Decade of Centenaries Programme 2020-23
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 name “Mae Reynolds” appeared very often in local newspapers and publications, particularly during the 70s when she sang in establishments all over the country – usually with Cloone musician and singer, Paddy Kelly. But if you go back to the 60s, she headlined at various events, billed as […]
Competitions Scór competitions were established by the GAA in 1969 “to promote Ireland’s traditional pastimes and culture while offering club members the chance to meet up, have fun and represent their club during the winter months while Football and Hurling had ceased.” There are eight events in Scór that cover […]
Fleadh in Mohill – Pee Fitzpatrick on fiddle Picture courtesy of Val Fitzpatrick Mullingar – where it all began! It happened, that in January 1951, representatives of the Thomas Street (Dublin) Pipers’ Club went to Mullingar for a meeting with traditional music enthusiasts from County Westmeath, i.e. Cáit Uí Mhuimhneacháin, […]
Tom P. Mulligan was born in Currycramp, Bornacoola in 1915 into a family of two brothers and four sisters. He had a unique regional style of fiddle playing which was influenced by his father, also Thomas and by his neighbour, fiddle-master, Jack Conboy. Tom came from musical ancestry – his […]
Ó Máille, Tomás (1880–1938), an Irish scholar and professor of Irish at University College Galway , was born 30 March 1880 in Muintir Eoin near Leenaun, Co. Galway. He was the first professor of Irish at University College Galway from 1909 until his death in 1938 Find out more Ó […]
Whilst not a whole lot is known about Francis J. Cox’s early years, we hear him tell Tom Munnelly in 1971 that he had a brother and sister and that he was the youngest in the family. He mentions that his brother was shot in Flanders and that his mother […]
Thomas Moran was born in 1876 in Drumrahill, Eslin and was often known around the place as “Old Moran the ballad singer”. He had a vast repertoire of ballads and it is not clear where he acquired so many of these songs, although it is mentioned that he got many […]
John “Jacko” Reilly was a traditional ballad singer who was born in 1926 in Carrick-on-Shannon. Although, he lived out his latter years as a settled traveller in Boyle, there are many who have clear memories of his ballad singing in and around the town of Carrick. Find out more Tom […]
The Cavan & Leitrim Railway “The Cavan, Leitrim & Roscommon Light Railway & Tramway” opened in 1887, to serve the more remote parts of those three counties. Owing to the withdrawal of support for a “baronial guarantee” from the Roscommon Jury, “Roscommon” was dropped from the original title and the […]
