Seanchairde / Old Friends

Tara Diamond, Dermy Diamond, Dáithí Sproule
seanchairde cd cover
  1. Danny O'Donnell's · The Cedars of Lebanon · The Milliner's Daughter 3:38
  2. The Humours of Glynn · The Cordal Jig · Paddy Taylor's Jig 3:50
  3. The Belle of the Ball, If There Weren't any Women in the World 4:12
  4. The Boy in the Boat · The Boy in the Gap 3:37
  5. Madam Maxwell 3:43
  6. The Woods of Old Limerick · Statia Donnelly's 3:34
  7. Maggie Pickens · Barny Bhrianaí's 2:47
  8. The Parting Glass 4:00
  9. Miss McGuinness · The Stoney Steps 2:15
  10. Paul Ha'penny · The Plains of Boyle 3:15
  11. Up and About in the Morning · An Rógaire Dubh 4:14
  12. The Return of Spring · The Mountain Path 3:59
  13. The Lady on the Island · The Sailor on the Rock 2:49
  14. Shandon's Bells · Condon's Frolics 3:24
  15. The Three Scones of Boxty · Little Katie Taylor 3:21

Price €15 Inc. P&P Worldwide

The Tunes:

1 reels: Danny O’Donnell’s, The Cedars of Lebanon, The Milliner’s Daughter · The second two tunes of this 3-reel combination were learned in Belfast in the early 1970s from our old friend Andy Dickson. The Cedars of Lebanon was composed by Sean Ryan, the Co. Tipperary fiddler and composer of many fine tunes, while The Milliner’s Daughter is a popular reel known in many versions. The first tune is a ‘D’ setting of a reel we learned from the great Donegal fiddle player, Danny O’Donnell. Danny played it in ‘A’ but we have transposed it to ‘D’. It is closely related to The Turnpike Gate, also known as Kilannan’s Fancy, which is a much more common tune played in ‘G’.

2 jigs: The Humours of Glynn, The Cordal, Paddy Taylor’s · We first heard these three jigs played together by the great Cork/Kerry fiddle players Connie O’Connell, Nicky McCauliff and Denis McMahon. According to O’Neill (1001), the Humours of Glynn (or Port Chuilinn), is an old tune dating from the early 1700’s composed by Pierce Power, from Glynn, Co. Waterford. The Cordal jig is listed in Brendan Breathnach’s Ceol Rince na hÉireann (CRÉ) II, with the source given as Denis Murphy. It derives its name from Cordal, a village in Kerry, near Castleisland. The last tune is a composition of Paddy Taylor’s, the London-based flute player originally from Loughill, Co. Limerick.

3 barndances: The Belle of the Ball, If There Weren’t any Women in the World · We learned these two barndances from melodion/accordion player Charlie Harris, who lives in Ardrahan, Co. Galway. They were recorded by James Morrison under the names Belle of the Ball and Hayes Favourite in the 1930’s. Gene Kelly recorded the set in 1976 with the more common names Sean Hayes and If there Weren’t any Women in the World. According to Charlie, Sean Hayes led a music-hall dance band in the USA during the 1920’s.

4 reels: The Boy in the Boat, The Boy in the Gap · These are two old favourites of ours. The Boy in the Gap was originally a two-part reel. In Breathnach’s CRÉ I, the two-part version is given, while in the later CRÉ III, the three-part version is given which was transcribed from Paddy Taylor’s playing on his The Boy in the Gap album (1970). Since then, this version has replaced the older two-part version.

5 planxty: Madam Maxwell · This O’Carolan composition was dedicated to the memory of Madam Maxwell, wife of John Maxwell of Farnham, Co. Cavan. He was an MP and later Baron Farnham. According to The Belfast Northern Star, it was played in competition at the Belfast Harpers’ Festival of 1792. It is in Bunting’s collection.

6 jigs: The Woods of Old Limerick, Statia Donnelly’s · These beautiful jigs come from Bernadette McCarthy, who learned them when she lived in London, before returning to her father’s (Tommy McCarthy) home area of West Clare, where she still lives and plays traditional music. The first tune is in O’Neill’s Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody. Statia Donnelly was London-based fiddler Jimmy Power’s grandmother. She was his source for this tune, which is a jig version of the song-air An Páistín Fionn. Jimmy Power recorded it on a long-unavailable LP, Irish Fiddle Player, on the Topic label in the 1970s.

7 highlands: Maggie Pickens, Barny Bhrianaí’s · The first of these Donegal Highlands is a version of the well-known Maggie Pickens or Maggie Pickie, which also has words, and its own dance. Con Cassidy recalled Maggie Pickens being danced around a tongs laid out on front of the fire. Mickey Doherty was recorded playing it in 1949 to Conall Mac an Luain’s dancing by Kevin Danaher and Sean Ó hEochaidh. The second is an unusual tune learned from Con McGinley, of Mín na Croise, near Glencolmcille. Con learned the tune from Barney Bhrianaí Molloy around 1930, when he was in his mid-teens. As he passed by Molloy’s house, he heard the sound of Barney playing this highland through the open door and he picked up the melody. Con went to England in 1941, and still lives there. During one of his regular visits home, he remembered the tune and passed it to Ronan Galvin and Mick Brown. Barney’s father Brianaí learned from John Mosie McGinley, and Barny’s son, Pádraig, still lives and plays in the area, and has influenced younger players like Derek and Christina McGinley.

8 air: The Parting Glass · The song The Parting Glass is well known, but Dermy heard it sung to this air in the mid 1970s by Len Graham and Joe Holmes, from County Antrim, and it has remained a favourite of his since then.

9 reels: Miss McGuinness, The Stoney Steps · We put these tunes together for a TV recording with Andy Dickson on the Bring Down the Lamp series, recorded by Tony McMahon in Ballyshannon in 1986. The first reel is a version of a tune recorded by Michael Coleman in the 1920’s. Dermy changed the setting to ‘D’ from the original ‘G’, which puts a different shape on the tune. He also changed The Stoney Steps slightly from the common setting to one more in keeping with the first reel.

10 hornpipes: Paul Ha’penny, The Plains of Boyle · Tara learned this version of Paul Ha’penny (or Poll Ha’penny) from her father, Leslie, who had previously learned it from a radio recording of flute player Billy Clifford. According to Bunting, (Breathnach, CRE III, 1985), it comes from an air, Mailí Nic Ailpín (Molly Mac Alpin), composed by the harper Liam Ó Conalláin, who was born in Cloonmahon, Sligo around 1645. The second tune is a very popular hornpipe recorded by Paddy Killoran and James Morrison in 1929.

11 jigs: Up and About in the Morning, An Rógaire Dubh · The first of these jigs is a tune we associate with the great piper Willie Clancy from Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare. The second is a popular jig which is played in A major, rather than the more common A minor, giving it a different feel.

12 polkas: The Return of Spring, The Mountain Path · These two polkas, learned in Fermanagh in the 1970’s from the fiddler Mick Hoy, are fine examples of Fermanagh/Leitrim Polkas which have a slower tempo than the more well-known Cork/Kerry polka tradition. They were recorded by James Morrison in the USA in 1926.

13 reels: The Lady on the Island, The Sailor on the Rock · Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford included this selection on their landmark Star Above the Garter album in 1969. The first is in O’Neill’s 1001. The second is associated with John McKenna, the Leitrim flute player who recorded it in the USA in the 1920’s. It is listed in O’Neill’s 1850.

14 jigs: Shandon’s Bells, Condon’s Frolics · Named after the famous steeple on the north side of Cork city, Shandon’s Bells has been collected in New England and Canada, after making its way from Ireland. The second jig is in both O’Neill’s 1001 and 1850 and was played by Francie ‘Dearg’ O’Byrne, the great fiddler from Kilcar, Co. Donegal.

15 reels: The Three Scones of Boxty, Little Katie Taylor · We learned these two obscure reels from Cathal McConnell, Josie McDermott and Patsy Hanley at a musical weekend in Cathal’s home in Belnaleck, Co. Fermanagh, in 1975. Subsequently, they became popular around sessions in Belfast, and were recorded by Altan on their Horse with a Heart album (1989). Boxty is a form of potato bread made in the North of Ireland, which is devoured with great gusto by hungry musicians. Kevin Taylor told us many years ago, that his father, Paddy, composed the second tune and named it after Kevin’s sister, Katie.

All tracks traditional, arranged by Tara, Dermy and Daithi except Track 1: The Cedars of Lebanon (© S Ryan), Track 2: Paddy Taylor’s Jig (© P Taylor) and Track 15: Little Katie Taylor (© P Taylor).

About Dáithí Sproule: Dáithí has had a major influence on traditional music through his albums and performances with Skara Brae, Altan, Paddy O’Brien and James Kelly, Trian (Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey), and Fingal. Dáithí has played with Dermy and Tara many times, most recently at a concert in Ionad Cois Locha, during the 2007 Frankie Kennedy Winter School, which was the catalyst for the making of the Seanchairde album.

Thanks to:

Danny and Helen, the Irish Traditional Music Archive, Ronan Galvin, Mick Brown, the Arts Council of Ireland, Tom Sherlock, Liz Welch, Nick Lethert, Lisa Richardson, and Anna and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

Recording: John Wright, What Studio, Savage, MN, USA Mastering: Garett Duffy, Westland Studio, Magennis Place, Westland Row, Dublin 2 Printing & manufacturing: Paul Waldron, All Write Media Ltd., 23 Marino Crescent, Clontarf, Dublin 3 Mixed by Tara, Dermy and Garett at Westland Studio Photography & design: Liz Welch & Nick Lethert · 3-Scones Music © 2008 · 3scones.com

We gratefully acknowledge support from the Arts Council of Ireland Deis Scheme for the production of this album.

29 Comments

  1. Ciaran K on January 11, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Fair play to you all!
    Looking forward to hearing the cd, and a few (ok, a lot) of tunes with you all again soon.

    • Dermy on February 7, 2009 at 12:46 pm

      Kieran – not sure if i pressed the reply button so here’s another message just in case – see you in Milltown, Fiddlers week, the Frankie … or if there’s any divilment happening around your country let us know.

      Dermy

  2. Cathal Morley on January 16, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    Hi, folks!

    Best of luck with the album. Can’t wait to have a listen!

    Many thanks,

    Cathal Morley
    13800 Baughman Road
    Silverhill, Alabama 36576
    USA

  3. Brian Montague on January 20, 2009 at 10:30 am

    Congratulations – this recording is long overdue

    See you soon

    Brian M

  4. Tommy Martin on January 21, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Am I really the first to comment here? I’ve never been the first to do anything… hmmm….
    Anyway. Many congratulations of the new album. Beautiful music!

    Tommy

    • Dermy on February 7, 2009 at 12:44 pm

      Tommy – good to hear from you. We’ll award you the prize of most enthusiastic web visitor in the world next time we meet up.

      Dermot

  5. Martin Donohoe Nyah Cavan on February 10, 2009 at 11:03 pm

    Hi Dermy ,got the cd last week of Finbar in Claddagh
    ITS GREAT!

    • Dermy on February 21, 2009 at 8:28 pm

      Good luck with the festival martin – and pass our regards to Fintan

      Dermy

  6. Cathal Morley on February 13, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    Lovely album altogether! Please know you have some new fans here in the swamps of Alabama USA!
    Sweet tempos and sweeter expression, both flute and fiddle with tasty guitar done just right.
    I’ve worn this CD out – hasn’tleft my machine since first play. Drat! Now I have to put five new tunes on the fiddle.
    Thanks you, Tara, Dermy and Daithi!

    • Dermy on February 21, 2009 at 8:27 pm

      Thanks Cathal – its great to hear that we have people we can count on in the swamps. You never know when you might need friends….

      Dermy

  7. Paddy (Jordie) McGinley on February 13, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    Glad to see you are finally making something of yourself.

    Mind you, I gave you your first break at the shebeen at the Gael Uladh club on Sunday nights.

    • Dermy on February 21, 2009 at 8:26 pm

      Hi Paddy – still talk about those nights – and getting Micky up to sing fiddler’s green, and turning the mike off on him half way through the song.

      Dermy

  8. Earle Hitchner on February 16, 2009 at 4:14 am

    Hi, Dermy and Tara,

    Can you e-mail me a good-quality JPEG photo (minimum of 1 MB) of the two or three of you? I want to review the new CD.

    Best,

    Earle Hitchner, M.A.
    Contributing Music Writer, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
    CEOL Columnist, IRISH ECHO
    ehitch2@netzero.net

    • Dermy on February 21, 2009 at 8:24 pm

      Earle – did you get the photo from Nick/Daithi and the CD?

      Dermy

  9. Michael McHale on March 1, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    Hi, I have just heard about your beautiful recording. Looking forward to hearing it. I am Tom McHales older brother Mike. I am also a flute?whistle player. live in the Catskill Mts. of NY. Good luck with your recording. Mike

  10. GREER FARRIS on April 21, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    The work of skillful musicians, who understand their craft..What to put in..and what to leave out..pure, honest and tastefully played, as all great traditional Irish music should be.

  11. Thomas Johnson on May 7, 2009 at 7:54 am

    Sounds like a fine collection of tunes – Just bought the “Traveller Piper “DVD from NPU. This’ll be the next CD I’ll buy soon as I’ve saved my pennies. Thanks also for the music at the Copenhagen Irish Festival last November. All the best

    • Dermy on June 9, 2009 at 6:30 am

      Thanks Thomas; good to hear from you. Hope you like the album.

      Dermy

  12. Valerie Plested on July 5, 2009 at 2:17 am

    Hi Dermy! I found your and Tara’s site linked off of Sproule’s — a happy coincidence! I’m very pleased to learn you’ve a new recording and am really looking forward to hearing it. Hope you’re well and that we find ourselves at the same session before too many more years… 😉

    • Dermy on July 14, 2009 at 5:16 pm

      Thanks Valerie – good to hear from you. Album is on its way to you. We have been at the WC summer school; lots of great music this year.

      Take care.

      Dermy

  13. Loïc Turmel on August 27, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    Hi,
    I am the presenter of « Chemins de Terre » on Radio-Rennes (100.8 around Rennes in Brittany) and on Radio Evasion (98.7 in “pays de Broceliande” in Brittany to). It’s a programme about traditional music. I read a review of your new release in Irish Music Magazine. I would like to play it in my programme, could you send me it to this following address

    Loïc Turmel
    La Martinière
    35340 LA BOUEXIERE
    France

    Thank you

    Loïc Turmel
    http://www.cheminsdeterre.com
    http://radio.rennes.free.fr

    • Dermy on August 29, 2009 at 1:10 pm

      Thanks for the message Loic – we’ll send you a copy of the CD next week. Thanks for the interest

      Dermy

  14. Cathy Sky on September 19, 2009 at 2:58 am

    Our whole summer was “made” by receiving your recording, listening in the car and at home to the generosity and exuberance of your performances. The entire CD is such a breath of fresh air at a time when many trad albums are overproduced and dulling to the senses. Thank you guys (and gal.) From our remote Irish music outpost in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina — Cathy and Pat

    • Dermy on September 19, 2009 at 2:31 pm

      Thanks for the message and kind comments about the CD. We feel the same way – that traditional music albums are being over produced, and in the CD we wanted to just put some music down, without any fancy stuff, as in our view, the music should speak for itself. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the album and look forward to seeing you in the US or in Ireland.

      Take care

      Dermy

  15. yann-erwan HEURTEBIS on October 6, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Hi,
    I’am a radio presenter of a programme since 13 years “le petit jus irlandais”
    I will be pleased to play your music on my show if it’s posssible please to have a copy?
    Regards
    Yann-erwan

  16. Paul Mitchell on October 8, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Hey Folks,
    Unsure if I want to follow Cathy, but my comments square with hers (they should, I learned most of what I know about “pure drop” music from Pat and Cathy). As it turns out, we picked up the CD at Claddagh as well (on our way out of Ireland last month) and it’s in rotation (along with the mess of recordings I also bought at Claddagh, and Pat O’Connors latest – having just come from the Tulla Trad. Fest).
    Perry (the flute player) and us will be working our ways through it for sometime coming, lovely. Think about visiting North Carolina, the state of *house concerts*.

  17. Sophie BARDOU on October 14, 2009 at 10:04 am

    Hello,
    Lovely music!!
    Could you use my email to get in touch with me as soon as possible. It’s about a workshop in Paris in November…
    Regards,
    Sophie
    bardousophie@yahoo.fr

  18. Philippe COUSIN on November 15, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Hi Dermy,

    I’m a breton journalist in a monthly paper called Le Peuple Breton, and I also write in Trad Mag, a French traditional music magazine. I’m in charge of the Celtic music columns, articles, reviews, interviews…
    Sometimes I also collaborate to Irish Music Magazine when they ask me articles on Breton artists or for news from Brittany.
    Would it be possible to get a copy of your album to review in my magazines? Send me an email and I will give you my postal address.
    Many thanks for that.
    All the best. Slán go fóill.

    Philippe

    PS. I will be in Donegal next December for SCFK and maybe meet you there.

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