Brendan Taaffe: Review of An Historic Recording of Irish Traditional Music from County Clare and East Galway




An Historic Recording of Irish Traditional Music from County Clare and East Galway

Shanachie Records (Shanachie 76001, www.shanachie.com)

This album, originally known as All Ireland Champions – Violin, has long been a collector’s item; were one to think of the most influential recordings of Irish music, this would be in the top echelon. But there were only so many copies of the album released in 1959, ages ago, and the only way to hear it until now was to have a friend with a copy. My first copy of the album had been recorded so many times that the pitch had raised almost a full tone, and I still thought it was brilliant. By re-mastering and re-issuing this gem, Shanachie has done a lasting service to fans of traditional music.

The album features P.J. Hayes, Paddy Canny, Peadar O’Loughlin, and Bridie Lafferty in their prime. Hayes and Canny grew up playing music together and for many define the east Clare style. Their playing is smooth and lyric, and their many years playing with the Tulla Ceili Band gives them great lift and drive. Peadar O’Loughlin, a lovely flute player who also plays the pipes and the fiddle, spent years with the Tulla Ceili Band as well, and many an hour in PJoe’s kitchen. Simply put, the music is brilliant. It is hard to pick out what draws me most, but forced to pick it is the comfort level apparent throughout. The fellows had been playing together for years, giving them an ease and confidence that shows in their unhurried pace, their melodic phrasing, their note for note tightness. Their sense of sets—which tunes to put together—is amazing, evidenced by the fact that many of the sets have remained intact in sessions today.

Shanachie has done a laudable job in re-issuing this masterpiece. The production is clean, the instruments well-balanced, the liner notes are excellent, and there are some nice pictures to boot. Essential listening.