Michael McNamara from Carrickavoher, Aughavas is a well-known name in traditional music circles. Having being influenced from when he was a child by local musicians, such as John Blessing, Michael has played a massive role in preserving and promoting traditional music and in particular, music from his own part of the county through recordings, teaching, performing and exposition of lesser-known musicians from rural Leitrim.
Furls of Music
Furls of Music, a digital exhibition based on field recordings made by Leitrim flute player Michael McNamara from 1959 to the mid-1990s is available on ITMA. It features recordings of himself, his sister Josephine and local musicians, including John Blessing, Pee Fitzpatrick and, recordings believed to be of fiddle player Little Jimmy McKiernan.
Musical Family
Michael’s children, Brian, Ray, Ciaran, Enda and Deirdre were also gifted with music and they released an album “Leitrim’s Hidden Treasure” in 1988.
Mick McNamara, His Sons and Others
from a RTE Radio One programme “The Long Note” presented by Eamon Fitzgerald and produced by Harry Bradshaw
In the following exerpts, we listen to presenter Eamon Fitzgerald chat to Michael about the music of South Leitrim and also hear Michael play some tunes on the flute. (recording from Leitrim Library Local Studies Oral Collection)
Programme Content |
| Talking about the music of South Leitrim – most of which was not recorded. |
| REELS: “Michael Cramer’s” and “The Mountain Lark” in Tarman National Schoolhouse |
| Talks about the music in his area when he was growing up and how he started. He especially mentions John Blessing. |
| JIGS: “The Hibernian” and “Blessing’s Favourite” |
| Musical styles and, in particular, the Leitrim style – “short phrasing with a bite” |
| Introduces next item |
| REEL: “Old Bernie’s Reel” named after Bernie McKiernan, Tooma, Jimmy McKiernen’s father. The tune has similarities with “The Enchanted Lady” |
| Continues on technique “Tonguing” and “Rocking” “The Bubble”. He goes on to demonstrate. |
| REELS: “The Magpie’s Nest” and “Maggie on the Shore” |
Brian and Ray McNamara on uilleann pipes | JIGS: “The Gold Ring” |
| Brian McNamara (16 yrs.) | JIG: The Newport Lasses” very similar to “A Trip to A |
| Ray McNamara (14 yrs.) | REEL: “The Flogging Reel” |
John BlessingSONG: “My Old Drumshanbo Town”. sung here by Michael’s neighbour and great influence, John P. Blessing. The Drumshanbo referred to in this song is a townland in the parish of Aughavas. |
| REEL: A Leitrim version of “Creig’s Pipes” learned from John Blessing. Michael goes into a reel “The College Groves” |
| Gives an update on flute playing. |
| REEL: “The Dublin Reel” |
Brian McNamara
Michael’s son, Brian is well known in the piping world and has released a number of albums.
Michael’s nephews Paul and Declan also carry the tradition, as do his grandchildren and grandnieces and nephews – a wonderful legacy that is sure to continue from generation to generation.
