At the Crossroads

In today's podcast I am looking at the rest of Finbarr Dwyer's compositions. These are lesser-known and lesser-recorded tunes and, as well as the expected collection of reels, will also include some jigs, waltzes and a polka. Towards the end of the programme I will also detail some commonly mis-attributed tunes that Finbarr did not compose as well as a brief "maybe" pile on which the jury is still out til further notice.*EDITED 31st JulyNEW EMAIL: paahtomusic@protonmail.com

In this episode, I'm chatting to Eugene Lambe from Dublin who moved to County Clare in the early 1970s. Over the years, he has met, played with and befriended all of the local musicians and characters and, back in the 1980s, he decided to video some of them for archival purposes. Over five hours of footage is available for viewing at the ITMA in Dublin and I present a selection of it throughout the programme. Timestamps are listed below.0:00:00 - 0:02:07 | Joe Byrne's, reel ; Gus Jordan's, reel / John Killoughry, tin whistle0:02:08 - 0:07:30 | Introduction to the episode0:07:30 - 0:09:19 | Strike the Gay Harp, jig ; A Thousand Farewells, jig [comp. Seán Ryan] / Paddy Mullins, flute0:09:20 | Interview starts0:20:19 - 0:20:54 | The Priest in His Boots, jig / Eugene Lambe, tin whistle0:21:02 - 0:23:00 | The Old Wheels of the World, reel ; Paddy Marshall's, reel / John Killoughry, tin whistle ; Paddy Killoughry, fiddle0:32:10 - 0:36:59 | Érin Geall Mo Chroí, song / Pat Kane, singing in English0:44:55 - 0:47:15 | The Fisher's Hornpipe ; The Sunshine Hornpipe / Mickaleen Conlon, accordion0:53:51 - 0:57:00 | The Lilting Fisherman, jig ; Come Along With Me, jig ; A Visit to Ireland, jig / John Killoughry, tin whistle1:06:23 - 1:08:49 | Martin Killoughry's, polka ; The Lisdoonvarna Polka / John Killoughry, tin whistle ; Paddy Killoughry, fiddle1:18:41 - 1:22:46 | Unidentified, march ; Old Torn Petticoat, reel ; The Mills are Grinding, reel / Gussie Russell, flute1:23:04 - 1:23:48 | Sporting Nell, reel / Eugene Lambe, tin whistle1:25:02 - 1:28:36 | Bridgie McGrath's No. 1 & 2, slides; Come into the town my fair lady, slide / John Killoughry, tin whistle ; Paddy Killoughry, fiddle1:28:36 - 1:30.22 | The Green Fields of Rossbeigh, reel ; / Ms. Curtin, concertina ; Micho Russell, tin whistleEmail paahtomusic@protonmail.com

On today's programme I analyse a variety of Finbarr Dwyer's compositions - the ones most commonly played and recorded over the years. Send any information to paahtomusic@protonmail.com

This week I'm pleased to introduce another guest on the podcast - a man who really needs no introduction - Clare's P. J. Murrihy. We had a great chat for a couple of hours at The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon where P. J. told me about his years as a member of The Kilfenora Céilí Band and playing music with the likes of Jimmy Ward, Michael Sexton and Seamus Shannon. Thanks to The Falls Hotel for the hospitality, to John Lynch for the mp3 files of "Mount Massey" and "Far Away in Australia" and to Maeve Murrihy for her email correspondance and putting me in touch with P. J. Timestamps for the music is listed below. Enjoy!00:00:00 "Belfast Town" - The Kilfenora Céilí Band (The Kilfenora Céilí Band, 1974)00:29:07 "The Green Hills of Tyrol - Tommy Peoples (An Exciting Session with One of Ireland's Leading Fiddle Players, 1976)00:34:00 "Far Away in Australia" - The Kilfenora Céilí Band (Clare Céilí, 1973)00:51:17 "Jimmy Ward's Jig" - Jimmy Ward (Kilrush Fleadh, 1967)01:03:03 "Pat Murphy's Meadow" - P. J. Murrihy (Pat Murphy's Meadow, 1988)01:20:45 "Mount Massey" - The Kilfenora Céilí Band (Clare Céilí, 1973)01:29:06 "Horses and Plough" - P. J. Murrihy (My Father's House, 1994)01:44:39 "Whistling Rufus" - Seamus Shannon (The Magic of Seamus Shannon)01:47:35 "Lovely Old Milltown" - P. J. Murrihy (The Wonders of the West, 2017)02:05:41 "Coming Back to Milltown" - The Kilfenora Céilí Band (The Kilfenora Céilí Band, 1974)

On today's programme I take an exploratory look at the music of East Galway. Four main strands are considered: "The Old Ballinakill Style", "The Fahy Style", "The Paddy O'Brien Accordion Style" and "The Joe Cooley Accordion Style".***I mentioned Gerry Conroy, flute player, as being part of the same Conroy family as Anne Conroy. This was an error. They were of no relation. Anne did, however, have a brother Gerard who was tragically killed in a rally accident.***Although, at the time of publication, Charlie Coen was in good health, he sadly passed away in December 2024.Comment, queries and suggestions to paahtomusic@protonmail.com

Today I'm sharing a re-run from my old radio programme Music at the Crossroads from Dublin South FM. It is the inaugural episode from 23rd January 2018 and features a mix of Irish traditional music.