Rake Category: History

Scór Liatroma

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 […]

Phil McGoohan – Poet and Ballad Writer

Born in June 1877 in Aghoo to James McGoohan and Margaret O’ Donnell, Phil McGoohan was a well-known writer of ballads and poetry who composed many songs that give us a little insight into life in the early 1900s that we don’t often get from more formal history books. One […]

Leitrim Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann – Fleadhanna Ceoil

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 Mulligan – Fiddle Player & Piper

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 […]

Joe Mooney & the Joe Mooney Summer School

The name “Joe Mooney” is probably best associated today with the renowned traditional Irish music summer school that takes place in Drumshanbo each July, but the man behind the name was involved with many other organisations that furthered the cause of traditional arts in Leitrim at a time when the […]

Tomás Ó Máille – Irish Spoken in Leitrim

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 […]

Leitrim GAA – Songs & Ballads

Come All Ye Gallant Sportsmen “Come raise three cheers for the Hugh O Neills That brave and gallant band. And double three for the captain bold Who holds them in command. Of all the Irish Gaelic boys Of stalwart limb and frame The Bornacoola slashing team Has earned the greatest […]

Joe “Lacky” Gallagher – Fiddle Player

Joe’s Background “Joe ‘Lacky’ Gallagher was born in 1918 in the townland of Cloonamurgal near Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim. Lacky comes from the shortened form of his father’s name, Malachy. This was a way of distinguishing him from other Gallaghers who may also have been called Joe. As well as being […]

John McKenna – Flute Player

John McKenna is regarded as one of the most influential flute players of the 20th century. Born in a small cottage in the townland of Tents, Tarmon near Drumkeerin in 1880, McKenna emigrated to New York and became a prolific recording artist during the 1920s and 30s. These 78 recordings […]