By Rónán Galvin

Eddie Butcher’s home in Magilligan, Co. Derry drew singers and song collectors alike, especially in the last two decades of his life up to his passing in 1980. This 50 year old recording in the McConnell Collection at track no. 8 in the final playlist, captures a very special gathering from four of the finest voices in traditional song in the northern part of Ireland. First up is Eddie himself, followed by Len Graham, then Joe Holmes and finally Cathal and we are privileged to have a ‘fly on the wall’ insight into a truly great night. All four singers released commercially but this recording, I feel, highlights the true value of non-commercial material where the gathering takes on a life of its own through a freedom of expression that is not always possible in a more formal setting.  

Cathal’s travels worldwide with Boys of the Lough are very much reflected in this Collection and in 1994 they performed in Melbourne, Australia. After the concert, ethnomusicologist and musican Dr Helen O’Shea recorded an informal session in the Lord Newry Hotel featuring Irish-born musicians including Clare accordion player Joe Fitzgerald in the company of Cathal and fellow band member, John Coakley on piano. The song ‘Bonnie labouring boy’ which opens this playlist is derived from the same recording. 

Informal sessions feature strongly in this playlist and include: a duet with flute player, Peg McGrath and Kathleen Smyth on fiddle ; a quick insight into quality control from renowned Glens of Antrim poitín maker and fiddler Mickey McElhatton followed by a duet with Mickey and Cathal on flute ; a duet featuring Cathal and fellow flute player, Paddy Taylor. In the 1970s Cathal visited fiddle and accordion player Rose Murphy at her home in Rotherham, UK and captured a lovely field recording with the Milltown, Co. Galway native. Although not widely known outside his own area, accordion player Jack Dowling was central to the tradition in his native Kilgowan and in south Kildare. Here Jack delivers a recitation on the occasion of the 40th wedding anniversary of John and Valerie McManus, in the home of their daughter who is married in Athy.  

In 1972, Cathal, Maura and Len Graham attended the Fleadh Cheoil in Listowel and afterwards visited fiddle player Denis Murphy where a lively session was recorded including a duet with Cathal and Denis on the air ‘Caoineadh Uí Dhomhnaill’ and Denis’ solo rendition of the reel, Miss McLeod’s. It is interesting to hear different settings of various tunes and following on from Denis Murphy we have Mayo-born, Chicago uilleann piper Joe Shannon and an explosive set of reels ending with the aforementioned Miss McLeod’s.  

Cathal’s duet playing with various musicians has featured strongly in this Collection and in this playlist he partners two of the finest fiddle players in recent times – Tommy Peoples and Seán Keane. It has been a pleasure to explore and document the McConnell Collection and make it widely available to the general public. One of the many highlights is Cathal’s solo flute and whistle playing. It is fitting, therefore to include his version of the reel ‘Boys of the Lough,’ a tune that lent its name to the group in which Cathal was the only surviving member from its inception in the early 1970s up until recent years. I first encountered Cathal playing two tin whistles simultaneously in Milltown Malbay more than twenty years ago and the final track is his unique version of the air ‘The dark island’ followed by a good Donegal highland! 

This project is possible thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.