A brief history of trad

I keep meaning to mention a fascinating new book that landed on my desk a while ago. Cómhrá na dTonn (Conversation of the Waves) has for some years been the name of the group founded by writer, fiddler and traditional music researcher Máire McDonnell Garvey. Now it’s also the title of her third book, and of the companion CD that’s packaged with it.
Written in an engagingly chatty, rambling style, the book covers a wide range of subjects, from the life of Sligo fiddler James Morrison to Wexford mummers, Turlough O’Carolan, the historical facts behind various marches and laments and the author’s own experiences growing up in the west of Ireland. Also in the book are transcriptions of the tunes and songs that appear on the accompanying CD, together with the stories behind them. In addition to McDonnell Garvey, the musicians and singers on the album include Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh, Dónal Ó hÉalaí, Máire Ní Catháin, Seán Gairbhí, Ciara Ní Cheann Choille, Íde Gairbhí Ní Catháin and Niall Ó Callanáin.
Here’s a bit of trivia, now. If you happened to be watching the Oscars, you may have noticed Sting coming out on stage with a strange-looking instrument hanging from his neck. I am reliably informed that this was a Louvet hurdy-gurdy belonging to Curtis Berak, and that the song in question, ‘You Will Be My Ain True Love’, from the film Cold Mountain and sung by Alison Krauss, was in fact written by Sting. As he only sings a bit of harmony on the song, he probably wanted to appear to be doing something rather than just standing around. However, the hurdy-gurdy was most likely a prop, as the actual drone on the soundtrack was provided by David Schnaufer bowing his Tennessee Music Box – a type of fretted dulcimer. For the extremely curious among you, more information on the Tennessee Music Box can be found at .
Sean-Nós Cois Life, a celebration of traditional singing and storytelling in Irish, takes place from April 15 through 17 in a number of venues around Dublin – notably the Góilín singers’ club, Hughes’ Pub on Chancery Street, the Teachers’ Club on Parnell Square, and Conradh na Gaeilge on Harcourt Street. There will be sessions, workshops and concerts, with Paul O’Shaughnessy, Tess Uí Chonghaile, Seán Mac Craith, Mícheál Ua Duinnín, Cáit Bab Feiritéar, Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin, Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin, Máire Ní Chéilleachair, Tara Ní Chonnacháin, Connie Mac Ceallabhuí, Ann Uí Chonnacháin and Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh among the performers, storytellers and teachers featured. For more information, Email .
To support their new album The Kinnitty Sessions, recorded before a live audience at Kinnitty Castle, Lúnasa are doing a short tour around Ireland, starting at the Temple Music Bar Centre on April 17, then continuing on to the Roisin Dubh in Galway (April 27), the Glor Centre in Ennis (April 28), and the Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff (April 29). The Eccles Hotel are doing a special offer including concert ticket, dinner, bed and breakfast for €75 per person sharing – for more details, contact the hotel on (027) 63003.
Mayo is due to host one of Europe’s biggest traditional folk festivals as part of the cultural programme of Ireland’s EU presidency. Held once every two years, the Europeade will take place from April 22 to 25 at various locations throughout the county, including the Hotel Westport, the Royal Theatre in Castlebar and the National Museum of Country Life. Musicians and artists from Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Spain, Scotland, Italy and France are expected at the festival, together with local contributors. For further information, ring Mayo County Council on (094) 24444.
Sean Tyrrell is set to launch his new CD, Rising Tide – The Collection, at the Royal Spa Lisdoonvarna on April 23. A Dublin launch will take place at The Helix on the 29th. The album features both familiar favourites and seven new tracks, including ‘Such a Night of Stars’ by Eamon Friel and ‘Marian’s Song’ with lyrics by Frank Greally and music by Sean, as well as standards ‘Side by Side’ and ‘South of the Border’, which already feature as a popular part of Sean’s live sets.
Aran singer Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola will be among those taking part in the a music and gala reading at Áras Éanna in Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands, as part of the 19th Cúirt International Festival of Literature. Also appearing at the event on Saturday April 24 are poets Jaan Kaplinski, Robyn Rowland and Piotr Sommer, writer Dara Ó Conaola, and guitarist Cecile Uí Ghormaile, who’ll be accompanying Lasairfhíona. A bus and boat package from Galway is available at a cost of €25, or €35 with lunch included. For tickets, ring the Cúirt box office on (091) 569777 or visit .
Cara Dillon has released a new single, Everywhere, from her second album Sweet Liberty. She’s also got a good few gigs coming up, including BBC Music Live, Waterfront, Belfast on May 1, Whelan’s in Dublin on May 2 and An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny on May 3.
There’s a bit of a row brewing up North, following a report in the Belfast Telegraph to the effect that it was “almost certain” that Outlet Records would “go into voluntary liquidation” as the result of a dispute with the Dubliners over master tapes and royalties that led to an out-of-court settlement in favour of the band in the region of £900,000. When I contacted Outlet to confirm the report, I received an immediate Email from managing director Canice McGarry saying that “the article is not a true reflection of the status of the company” and promising a press release on official plans for Outlet. Hadn’t yet got it at press time, so stay tuned for further news.
For those of you who took an interest in the recent court case involving Sharon Shannon (see my column in Hot Press Vol. 28 No. 5), she’ll be appealing the decision in the circuit court on May 18. With a bit of luck, the case might be heard properly this time, with the evidence actually taken into consideration rather than dismissed out of hand.
A big congratulations to Toner Quinn on his appointment as Project Officer to the Special Committee on the Traditional Arts. In the last issue I promised you a selection of excerpts from the submissions to said Committee. As this column is already a tad chockablock, I’m going to have to defer that until the next issue, or possibly even later if news keeps flooding in at this rate! But we’ll definitely get to it before the 1st of September.

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