Podcast series journeys through Irish Music

Tim O'Shea & Gary McMullen Part 1

Tim O'Shea & Gary McMullen Part 2

A version of a well known song and tune we put together and has a good live gig vibe. Tune, “Hearty Boys of Ballymoate”, as suggested by Michael D  Kelliher. The song melody is reputed to have been played as a marching tune by the pipers of Fiach McHugh, the hero, featured in the lyric. The composer is unknown, but the tune was collected by PJ McCall who heard it being played in County Wexford. The song had fallen out of favour and was in danger of being forgotten before it was revived and made popular by the Irish band Planxty in the 1970s. The lyrics were written by P J McCall in the late 19th century, a good 200 years after the events the song describes.

another skin too few

(Song) - Follow me up to Carlow

With music borrowed from the Boys of Barr na Sráide, (the unofficial anthem of Kerry), and original words from Belfast Poet friend Adrian Fox. After a weekend visit to Kerry, this poem was born quite a few years ago. “Traditional Back Roads”, is from a true poet. Adrian is a man of keen observation, listening, dreaming, soulful and creative talents.  Tim Liebert is a well known and respected fine Folk musician and friend from Jena, Germany, performs the German spoken word version of this original Poem.  This is a special translation and gift to all our German friends who honour us all of these 25 years, with their presence at our concerts and purchasing of CDs. Danke.

(Poem) - Traditional Back Roads

The first tune is under many different names, including The Mullingar Races, the Rover through the bog, Byrne’s Hornpipe or Annie’s Favourite. Dé Dannan recorded it as “Dinny O’Brien’s” from the Album the 3rd Irish Folk Festival. The tune itself has close connections with the reel ‘The Shaskeen”. Joe Burke recorded it under this name. “The Fairy Queen” appears to be of Scottish Highlands origin.

(Hornpipes) - Dinny O'Brien's/Fairy Queen Traditional

Trad Arr. Tim O’Shea

Known as Rabbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire, Ploughman Poet and various other names and epithets, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. I heard this song from Andy M Stewart and Eddi Reader and an unknown Scots singer on a Cd liked it. So here it is, hope what you like what we did with it. Rosie on harmony vocals and flute really shines here, I think you will agree.

(Song) - My love is a red, red, rose

From Paddy & John Cronin. The first tune was heard from a version by Paddy & John Cronin at a concert at the Gathering Irish Music Festival in Killarney. Johnny called the second tune  ‘The New York Jig”, possibly after hearing it while living in New York. O’Neill’s gives it as “Paddy’s resource”, Page 50. The third tune is known as “Larry O’Gaff’s” as recorded by John Cronin on an album “Joe (Banjo) Burke & Friend’s” Volume 2 in 2004. Also known as “Daniel O’Connell” and as was recorded by Joe Cooley on his album “Cooley”. Also has the name “Humours of Whiskey” after a drinking song with a very close melody line, and is in O’Neill’s page 24.

(Jigs) - Saddle the pony/Larry O'Gaffs/The New York Jig

My own original composition based on the song melody Paddy’s Lamentation, for Con Durham with some of our own original musical interpretation. The idea came from the Eulogy read at the funeral. Originally a poem and tribute to my good friend and early musical inspiration. A Dubliner, he spent the last 30 years of his musical life in Dingle, Co. Kerry.  A kind and gentle soul, who always had time for people and was very generous with his music. I nervously presented it to his family very soon after his passing and to my amazement they gave it the thumbs up.  This encouraged me to publish it here.

(Song) - One, two, three, days

Heard & recorded from friend & fine singer Joan Greene, Kerry. Written by Karine Polworth of Scotland and features on her “Scribbled in Chalk” album 2006. I went to hear and meet Karine at the Dublin Trad Fest 2014.

(Song) - Follow the Heron Home

From John Cronin The first tune was played by Johnny O’Leary at the Gradam Cheoil where he received a Lifetime Achievement award. It appears in “Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra” music book as tune 167.  Tune 2 is “Patsy Geary’s” from The Bothy Band’s “The first album 1975”, Green Linnet GLCD 3011. Written in the Treoir Magazine as “Miko Russel’s”. The tune was recorded by John Cronin and fiddle player Andy McGann under the name “John Cronin’s Slide”. Third tune is of Donegal origin after John Boyle’s Jig. It was recorded by the Boys of the Lough. Also known as the Donegal slide.

(Slides) - Going to the well for water/Callaghan from Clare/John Boyle's

From Stephen Carroll “The Clog”, also know as“Sean McGovern’s” in Tune Pal. The Session.org  gives it as “Buttons and bows / JJ Kimmel Jackie Daly”. “Baron Rocks of Aeden”. Also as “Dan Leary’s” – Johnny’s uncle in the Johnny O’Leary Book Tune No.44 “Many‘s a wild night” form Jackie Daly. Sliabh Notes, John Redmond.

(Polkas) - Clog polka/Dan Leary's/Many's a Wild Night

Two tunes often played by Con Durham. “Madame Bonaparte” appears in O’Neill’s on page 221, in the Set Dance section. It is also commonly played as a Hornpipe. Con most likely got it from the playing of the Chieftains.

(Waltz/Hornpipe) - Botharín Buí/Madame Bonepart

TIM O'SHEA is from Killarney in the southwest of Ireland. He's been working solo and in several bands since the late 1980s. Tim's repertoire draws from the dance music of his native Sliabh Luachra and West Kerry folk traditions and the singing of Irish and Scottish performers like Jimmy McCarthy, Paul Brady, Dick Gaughan and Andy M. Stewart.

Tim O'Shea and Friends

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