This month we continue to explore the unique Redican, Davis and MacMahon collections donated to ITMA. They span Fleadh Cheoils, concerts and private kitchen recordings. 

The late Seán Keane often acknowledged the influence piping had on his music. We are lucky once again that Tom Davis was present at a memorable concert to record Seán playing a famous piping piece, the Mici Cumbá’s Gol na nBan san Ár. Tom also travelled to the annual piping Tionól gathering in 1974 to hear and record piper Seán McKiernan in great form. The influence of Seán’s friend and mentor, Willie Clancy, comes across clearly in Seán’s playing. In the same year, Listowel was the venue for the All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil when the late Séamus Mac Mathúna (Tom’s old friend) was in great from singing Lovely Erin and fiddle player Paddy Ryan gave us two classic jigs. 

Back to New York, where Larry Redican is joined by old friends Paddy O’Brien, Jack Coen and Felix Dolan for two reels.  Years earlier in the 1950s, Larry recorded a young Seán Maguire who spent time in the US, putting his unique stamp on Skylark and Maud Miller. 

Back in the Pipers’ Club Dublin in the 1950s, Paddy McElvaney is at hand to introduce two major figures from that period, Aggie Whyte and Peadar O’Loughlin, a renowned fiddle and flute duet. 

Moving to the 1990s, Tony MacMahon travelled to West Limerick to record a wealth of songs from the inimitable Con Greaney including this one ‘The road to Athea’. In the MacMahon collection, the bouzouki player, broadcaster and long term Clare resident, Eoin O’Neill, joins two old friends, Joe Ryan on fiddle and Gerdie Commane, concertina to record a selection of  old tunes played with taste and gentle rhythm. 

– Pádraic Mac Mathúna