Seamus Walshe

Clare Accordion

with

Mark Kelly, Brendan Larrissey, Jimmy Higgins, Tommy Hayes, Eugene Kelly and Martin Murphy

In this recording I have chosen to play tunes which I have been playing for may years. I was lucky to have been brought up in West Clare, near Quilty, an area regarded as the home of music in Co. Clare. Quilty, a picturesque seaside village, has had some very talented dancers, singers and musicians. I listened to and watched many of these people perform from a young age. The Quilty area attracted very many influential musicians such as the legendary Willie Clancy, from up the read in Miltown Malbay, and from further afield musicians like the Keane brothers, Sean and James. These musicians amongst many and the musical atmosphere they created was an inspiration for me.

This is my third recording and I hope you enjoy it.

Available on CD or Cassette. Phone/fax +353 91 523230 to order.

Tracks

1. Jigs
Reavey's 		3.49 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Mark Kelly, Guitar and Tommy Hayes, Bodhran
2. Hornpipes:
The Stage
Queen of the West 		3.08 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Jim Higgins, Piano
3. Reels:
The Salamancha
The Rainy Day 		3.10 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Brendan Larrissey, Fiddle; Jim Higgins, Piano
4. Jigs:
High Part of the Road
Connie O'Connell's 		3.23 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Jim Higgins, Piano & Snare; Mark Kelly, Guitar
5. Reels:
Bris an Fhuinneog
Andy Dixon's 		3.48 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Brendan Larrissey, Fiddle; Mark Kelly, Guitar
6. Jigs:
The Monoghan
Morrison's 		3.43 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Brendan Larrissey, Fiddle; Mark Kelly, Guitar
7. Hornpipes:
Sliabh na mBan
Johnny Burke's 		3.08 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Jim Higgins, Piano
8. Reels:
Drunken Landlady
Bucks of Oranmore 		3.30 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Eugene Kelly, Piano & Bass Piano
9. Jigs:
Jonie Madden's
Paddy Fahy's 		2.52 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Brendan Larrissey, Fiddle and Jim Higgins, Piano
10. Hornpipes:
Reavey's 		3.12 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Brendan Larrissey, Fiddle and Jim Higgins, Piano
11. Reels:
Reavey's 		3.35 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Jim Higgins, Piano
12. Reels:
Boys of Laois
Josephine Keegan's 		2.35 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Mark Kelly, Guitar; Tommy Hayes, Bodhran
13. Hornpipes:
Mulqueeney's
The Wanderer 		3.34 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Mark Kelly, Guitar
14. Jigs:
Carmel Guinning's
Chris Droney's
Paddy Gavin's 		3.08 Seamus Walshe, Accordion; Mark Kelly, Guitar

Track 1: Jigs (Reavey's)

These Jigs were composed by Ed Reavey, whom Mich Maloney (musician & folklorist) described as probably the greatest composer of Irish Traditional music this century. Ed Reavey was born in Barnagrove, Co. Cavan. He emigrated to the US at a young age and died there in 1991.

Track 2: Hornpipes (The Stage, Queen of the West)

I first heard 'The Stage' hornpipe played by Mike McKeigue, a very talented accordion player from Kiltormer in East Galway who died tragically in the early 70s. I would like to dedicate this hornpipe to his memory. 'The Queen of the West' I learned from the playing of my old friend, and one of my favourite fiddle players, Tommy Peoples. I have fond memories of playing with Tommy in Clare during the early seventies.

Track 3: Reels (The Salamancha, The Rainy Day)

The first tune 'The Salamancha' is a very old tune as was a great favourite with the old fiddle players and pipers. 'The Rainy Day', I first heard played by one of my favourite pipers, Tommy Reck.

Track 4: Jigs (High Part of the Road, Connie O'Connell's)

The first jog was a great favourite of James Keane, James has always been one of my favourite accordion players. I love the 'neagh' which he puts into his music. The second jig is called after Connie O'Connell, a fiddle player for Co. Cork.

Track 5: Reels (Bris an Fhuinneog, Andy Dixon's)

I learned this first reel from the fiddle playing of Mairead and Kathleen Nesbitt. The second reel is called after Andy Dixon, a fiddle player from Belfast.

Track 6: Jigs (The Monoghan, Morrison's)

These are two very old jigs which are popular in Sligo.

Track 7: Hornpipes (Sliabh na mBan, Johnny Burke's)

The 'Sliabh Na mBan' hornpipe was a great favourite among accordion players in the fifties. However I learned it from the playing of Seamus Connolly, one of my favourite fiddle players. The second hornpipe was a great favourite of Paddy Breen, a well known flute player and balladeer from Kilmihill, Co. Clare.

Track 8: (Drunken Landlady, Bucks of Oranmore)

The 'Drunken Landlady' is associated with my friend and great fiddle player Bobby Casey from near Quilty in West Clare. e has lived in London most of his life. The 'Bucks of Oranmore' was a favourite of the legendary Joe Cooley, whom I had the good fortune of meeting and spending time with. We played many tunes and talked about old times. The feeling and soul in Joe's music will live on forever.

Track 9: Jigs (Jonie Madden's, Paddy Fahy's)

The first jig was composed by Jonie Madden, a great whistle player from New York. The second jig was composed by Paddy Fahy who is very well known for his many excellent compositions. I have fond memories of Paddy Fahy and his wife Ann visiting my house in Galway every Sunday night in 1979 and 1980 when we played and exchanged tunes until the early hours.

Track 10: Hornpipes (Reavey's)

Hornpipes are my favourite pieces of music and those hornpipes composed by Ed reavey are among my favourites.

Track 11: Reels (Reavey's)

Again, these are two more of Ed Reavey's compositions. They are most suited to the fiddle, than the accordion, so I decided to play them at a slower tempo than usual.

Track 12: Reels (Boys of Laois, Josephine Keegan's)

'The Boys of Laois' was composed by the legendary Dublin fiddle player, Tommy Potts, and is one of my favourite tunes. The second reel is one of Josephine Keegan's many fine compositions.

Track 13: Hornpipes (Mulqueeney's, The Wanderer)

The first hornpipe was composed by Jim Mulqueeney, who played with the famous Kilfenora Ceili Band. 'The Wanderer' was a big favourite with the great Wexford accordion player, George Ross. When I began playing the accordion my uncle gave me 78 record of Geroge Ross and his playing had a great influence on me. The highlight of my musical career was when George Ross adjudicated and gave me 1st place in the Oireachtas 1972 and the All Ireland Senior According Championship in 1980.

Track 14: Jigs (Carmel Gunning's, Chris Droney's, Paddy Gavin's

As the title suggest these jigs are associated with the players.