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 […]
Teacher and Musician Michael Shanley was born in the townland of Sheebeg – his father Packie Shanley was a carpenter and his mother, Katie (nee Gill) was a great melodeon player. Both parents played a role in influencing Michael. He qualified as a woodwork teacher and was a talented carpenter […]
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 […]
Drumkeeran’s Mary McPartlan was born in 1955 and is one of Leitrim’s better known traditional singers, having released albums and toured with theatre groups and musicians, including Sean Keane. She was a powerful advocate for traditional music and artists and was the instigator of TG4’s Gradam awards for traditional Irish […]
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 […]
Born in 1909 in Drumshanbo North, between the parishes of Aughavas and Cloone, Nan Fitzpatrick was one of nine children born to James and Rosie Fitzpatrick. They lived on a small farm and she attended Cloonsarn School. She couldn’t miss having an interest in music and song as her family […]
“Reynolds, George Nugent (c.1767–1802), poet, wit, and head of the Reynolds family of Loughscur, was born at Letterfine, Co. Leitrim, son of George Reynolds (d. 1786), also called George Nugent Reynolds or ‘Squire’ Reynolds, and Jane Reynolds (née Connell) from Cranary, Co. Longford. He lived most of his life at Letterfine House, […]
Mrs Lily Moffatt (nee Frayne/Freyne) was a great advocate for traditional music and dance. As a prominent member of Cumann na mBan and a lifelong republican, Lily had a unique insight into local political happenings in and round Leitrim and Roscommon from the years before and following the 1916 Rising. […]
