Track 154: Michael C. Hanafin: Lord Gordon's Reel

This week's disc features fiddler Michael C. Hanafin's take on Lord Gordon's with Dan Sullivan on piano accompaniment. Hanafin was born near Milltown, Co. Kerry and immigrated to Boston towards the end of the 19th century.

Recorded in 1926 and released on the Columbia label (33113-F). From the Comer Collection, Comer 78 00-032.

Comer 78 00-032

Michael C. Hanafin: Lord Gordon's Reel

Part 5 No 21 - New Polka Dad Tp 18

Harrington 17" set.
Peter Hunter C chanter (Harrington is still in the workshop being resuscitated)
Repairs to date:
Bass drone slide repair by Ted Colgan 1980s
Bass drone stand repair by Bill Haneman 2014
I removed the bass regulator in 2013.  It was not an original Harrington though an attempt had been made to match the ivory end mount but not reed cap mount which is a large hockey-puck.  My feeling is that the bass reg may have been made by Coyne.  Removing this regulator brings the set back to what I feel it was originally – a 2-reg, 3-drone set.
Main stock replaced in 2013 by Bill Haneman (original was badly split and had been turned down and covered with a brass artillery shell, some time previous to 1955 when the set was purchased from Leo Rowsome by my parents)

Ronan Browne C Harri. Rolling in the Ryegrass & The Doon Reel

Paddy Cronin & Frank Neylon: the Butcher's March / Old Man Dillon (jigs)

Paddy Cronin (6 July 1925 – 15 March 2014) was born in Ré Buí, Gneeveguilla, County Kerry. He was first taught by Padraig O'Keefe and gained significant notoriety as a youngster in the area.
In 1949 he was recorded by Seamus Ennis for Radió Éireann. These recordings are public on the RTE archives.

Shortly after making these recordings, he left Ireland and emigrated to Boston, USA. He lived for a time in New York and Chicago as well but finally settled in West Roxbury with his wife Connie.

During the 1950s, he continued to record, becoming very well known through the 78rpm discs he recorded on Copley records, including several sides with the great North Clare fluter Frank Neylon.

later he recorded several LPs, including: "Music In The Glen", for the Fleetwood label, "The House In The Glen" for Talcon, "The Rakish Paddy" LP with Fiddler Records of Seattle, and in 1977 released "Kerry's Own: Paddy Cronin" with Outlet records of Belfast.

In 2007 Paddy was awarded the prestigious Gradam Ceoil, or Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his contribution to Irish Traditional Music over his life.

These recordings stick out to me personally because they mark a point in Paddy's life when he was extremely influenced by Sligo musicians. Many of the sets below, including the first, were initially recorded by musicians like James Morrison and Michael Coleman.

It's unbelievable music. Hope you enjoy.

Tommy Sheridan Tape

Paddy Cronin: Farrell O'Gara / the Silver Spear (reels)

Recorded at home in Co Cork while listening to the radio . Tese are very rare recordings from Macroom 1966 recorded by Ciaran MacMathuna for Radio Eireann.
We thank Jerry O Leary for this treasure and for donating once again to the Archives

Denis Murphy,Johnny O Leary,Seán Ó Cronin -1956

This recording was donated to the Archives by Jackie Daly himself and possibly it’s the first time that he appeared on National Radio. Little did presenter Micheál Ó Dómhnail know how true his words were and the influence that Jackie still has 51 years later.
Today is June 22 - 2025 and a Happy Birthday to Jackie who is 80 years young

Jackie Daly  - Long Note Rte Radio Programme  1974

Drowsy Maggie, Callaghan's

The Briggs Sisters - The Broom of Cowdenknows, Gosforth 9th January 1972. From John Knight's tapes, Tape_021

John Knight's Tapes, Tape_021

The Briggs Sisters - The Broom of Cowdenknows, Gosforth 9th January 1972

The old brass Denis Harrington pipes playing in C.  Drones reeded but not regs yet.
Chanter is my C from Peter Hunter (early 80s) – full of attitude and spark!
New hollow stock from Bill Haneman with extremely thin walls allowing the bees to escape beautifully.
YAY...!!!

Ronan Browne C Harri. Petticoat Loose & The South West Wind at An Spidéal

Séamus Ennis, recorded by John Knight in Chichester 07th June 1974.
From John Knight's Collection, Tape_108
...
Great crack, tunes and songs from Séamus Ennis, at his gig in Chichester, England, in 1974. This is the first time this recording has been made public, given that it's been sat on the original cassette tape, tucked away in a box, since 1974. It's been a pleasure to extract the recording and remaster this today. Some great conversation from Séamus here, with a lot of backstories and folklore associated with his tunes.

He named them all too, so here's the list:

The Dark Woman of The Glen (song)
Tae ab'ea a Theastaíonn is Tú Tinn? / When Sick is it Tea You Want? (tune)
Kiss The Maid Behind The Barrell (tune)
An Leanbh Sidhe / The Faeries’ Hornpipe (tunes)
Boys Keep Away from the Girls I Say (song)
My Bonnie Blue-Eyed Lassie (song)
The Leitrim Thrush, Miss Johnson (tunes)
The Brown Thorn (song)
Slievenamon (tune)
Drops of Brandy, The Fair Haired Canavans (tunes)
Did The Rum Do? (tune)
Green Broom (song)
The Bucks of Oranmore (tune)
[Bonus] - The Rare Old Mountain Dew (song), Ennis

Photo by Roy Bedell (1963)

Paddy Cronin: Farrell O'Gara / the Silver Spear (reels)

Colin Kadis

Related tracks