Brilliant memories here from Ciarán MacMathúna  R.I.P  who did so much for the Sliabh Luachra area as he recalls a lifetime of visits to Co Kerry and those he recorded. Narrated in great style by Ciarán , you can sense the the  the great “ meas”  he had for those he enjoyed meeting .
Thanks to Jerry  Ahern for donating this home recording of this great radio programme to the Archives.

My Job Of Journeywork Kerry - Ciarán MacMathúna

Merry Christmas from Paul, Barbara, & Andy

Silent Night

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: Miss Lyon's (reel)

The first installment of a brand new series titled the 'Sliabh Luachra Music Trail Podcast', by Aidan Connolly. Episode 1 features live music from a great concert in the Ivy Leaf Arts Centre, Castleisland, Co. Kerry, which took place on December 14th 2024. 

SLMT Podcast 1, 5 Jan 2025

Ballyshannon Lane - Lena Bean Uí Shé  (Joe O'Connor)

Enjoy this interview from one of Sliabh Luachra's legends. 
Johnny O Leary in great form , telling yarns, and remembering and playing a couple of sets. In conversation with Mary Brosnan Borgeat and a.n. other.

Johnny O Leary Interview

Fiddle and Box

Paddy Cronin was a guest at Padraig Moynihans tape release in Killarney and was recorded playing this solo recording.
Thanks to Mary Brosnan Borgeat for this addition to the Archive

Paddy Cronin - Captain Kelly     -  Radio Recording in Killarney

Ashton under Lyne concertina band were one of a possible 200 concertina bands in England in the late 19th and early 20th century. In Stuart Eydmann's thesis, "The Life and Times of the Concertina", there is a description by James Ash, a member of the band in the 1920's, of the extensive touring that the band would do in the Summer months. http://www.concertina.com/eydmann/life-and-times/eydmann-life-and-times-chap-08.pdf. This recording comes from the collection of Wes Williams and the picture was sourced from the concertina museum web site, created by Neil Wayne. www.concertinamuseum.com


Silent Night

pgroff