard them. So, I have been doing my bit to revive Mr. Moore. I try to play at least one such tune at a session with the result that one local musician now calls me Thomas Moore.

Thomas Moore was born in Dublin on the 28th of May 1780.
Goethe considered him to be one of the best poets of that time. Moore made a very good living from his writing.

According to the Norton Anthology for English Literature: Thomas Moore has a permanent place in literary history as the friend and biographer of Byron and as the preeminent "Irish melodist" He was a best-selling author for most of his career, rivaling and sometimes outdistancing Byron.

He wrote a long romantic Oriental poem called Lalla Rookh in 1817 for which he was paid £3000. This was the largest sum ever offered for a single poem up to that time. It was a good investment for the publisher, selling out more than twenty editions during the author's lifetime.

It seems that Moore was concerned that many of the old tunes were being lost and making them into songs kept them going and made them available to everyone.

I particularly like the song Avenging and Bright that was written in the early 1800’s and the words were put to an old Irish air Crooghan A Venee. On the surface, the song is about Deirdre and the sons of Usna and how they were betrayed by Conor Mac Nessa King of Ulster. The song expresses anger with the king . However it really expresses Moore’s anger with the then King of England, George lV for not supporting catholic emancipation.

Avenging and Bright

Avenging and bright fall the swift sword of Erin
On him who the brave sons of Usna betrayed;
For ev'ry fond eye he hath wakened a tear in,
A drop from his heart wounds shall weep o'er her blade.

By the red cloud that hung over Conor's dark dwelling,
When Ulad's three champions lay sleeping in gore-
By the billows of war, which so often, high swelling,
Have wafted these heroes to victory's shore.

We swear to avenge them! No joy shall be tasted,
The harp shall be silent, the maiden unwed;
Our halls shall be mute, and our fields shall lie wasted
Till vengeance is wreak'd on the murderer's head.

Yes, monarch! tho' sweet are our home recollections,
Though sweet are the tears that from tenderness fall;
Though sweet are our friendships, our hopes, our affections,
Revenge on a tyrant is sweetest of all!

The musical notes can be found at
Folk Info.org

Technorati Tags: Thomas Moore Avenging and Bright

Rhythm Bones

Rhythm Bones – percussion instrument used in traditional Irish music.
According to Rhythm Bones Society, the percussion use of bones has been traced back to 3000 BC. They have some very interesting information on their web site—history, types, uses, current artists and where to buy.
Bones can easily be made from the rib bones of cow or sheep, they can also be made of various kinds of wood or even synthetic materials. My bones are from the cow purchased from the local butcher and I got several so that I could later choose the best ones. I asked for bones that were not too curved. I boiled them until the meat was completely peeled off, allowed them to dry for several weeks and then cut to about 6 inches length. Sandpaper was used to obtain a smooth finish and then they were oiled. It takes about a year before they really dry and season to make the best sound.
Bones should not be over-used in a session then they really pick up the mood. When I do play the bones the cameras often start to flash. They are very popular with tourists.
Tutorials
Dublin born performer, composer and academic Mel Mercier received his first bodhrán and bones lessons from his father, Peadar Mercier, a member of The Chieftains until 1976. He has an instruction video. Check the internet--most of the vendors seem to be in the US.
Also Tommy Hayes from the well-known musical family in Clare has an instructional DVD Bodhran, Bones & Spoons.




Technorati Tags: Traditional Irish Music Rhythm Bones

Learning Traditional Irish Music

I have often been told that I should learn traditional Irish music by ear rather than from notes. But, I have only been able to do this with the slow airs; the dance music is just too fast. I have endless CD’s but I can never play along with them. Then a friend told me that you can get software to slow music down and a brief search lead me to Amazing Slow Downer. Just pop a CD into your computer, boot up the program and you’re away. You can slow down a tune to the point where you can play along and then speed up as you get the hang of it. The pitch does not change! You can however also change the pitch, if you want to, even to the point of changing the key. This is very handy for tunes that come in awkward keys.There are other programs out there for the same purpose but I am not familiar with them. Amazing Slow Down is highly recommended by existing users.Thank you Pat for the tip.

Mighty session last Sunday

A try-out before venturing out to the pub sessions. I am not convinced though that I had the full attention of my audience. Dingle is a very lively place for traditional Irish music and the Marina Inn was hopping last Sunday. We had a great box player, five fiddles, two guitars and myself on harmonica and concertina. If you are in the neighborhood, check it out every Sunday starting at 6 pm.