Decade of Centenaries Programme 2020-23
Alex Sutherland from Toome, Drumreilly was a fiddle player who was taught by Peter Kennedy (c1822 -1902) of Lisnatulla, Ballinamore. Sutherland, himself, became a prolific fiddle teacher and taught between approximately 1910 to 1960. His students were from within a 15 mile radius of Toome. Sutherland Heritage Thanks to the […]
Much has been written about William Sydney Clements, the 3rd Earl of Leitrim known most commonly as “Lord Leitrim”. Probably most famous due to his assassination in 1878, Clements also gained infamy because of his treatment of tenants and his supposed mistreatment of women. Lough Rynn Estate itself wouldn’t have […]
One of Leitrim’s best-known musicians and composers of traditional tunes was fiddle player and composer Joe Liddy. Born in Killargue in the early 1900’s, Joe, known as “The Leitrim Fiddler” came from a musical family and played with many of the greatest players from Leitrim and further afield. Liddy’s Loft […]
Margaret O’ Rourke was born in Ballinagleragh in the townland of Drumnafinla. She sang with various groups and bands in her early years but she gained much recognition when she began singing with the Hi-Lows Showband in the late 70’s. https://irish-showbands.com/Bands/Hi-lows.htm Shanagolden Margaret later sang with Paddy Kelly from Cloone, […]
Josephine McNamara was born and raised in Aughavas, Co. Leitrim, in a musical family. She has very fond memories of hearing her father sing around the fireside and as he was working, when she was a young girl. She, herself, developed the same practice of singing as she worked and […]
One of the most prolific collections of poems, ballads and songs from County Leitrim is that compiled by poet Bernard Gray and printed by John Rourke and sons in Carrick on Shannon in 1909 – “Songs and Stories of Leitrim” As well as many poems and ballads written by Gray […]
