Comhaltas Archive

(L-r Back Row): MICHAEL FL~AGAN,JOHN MULLIGAN, DIARMUID 0 CATH­AIN, BRIAN CONWAY, LOUIS QUINN,MARTIN WYNNE, JIM CONWAY;(Seated): ROSEMARIE CONWAY, JOHNFITZGERALD, PATRICIA CONWAY,MARTIN MULHAIRE.five or six reels back in the 30s longbefore he left Ireland. On being pressedhe admits to having seen one of his reelsreproduced in a music book in Irelandwithout any credits being given to himfor its composition. He feels the musicof this tune was sent to Ireland by thelate Willie Coleman. Martin is anacknowledged authority on the origin oftunes and talks freely about varioussettings to be found in Cole's book andWhite's book as well as O'Neill's. Whilehe loves the informal session he has veryfixed ideas about the type of tunes thatshould be played at these sessions.Some tunes he lists as "variable" and hefeels that these are not suitable forgroup playing. Though he has a vastrepertoire he is loath to play tunes thathe has not "prepared and packaged".MARTIN MULHAlREAnother well-known performer atthis session was Martin Mulhaire, anative of Newcastle, Co. Galway. Martinemigrated to theU.s.A. in 1958.Prior to this he had played in an "onand off situation" with the Tulla CeiliBand for some two years. Since thenMartin has maintained the family traditionof traditional music in his adoptedcity. His wife comes from Portumnaand her maiden name was O'Mahony.Though her father played the flute andher mother played the accordeon, Mrs.Mulhaire does not play an instrument,yet she is an authority on the names oftunes. She loves going back to Irelandon holidays and never lost her East Galwayaccent. Among her favouritemUSIcIans are Paddy O'Brien and thelate Joe Cooley and Kevin Keegan.These are also the favourites of her husbandMartin who says that though thestyles of Paddy O'Brien and KevinKeegan are different both were great exponents.Martin has composed a total of 15reels, many of which are well known onthe circuit. He also admits to havingcomposed jigs and hornpipes but nevergot around to playing them. One of hisfavourite reels is called "O'Mahony's"and needless to say this was composedas a tribute to his wife. Of news to uswas the fact that the reel known as the"Golden Keyboard" is also one ofMartin Mulhaire's compositions. Theyears rest lightly on the jovial Martinand we can look forward to many yearsentertainment from this star performer.Another musician in the companywas American born John Fitzpatrick avery competent performer on both theaccordeon and the concert flute. John'swife also in the company, was born inthe States though her parents were Irishwith her father coming from Co. Mayo.John's daughter Maureen is now one ofthe best known fiddle players on theNew York circuit. He lists as hi~favourite musicians the late Larry Redicanand Tim Fitzpatrick the well knownaccordeon player, but not related.The versatile Michael Flanagan wasalso in the company. Michael was alsoborn in the USA but inherited his loveof music from his parents, both ofwhom were born in Miltown Malbay.He plays an anglo style concertina butthe fiddle is his favourite instrument.Michael claims his style is influenced bySean Magurie and Brendan McGlinchey.Patricia Conway is not related to thepeople in whose house the session tookplace but being a fanatic for traditionalmusic she spends enough time there toqualify for being termed a resident. Patriciawas born in the USA but her Mumcomes from Kerry and her Dad fromMayo . Her Dad plays the accordeonand Patricia is potentially one of thebest young accordeon players in theStates. Ask her who are her favouritemusicians and she has a string of themincluding Joe Burke, Martin Mulhaire,John Nolan and Bill McComiskey. Sheloves Ireland and as she says herself,goes there as often as she can afford.She has, however, one complaint andthat is the difficulty in finding regularsessions in Ireland, though she says ismay be that she happens to be in thewrong place at the wrong time. Whenspeaking of musicians in Ireland Patriciahas the highest regard for the versatileAnne and Nicky McAuliffe fromCastleisland. If we are to believe herfriends Patricia also qualifies for thesatile tag seeing that she plays the fiddlefriends Patricia also qualifies for the versatiletag seeing that she plays the fiddleand is a first rate step dancer. Outsideof the music, she is a hospitable younglady who, during our sojourn in NewYork, provided transport for us on morethan one occasion.JOHN "COLM" MULLlGANAlso in the company that night wasfiddle player and fiddle technician John"CoIm" Mulligan. Of all the performerson the night there was a special glint inhis eye as he loudly proclaimed that ina few weeks he would be back in the oldcountry. John was born in Co . Leitrim,a county that he is proud to say neverhad a gaol or a workhouse! As far backas he can remember his old home was agathering place for the local musicianssuch as Jack O'Boyle, Tom Cassidy,Willie McGarry and Mick McGowan.John says they played through the nightinto the morning and they as childrenwent to sleep "intoxicated by themusic". Having lived in Dublin for anumber of years he emigrated to theUSA in 1959. In 1961 he becameChairman of the Louis Quinn Clubwhich subsequently became a branch ofComhaltas in 1973. In the interveningyears John has met many fine musiciansat the monthly sessions but his outstandingmemory is of the day when thegreat Larry Redican died on stage. He isnow certain that thanks to Comhaltasand the classes music was never strongerin the USA than it is today.BRIAN CONWAYOf all the young mUSICIans in theStates today or for that matter in anypart of the world, surely one of thebrightest stars on the horizon is fiddleplayer Brian Conway. The love and33