Ann Lane, a political activist from Cork and personal assistant to Mary Robinson as Senator and as President of Ireland 1990–1997, was living in the early 1970s in 42 Lower Mount Street in south central Dublin, a Georgian building in a terrace since demolished and replaced by an office block. She acted as its caretaker as it awaited redevelopment. Uilleann piper Liam O’Flynn and his brother Michael took an apartment in the building about 1972, as did, somewhat later, the famous traditional music collector and musician Seamus Ennis. Late-night parties were held in the house, and it became a meeting place for contemporary traditional musicians. They included those who were then in the process of forming the group Planxty, soon to be world-famous, and Planxty held its first rehearsal in the house.

Ann Lane made recordings at parties in no 42 on audio cassette, a new technology then, and also at the landmark Planxty concert in the National Stadium, Dublin, in 1973. She recorded Seamus Ennis in performance at the Swamp Folk Club in Rathmines, Dublin, at about the same time. Ann has kindly donated her recordings and photographs of the period to the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and a selection of the recordings is presented here. She has also recorded an interview on camera for ITMA about her musical memories of the time.

With thanks to Ann Lane, and, for permission to reproduce these recordings of their music, to Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Matt Molloy, Christy Moore, and Liam O’Flynn.

Nicholas Caloran & Danny Diamond,  1 October 2011