This is the story of one of Ireland's oldest Céile band, the Balinakill Céile Band which was formed by Fr. Tom Larkin in 1925. Situated in South East Galway, the band started to rehearse in the front room of Ms. Ana Rafferty's house in Galway. This Documentary archive hears from the surviving members of the band in 1957 and the music they played.

The band was created with six members. Ms. Ana Rafferty, one of the surviving members of the old Balinakill Céile Band reveals invaluable recordings and memories of the old band. In 1925, Fr. Tom Larkin came to Balinakill and formed a small group of players, in November 1929 the group aired on 2RN. Fr. Larkin was one of the most devoted lovers of all that was Irish-games, music and dancing. He fostered hurling in Ballinakill and in all East Galway when he was Chairman. He died in 1949 at the age of 58.

In 1957 two of the old band had died Tommy Whelan (Flute Player) and Gerry Maloney (Fiddler).  Ms Ana Rafferty, Stephen Maloney and Tommy White spoke of their influence on Irish music of this era. After the early years, the band went on to play throughtout the West and Ireland, in 1931 the band played in London and elsewhere, as time went on the band found two new members, Kevin Maloney and Aggie White.

Presented by Ciarán Mac Mathúna

First Broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 - 16th March 1957

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