A fascinating book arrived in the post the week before this column went to press. Just launched on Beyond The Pale Publications, One Green Hill: Journeys Through Irish Songs will be top of the wish list for anyone with an interest in the history behind such well-known old ballads as ‘Boolavogue’ and ‘Skibbereen’.

Author John McLaughlin has done extensive research into nationalist and loyalist anthems alike, from ‘Dolly’s Brae’ to ‘Sean South of Garryowen’. The lyrics of the 21 songs featured are each accompanied by an essay explaining their origins and significance; and for those who want to investigate further, there’s a thorough discography. Overall, One Green Hill… is well worth a read…

Speaking of ‘Boolavogue’ and ‘Skibbereen’, I had the pleasure of listening to spine-juddering renditions of both by the magnificent traditional singer Colm Gildea up in the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig the very day after I received McLaughlin’s book. I was there trying to get a bit of work done on my own wee opus before the imminent arrival of another wee opus who’s due to appear on July 20 (I’ll keep you posted); Gildea had driven up for the day to record a new arrangement of ‘Skibbereen’ by Cork-based composer Mary Ronayne-Keane (whose suite, based on the Flight of the Earls, ‘Sinner, Saint or Sovereign’, was recently performed at Dublin Castle in conjunction with the Co-operation Ireland Awards) and Norbert Vollath, a German composer and bass clarinet player. The two had met up during previous stays at Annaghmakerrig and decided to collaborate on a project; having immensely enjoyed the sounds that emanated all week from the open windows of the music room, I can’t wait to hear the finished product!

And speaking of wee opuses, a very big if rather belated congratulations to guitar wizard Steve Cooney and harpist Laoise Kelly on the birth of their son Caoilte – a good 8 lbs, I gather, born on Thursday, April 17, at 2.04 am, and “an ol’ dote” according to those who’ve seen him…

Mary Greene has been asked by RTÉ to take over from John Kelly for a week as chief engineer of the popular programme The Mystery Train. “I intend to feature a fair sweep of Irish music in the mix but I’ll be featuring music from all over the world, too,” she writes. “I’m really, really looking forward to it, and I’m having a wonderful time revisiting all the music that meant so much to me over the years. The music will come largely from my own collection, so I hope that any omissions will be forgiven.” The week starts on June 23 – don’t forget to tune in…

Staying with the radio department for the moment, do tune in as well to Turas Ceoil, a new 12-programme series presented by Marcas Ó Murchú on Radio na Gaeltachta every Monday at 7pm from now until September. The show is also available for listening via the Internet. “As the show’s title suggests,” says Ó Murchú, “I travel musically around Ireland and play music from the best musicians here and abroad, attempting to give a ‘blas’ or taste of good music, especially lesser known tunes and songs.” Musicians with independently-released CDs are welcome to send them in for possible airplay directly to Marcas at 17 Cooleen Park, Culmore, Derry BT48 8AQ.

If you find yourself in Belfast between now and the 5th of July or thereabouts, be sure to catch the great Galway box player Máirtín Ó Connor in the new Marie Jones play ‘The Blind Fiddler’, directed by Ian McElhinney, for which Ó Connor composed and performs the music. “She’s an amazing playwright, so needless to say we’re delighted to be involved and enjoying it very much!” says Máirtín, who’s just back from a tour of Nigeria that he describes as “ridiculously mind-blowing”…

O’Connor has just released a new CD (reviewed elsewhere in this issue) featuring his ‘Rain of Light Fireworks Suite’, especially commissioned for this year’s St Patrick’s Festival; he’ll be presenting the suite with an eight-piece band as part of the show Between The Jigs & The Reels, set to run at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway from August 4 to 16…

Altan are gearing up for a very busy summer schedule, with festival appearances from Clifden to Milwaukee, Galicia to Castlewellan and Tonder to Sidmouth to Longford. They’re somewhat apprehensive, however, about the viablity of a two-week tour planned for China in October, owing to SARS fears. If you’ve picked up this magazine early, you might still have time to catch their concert in Meeting House Square on Sunday, June 22, as part of the Diversions Free Outdoor Cultural Festival. Free tickets (no more than 4 per person) are available for collection in person from Temple Bar Properties, 18 Eustace Street. Seamus Begley and Jim Murray join forces with the Templehouse Céilí Band at the same venue on June 27 for what should be set dance heaven!

Begley and Liam O’Flynn, along with a host of other trad luminaries, have donated their services to play specially commisioned music by Shaun Davey as part of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Croke Park on June 21. The piece is also being released as a single, with all proceeds going to the Special Olympics…

O’Flynn’s summer is looking fairly chockablock as well: in addition to the Special Olympics appearance and a June gig in Liberty Hall, he’ll be appearing at various Spanish festivals with the Piper’s Call Band in July, before travelling to the Lorient Festival to headline there with the Brendan Voyage, then topping the bill at the long-running Ballyshannon Folk Festival in early August and playing a special solo concert at Bantry House in West Cork on Thursday, August 14…

An Open Forum of the Musicians’ Union of Ireland will be held in Room 1102, Liberty Hall, Dublin on Thursday, July 3. There will be two meetings, at 4pm and 7pm. The forum is open to all musicians in the Dublin/Leinster region – whether full time, part time, recording artist, session player, composer, teacher or other. Members of the Traditional Committee will attend, and a separate meeting for traditional musicians can be arranged afterwards…

Suggested areas of discussion include the benefits of having an organised body to look after the interests of musicians in Ireland; the issues that affect musicians; and membership. Attenders should also feel free to raise their own issues and ask questions at the meeting. It’s hoped that similar meetings will take place in non-Dublin centres. Niall Ó Callanáin, who’s spearheading the effort to set up the Traditional Section of the MUI, invites anyone with queries to Email him at [email protected]

Musicians and singers with news to share can e-mail Sarah on [email protected]