Joe Cooley (1924–1973) was one of the great masters of traditional Irish music on the button accordion. Cooley was born in Peterswell, Galway and began playing accordion as a child tutored by his parents. As he grew older he was regularly employed throughout the west of Ireland and in Dublin, performing arduous labor as was typical of the time. In Dublin he met Sonny Brogan and Johnny Doran and it is likely they influenced his music.

He was later recruited to join the Tulla Ceili Band and a recording of him can be heard on copies of the 1975 album "Cooley" on one of the tracks playing reels including "The Ships are Sailing" and "The Morning Star". Tony MacMahon, who idolized Cooley, picked this individual track because he thought it accurately shared Cooley's massive impact on the band's sound. The Tulla later went on to win multiple All-Ireland Medals and other awards.

In the 1950's Joe left Ireland, first visiting London and then leaving for America. He spent time in Boston (whose Comhaltas branch still bears his name [Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley]), New York, Chicago, and eventually San Francisco, where he stayed for some time. He was rarely without his musical partner Kevin Keegan during these travels.

In 1973 Joe was severely ill with cancer. He toured and made several recordings for which we have Tony MacMahon and Des Mulkere to thank. Since he has influenced many great accordion players and is still, to my ear, unparalleled among boxplayers in his ability to combine emotion and wildness in his music.

I was given this recording with the hope that it would be shared. This seems like a good medium in which to do so.

Joe Cooley: Apples in Winter (jig)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Copperplate Time 501&nbsp;   &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  presented by Alan O'Leary  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;    1.&nbsp;Bothy Band: &nbsp;Green Groves/Flowers of Red Hill. &nbsp;&nbsp;Afterhours  2. Mulcahy Family: The Rose in the Heather/The Kilavil/An Buachaillin Bán. The Reel Note 3. Caoimhin O’Fearghaill &amp; Paddy Tutty:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gerdie Commane’s/Paddy Sean Nancy’s/Miss Lyon’s. Flute &amp; Fiddle 4. Daoiri Farrell: The Blue Tar Road. &nbsp;&nbsp;True Born Irishman 5. Michelle Mulcahy:&nbsp;&nbsp; The Drunken Sailor. &nbsp; Lady on the Island 6. Karen Ryan:&nbsp; Mrs Lawrie/Karen Ryan’s.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Coast Road 7. PJ &amp; Marcus Hernon: &nbsp;An Súisín Bán/The Galtee Hunt. &nbsp; Celebrating 50 Years  8. John McEvoy &amp; John Wynne: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Last Train from Loughrea/Ned Coleman’s. &nbsp;Dancer at the Fair  9. Eleanor Shanley/Garadice: &nbsp;Down by Blackwaterside.&nbsp; &nbsp;Sanctuary 10. Sorcha Costello: Gan AInm/The Fairy Dance.&nbsp; The Primrose Lass 11. Angelina Carberry: &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bold Doherty/Kitty, Come Down to Limerick:  &nbsp;An Traidisiun Beo12. Gatehouse: The Monsteraden Set. &nbsp;&nbsp;Heather Down the Moor13. Maurice McGrath: Willie Clancy &amp; His Pipes. &nbsp;Winsome Ways 14. Willie Clancy: Plains of Boyle/The Leitrim Fancy. Seoltaí Séidte15. John Carty &amp; Michael McGoldrick: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whistler O’re The Lave O’t/Kilkenny For Me/Come to the Fair. &nbsp;&nbsp;At Our Leisure16. Dave Sheridan: I Buried My Wife/O’Dea’s/Ryan’s.&nbsp; Drivin’ Leitrim Timber 17. Elaine Reilly &amp; Daithi Gormley:&nbsp; Sheridan’s Tap Room/Sheridan’s.&nbsp; Epiphany 18. Garadice: Gan Ainm/The Sunny Hills of Beara/The Castleblaney Piper. &nbsp;Garadice  19. Harris/Grada/Donnelly/Cotter: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; New Mown Meadow/Dublin Reel/The Steampacket.&nbsp; Riches of Clare20. Ralph McTell: &nbsp;An Irish Blessing.&nbsp; Songs for 6 Strings 21. Bothy Band: The Pipe on the Hob/The Hag at the Churn, Afterhours 22. Bothy Band: &nbsp;Green Groves/Flowers of Red Hill. &nbsp;&nbsp;Afterhours

Copperplate Time 501

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Album released 30th of April.



Copperplate Time 501

Alan OLeary

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