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In recent years a younger generation of Donegal musicians have been benefiting from the occasional visits to his native Glencolmcille, Co Donegal, of Eddie O’Gara (b. Mín na bhFachrán, 1926), a melodeon and piano-accordion player with a store of old and unusual local tunes. Before emigrating to Britain in the 1940s, Eddie had learned from a cousin Patrick O’Doherty and from the McGinley family of Loch Inseach, and had played for dances throughout Glencolmcille parish in partnership with his brother Paddy on fiddle.
Eddie O’Gara was recorded by Irish Traditional Music Archive staff at the annual Donegal Fiddle Summer School of Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí in Glencolmcille in August 2011, playing and talking about his musical background. The event was facilitated by Rónán Galvin of the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin; also present were Eddie’s son Brendan and daughter-in-law Michelle.
With thanks to Eddie O’Gara, Brendan O’Gara, Michelle Laffer, Rónán Galvin & Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí.
Nicholas Carolan & Danny Diamond, 1 August 2014
