Cathal and Maura McConnell were among the first generation of ”amateur” recordists of Irish traditional music and song who emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, assisted by newly available cassette tape machines that were considerably more compact and user-friendly than reel-to-reel recorders. The presence of a recording device in intimate house and pub sessions was also a novelty for music-makers and recordings are often complete with background commentary, door slams and playful heckling. An additional challenge for the collector was to hit the record button at the opportune time, balancing space left on a particular cassette tape, battery power etc. It is not surprising, therefore that at times the first few lines of a song, or bars of a tune are missing as Maura or Cathal, perhaps in the throes of a conversation make a split-second decision to record, or not. This does not detract from the warmth and spontaneity evident in this playlist of 14 tracks recorded between ca. 1968 and 1974.

”The Cavan road” is a song that is still performed by Cathal and here we feature his original source for the song, Mrs. Marie McAntee. Cathal fondly recalls the visit to the McAntee home in Three Mile House, Co. Monaghan over 55 years ago. His own rendition of ‘The maid of Erin’s Isle’ from the same gathering is one of the earliest recordings of Cathal’s singing in this collection. Gormanstown Franciscan College in Co. Meath was the setting for various CCÉ gatherings in the 1970s and several tracks in the playlist were recorded there in 1971 including a song from the tireless lifelong promoter, flute player and singer, Séamus Mac Mathúna. Other tracks from this gathering feature Dublin uilleann piper, Dan O’Dowd and the Co. Down singer, Valerie Bailie with the ”The rose of Ardee”, a song that is also in the vast repertoire of Cathal McConnell.

Listowel, Co. Kerry was the setting for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil for the three years 1972-1974, events that left a lasting legacy in the folklore of Irish traditional music, song and dance. Here we feature duet playing from fiddle player, Seán Keane, firstly a rare recording with Seán and Tommy Peoples and separately with Cathal McConnell on flute. In chronological order, the final recording was captured in January 1974 in the home of the Russell brothers of Doonagore, Co. Clare where there is a solo each from Micho, Packie and Gussie Russell. Gussie’s playing of the reel ‘Bunker hill’ especially highlights the diverse music styles to be heard under the same roof among siblings. Finally, the Liam O’Flynn track is also from this period, possibly the late 1960s but no further details are available as of yet.

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