Irish Fridays

[Padraig]

They're doing a couple of gigs in London at the end of Feb. next year.

Thanks G.

Tonight I'm going to the Heaney Centre in Bellaghy to hear Iarla and Steve Cooney.

[Globaltruth]

Thanks G.

Tonight I'm going to the Heaney Centre in Bellaghy to hear Iarla and Steve Cooney.

How was it?

[Padraig]

How was it, G? It was great (as we used to say before such awesome words as 'amazing').

The two lads were in sparkling form, both in repartee and in background material, from the ridiculous to the sublime. They performed about 8 pieces, some we all know, some I do not. Iarla included the Three Marys, Twisting the Rope; while Steve Cooney did a quartet of guitar arrangements in his spare, efficient style. They finished with Slan Le Maighe, one of my own favourites, and in response to genuine acclaim from the (not capacity) audience they came back. Iarla spoke of his relationship with Heaney, chiefly through admiration for his poems. He recalled the collaboration with the late Liam O'Flynn in The Poet and The Piper CD, and for their encore Steve played the tune, Port na Bpucai and Iarla read Heaney's response -the poem The Given Note. It was a diplomatic yet sincere end to a treasured experience, and received a merited standing ovation.

Bear with me while I organise some links - Port na Bpucai with Sean O'Riada,* and Seamus Heaney reading TheGiven Note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-kHdwnEjYY&index=5&list=OLAK5uy_lLvLspnBZZYiETz8_LTeAiUdsbRfvFitA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuUhP0vZuB8

* PS I hope you can access the whole Sean O'Riada CD if you would like to.

[Globaltruth]

How was it, G? It was great (as we used to say before such awesome words as 'amazing').

The two lads were in sparkling form, both in repartee and in background material, from the ridiculous to the sublime. They performed about 8 pieces, some we all know, some I do not. Iarla included the Three Marys, Twisting the Rope; while Steve Cooney did a quartet of guitar arrangements in his spare, efficient style. They finished with Slan Le Maighe, one of my own favourites, and in response to genuine acclaim from the (not capacity) audience they came back. Iarla spoke of his relationship with Heaney, chiefly through admiration for his poems. He recalled the collaboration with the late Liam O'Flynn in The Poet and The Piper CD, and for their encore Steve played the tune, Port na Bpucai and Iarla read Heaney's response -the poem The Given Note. It was a diplomatic yet sincere end to a treasured experience, and received a merited standing ovation.

Bear with me while I organise some links - Port na Bpucai with Sean O'Riada,* and Seamus Heaney reading TheGiven Note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-kHdwnEjYY&index=5&list=OLAK5uy_lLvLspnBZZYiETz8_LTeAiUdsbRfvFitA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuUhP0vZuB8

* PS I hope you can access the whole Sean O'Riada CD if you would like to.

Thank you Padraig.

[Lat-Literal]

How was it, G? It was great (as we used to say before such awesome words as 'amazing').

The two lads were in sparkling form, both in repartee and in background material, from the ridiculous to the sublime. They performed about 8 pieces, some we all know, some I do not. Iarla included the Three Marys, Twisting the Rope; while Steve Cooney did a quartet of guitar arrangements in his spare, efficient style. They finished with Slan Le Maighe, one of my own favourites, and in response to genuine acclaim from the (not capacity) audience they came back. Iarla spoke of his relationship with Heaney, chiefly through admiration for his poems. He recalled the collaboration with the late Liam O'Flynn in The Poet and The Piper CD, and for their encore Steve played the tune, Port na Bpucai and Iarla read Heaney's response -the poem The Given Note. It was a diplomatic yet sincere end to a treasured experience, and received a merited standing ovation.

Bear with me while I organise some links - Port na Bpucai with Sean O'Riada,* and Seamus Heaney reading TheGiven Note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-kHdwnEjYY&index=5&list=OLAK5uy_lLvLspnBZZYiETz8_LTeAiUdsbRfvFitA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuUhP0vZuB8

* PS I hope you can access the whole Sean O'Riada CD if you would like to.

I very much like that Sean O'Riada piece.

Like it a lot.

Thank you, Padraig.

[johncorrigan]

I was trawling around the interweb looking for stuff about the fine broadcaster, Mark Radcliffe, who is taking a break from his shows on 2 & 6 to deal with a cancer diagnosis. Hope he recovers quickly. Anyway, I came across something about Topic Records and thought I'd post Dominic Behan's 'Master McGrath' from the LP 'Down by the Liffeyside' - I love that cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP461so2czE

Here's the thing about Topic Records - don't know if they ever managed to complete the project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uOJf7iFTQOk

[Padraig]

I very much like that Sean O'Riada piece.

Like it a lot.

Thank you, Padraig.

You're welcome, Lat and G.

If either of you had said, 'Go raibh maith agat, a Phadraig.'

I would have replied, 'Go ndeana a mhaith dhuit.' May it do you good.

(Irish on a Friday)

[teamsaint]

I was trawling around the interweb looking for stuff about the fine broadcaster, Mark Radcliffe, who is taking a break from his shows on 2 & 6 to deal with a cancer diagnosis. Hope he recovers quickly. Anyway, I came across something about Topic Records and thought I'd post Dominic Behan's 'Master McGrath' from the LP 'Down by the Liffeyside' - I love that cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP461so2czE

Here's the thing about Topic Records - don't know if they ever managed to complete the project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=uOJf7iFTQOk

Hadn’t heard that about MR, lets hope he makes a full and swift recovery.
He has been a good champion of under exposed acts .

[Globaltruth]

I was trawling around the interweb looking for stuff about the fine broadcaster, Mark Radcliffe, who is taking a break from his shows on 2 & 6 to deal with a cancer diagnosis. Hope he recovers quickly. Anyway, I came across something about Topic Records and thought I'd post Dominic Behan's 'Master McGrath' from the LP 'Down by the Liffeyside' - I love that cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP461so2czE

Here's the thing about Topic Records - don't know if they ever managed to complete the project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=uOJf7iFTQOk

Sadly it seems that there is a problem currently with Topic Records web site so can't check to see if the digital info has made it.
Seems such an obvious thing to do....personally I can live without that sort of info for a singing Behan. His brother could write a bit though.
It's good to be posting about an Irish greyhound on a Friday - me and Mrs GT used to go greyhound racing at Wembley several lifetimes ago, always on a Friday.
Rarely saw an Irish dog, it was all about Westpark Mustard for a brief period. Her dam was Irish though!
Money for old rope I'm telling you.
Anyway, here's a better version in my opinion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KlQ4-jaMzM

míle buíochas a ghabháil yous Phadraig.

[johncorrigan]

This turned up tonight up at a pal's house - Van and the Chieftains on Raglan Road. I'd forgotten how much I loved it, and recalled old pals who'd loved it too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCYH36ahpE

[Globaltruth]

This turned up tonight up at a pal's house - Van and the Chieftains on Raglan Road. I'd forgotten how much I loved it, and recalled old pals who'd loved it too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCYH36ahpE

First time I've ever seen the grouchy old sod playing the drums. Wonderful track.

As you probably know (but I didnt) Raglan Road is set to the tune of Dawning of the Day.
Here's a rather inverted John McCormack singing that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAXRTGX3ss

[Padraig]

As you probably know (but I didnt) Raglan Road is set to the tune of Dawning of the Day
Here's a rather inverted John McCormack singing that

...and it's one of the aisling songs beloved of the Sean Nos singers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Z4iMRKBc4

watch

[Padraig]

As you probably know (but I didnt) Raglan Road is set to the tune of Dawning of the Day.
Here's a rather inverted John McCormack singing that

...also, it's an aisling song beloved of the sean nos singers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Z4iMRKBc4

[Lat-Literal]

This turned up tonight up at a pal's house - Van and the Chieftains on Raglan Road. I'd forgotten how much I loved it, and recalled old pals who'd loved it too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCYH36ahpE

Absolutely magnificent, JC, for which many thanks.

First time I've ever seen the grouchy old sod playing the drums. Wonderful track.

As you probably know (but I didnt) Raglan Road is set to the tune of Dawning of the Day.
Here's a rather inverted John McCormack singing that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAXRTGX3ss

Very interesting GT, these are hymnal are they not, but what I am looking for via you, JC or Padraig is a root for My Lagan Love (my favourite) and She Moved Through The Fair (also excellent) as they are sufficiently similar to have a common one. No pun on the title of one of Van's most underestimated albums intended. It is worth bearing in mind that this is the much maligned 80s, the very beginnings and towards the end. Away from politics, I loved the 80s and will defend it at all costs. You just had/have to look in the right (musical) places.

[Padraig]

...a root for My Lagan Love (my favourite) and She Moved Through The Fair (also excellent) as they are sufficiently similar to have a common one.

For what it is worth Lat, these two songs have always stood apart for me. They were challenging for your ordinary singers and did not respond easily to sloppy accompaniments; I know, I tried. Yes they sound like cousins. They originated, I believe, in Donegal and attracted collectors, one of whom was Herbert Hughes who wrote clever accompaniments, which I think provides those similarities and that 'touch of class' that is problematic for some traditionalists! I think Sean O Riada tried to bring the piano in to traditional music in an appropriate manner, as I think you noticed in his arrangement of Port na Bpucai earlier. There's a theme here which I find hard to articulate, so I don't know if that helps to discover a 'root'.