Cathal McConnell and Len Graham talk about the rich musical heritage in Ulster.
A native of County Fermanagh, Cathal McConnell is a flute and whistle player, having won the All-Ireland title for these instruments at the age of eighteen. Also a singer, he is a founder member of The Boys of the Lough traditional music group and since the 1960s has toured internationally with them.
The challenges of life on the road can often impact one's enthusiasm for the music, but over the last year his performances with Len Graham have revived him.
I’m getting back much more into the music.
Len Graham is a renowned singer and storyteller from County Antrim who has also worked with Cathal McConnell collecting songs.
The duo sing 'The Rambling Irishman’ an emigration ballad which looks forward with hope to a new life in America,
When we arrived at the other side
We were both stout and healthy
We passed our anchor in the bay
Going down to Philadelphi
It is taken from of Songs of the People, the extensive collection of songs and ballads collected in the first half of the twentieth century by Sam Henry, a musicologist, folklorist, photographer and writer from Northern Ireland.
This episode of ‘The Pure Drop’ was broadcast on 11 July 1993. The presenter is Paddy Glackin.
'The Pure Drop' is described by the RTÉ Guide in 1988 as "A nine part traditional music series featuring the best solo instrumentalists playing in Ireland today and occasionally featuring small groups."
The programme was first broadcast on 14 January 1988 and ran until February 1996. Presenters were James Kelly, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Paddy Glackin and Martin McGinley.
