Archive 2013
Congratulations to our two winners of copies of the CD Ushers Island. The correct answer is that Ushers Island is on the River Liffey quays in Dublin City. There were many imaginative answers!
The winners:
Séamus Byrne, Sandycove, Co.Dublin and David Barnes, Cwmystwyth, Wales.
Our new competition is for two copies of Christy Moore's album Lily and the question - not too taxing, we hope - where is Christy from?
Answers by email, post or Twitter to therollingwave@rte.ie or The Rolling Wave, Music Programmes, RTÉ Radio One or @TheRollingWave.
Good Luck!
A tribute to poet Séamus Heaney in The Poet and the Piper with Liam Ó Floinn, recorded at the Barbican Centre, London in April 1999.
Traditional and folk music with a Christmas flavour as the festive season gets into full swing.
A pre-Christmas selection from some the many CDs of traditional music and song issued during the past year.
Peter runs through some recent book publications about traditional music, song and dance which might give ideas for Christmas presents.
Memories of concertina player Larry Kinsella and piper, singer and author Tomás Ó Canainn who both passed away recently.
An unusual programme of international folk and traditional music and song which Peter collected at the recent WOMEX (world music exhibition) in Cardiff last month.
Music from Fidil, a song from Mícheál Ó Conghaile - winner of the 2013 Corn Uí Riada competition at the recent Oireachtas in Killarney, piping and whistle-playing from Willie Clancy, a track from Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill and two World War One ballads to mark Armistice Day.
There have been many quality releases of traditional music and song recently and we'll hear a selection of them on tonight's Rolling Wave.
This year sees the 50th anniversary of the death in February 1963 of the famed Sliabh Luachra fiddle-player and teacher Pádraig O'Keeffe. In tonight's programme we hear some of his recordings and an obituary programme “The Last of the Fiddle-Masters” broadcast in 1963. We also look forward to next week's Pádraig O'Keeffe Festival in Castleisland, Co. Kerry.
At a time of year associated with the supernatural - ghosts, púcas, fairies, banshees and other unusual beings, Peter Browne is joined by Ríonach Uí Ógáin to talk about a recent publication: “The Otherworld: Music and Song from the Irish Tradition”.
Tonight's programme features tracks from recently released traditional music recordings and a special song from Iarla Ó Lionaird and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra recorded last month.
To mark the recent 7th birthday of The Rolling Wave, the music and song on tonight's programme is chosen by some of the many people who listen to us.
“Hidden Fermanagh”: Peter Browne brings a concert celebrating the traditional music and song of Co. Fermanagh with some of the area’s finest performers. Recorded at the Glassworks, Derry on Thursday 15th August during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013.
A memory of the late Séamus Heaney, a song from Frank Harte about the 1913 Lockout, tracks from a new disc called “The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia” and more.
A week before the 2013 All-Ireland Football Final, we remember a couple of past visits to West Kerry to record music and song in the public house in Ventry owned and run by the great Kerry footballer, the late Páidí Ó Sé, who always had a welcome there for a traditional session.
Gael Linn celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding in 1953 and during its time it has built up a large catalogue of quality traditional music and song. In tonight's programme we hear some of their more recent releases and mett the Gael Linhn CEO, Antoine Ó Coileán
Tracks from new CDs launched at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy during the summer including from Seán McKeon, Malachy Bourke and Toner Quinn, Vincent Doherty and Anne Lynch Lyons, Edel Fox and Neill Byrne.
The second half of the Johnstons Folk Music Gathering Festival concert with The Green Fields of America.
As part of the Johnstons Folk Music Gathering Festival, tonight we bring the first half of a concert of traditional music, song and dance with The Green Fields of America.
The second half of the William Kennedy Festival concert recorded on 17th November in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh with songs and music from Karan Casey, Niall and Caoimhín Vallely and a selection of music from the newly released recording of tunes from the Goodman manuscripts played by Mick O’Brien (pipes), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle) and Emer Mayock (flute)
The first half of a concert which took place in the splendid acoustic atmosphere of St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh on 17th November 2012 during the annual William Kennedy Piping Festival. The music tonight has an international flavour with Andy May playing Northumbrian small pipes and the French trio Topanga who play bagpipes, accordion and harmonium.
The Irish Traditional Music Archive - Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann is currently celebrating 25 years since its foundation. It is an important part of the traditional music world and Peter Browne pays a visit to its premises hear about its work and meet some of those involved.
Highlights from the daily recitals and other events which have taken place at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Co Clare all during this week.
Our programme tonight comes from the opening weekend of the 41st Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Miltown Malbay in Co. Clare as the summer school gears up for a week of music song and dance.
The Rolling Wave remembers RTÉ broadcaster and collector Proinsias Ó Conluain (1919 - 2013) who passed away on 30th May 2013. .
Traditional singer and song composer Robbie McMahon of Co. Clare passed away in December last year two days after his 86th birthday and tonight we remember the man sometimes called "The King of Spancil Hill".
With the 41st Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Co. Clare only a couple of weeks away, we play some top class music and song recorded at last year's event.
Fiddle-player Zoë Conway joins Peter Browne to talk about "Go Mairir i bhFad - Long Life to You" an exciting new album she and guitarist John McIntyre have just brought out.
A new and interesting CD, Ceol Ársa na bPíb, from piper Éanna Ó Cróinín, tracks from the TV series The Transatlantic Sessions and previews of some upcoming June traditional and folk events including the Doolin Folk Festival and the John McKenna Traditional Weekend - also the results of our Rolling Wave Quiz and a new question for our next competition.
Mick Moloney brings his group "The Green Fields of America" to the TLT Theatre in Drogheda for the showcase concert at this year's Johnstons Folk Festival and we hear some of the artists: piper Jerry O'Sullivan, accordion player Billy McComiskey and some Irish American songs sung by Mick himself who is an expert in this area. Also new CDs from Colm Naughton (banjo) and Niamh Dunne (songs).
A preview of the upcoming Steeple Sessions series of concerts which will be taking place in Dublin city over the summer with artists featured here: The Kane Sisters, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas and The Voice Squad. Also, a live recording of Eric Bogle singing his famous WW1 song "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and some old 78rpm recordings of William Andrews who was a celebrated uilleann piper and a píob mhór music instructor for many years with the Greystones Pipe Band of Co. Wicklow.
Concertina music from Jack Talty, songs from a new CD by brothers John and Tim Lyons and a duet recording made in Glór, Ennis last November with John McEvoy (fiddle) and John Wynne (flute).
Music from the fiddle maestro Seán Maguire and the Four-Star Quartet, a song from a new CD by Aoife Murray, uilleann piping from Caoimhín Ó Fearghail and a 1985 session recorded in the RTÉ studio in Union Quay in Cork with Con Fada Ó Drisceoil (accordion and a song), Vincent Milne (fiddle) and Colm Murphy (bodhrán).
We remember Paddy O’Donoghue, flute player, piper and founder member of the Tulla Ceilí Band in 1947, who passed away in January of this year, with extracts from an interview he did with Peter Browne four years ago at the age of 80.
Music and song from the group Réalta, a new archive CD of traditional singing by Labhrás Mac Síthigh, the remaining tracks from the Willie Clancy & Michael Gorman EP and a poignant song written and sung by Eric Bogle from his latest recording.
Tracks from an EP “Irish Pipes and Fiddle” recorded in London by Willie Clancy (pipes) and Michael Gorman (fiddle), previews of upcoming festivals in Kilfenora and Slane, a song from Muireann Nic Amhlaoimh and a track from the new album “An Indigo Sky” by the West Ocean String Quartet.
A full programme of songs written by Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger, sung by themselves and others such as Luke Kelly, Mary Black, Paddy Reilly and Dave Burland.
We feature the new CD “Shamrock City” by the American-Irish group Solas, a song from the Keane Sisters and some tracks from the new RTÉ DVD “Come West Along the Road – Vol. 4”.
Tracks from new CDs including “The Foxford Way” by Mayo musician Stephen Doherty, “The Blue Cuckoo” by Louth singer Gerry Cullen, an album of slow airs from Scotland and a selection of jigs by a Dublin piper, Patrick D’Arcy, now living in California.
Tonight we highlight Irish entries for the Prix Svetozar Stracina – a prestigious radio competition for folk music recordings run by Slovak Radio and the EBU. Also, recordings by Clannad and Iarla Ó Lionáird of an O’Carolan song and tune – Eleanor Plunkett – and some other interesting recordings including “The Magpie” by the Unthanks, reels played on the harmonica by Noel Battle and Colonel Fraser on the pipes by Lottie Cullen.
A tune from Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, a song from Iarla Ó Lionáird and poetry from the recent publication by Liam Ó Muirthile with translations by Gabriel Rosenstock.
Music from an exciting new disc “Triad” from Dónal Lunny, Sylvain Barou and Pádraig Rynne. Also archive recordings of Clare musician Peter O’Loughlin and singer Micky Hanrahan and a version of Fáinne Geal an Lae by Iarla Ó Lionáird.
We mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the great Kerry Sliabh Luachra fiddle-player Pádraig O’Keeffe with examples of his music and excerpts from a radio documentary series on his life. Also accordion music from Alan Kelly and two songs from Muireann Nic Amhlaiomh. Also a new RW competition for copies of the new RTÉ DVD Come West Along the Road Volume 4.
The winners on uilleann pipes and harp of the recent Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada traditional music competition on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, tunes from a double CD of music recorded at the Corofin Traditional Music Festival over a 10 year period and a song from Muireann Nic Amhlaiomh. Also, the winners of our recent RW competition for copies of the new RTÉ CD of Dublin fiddle-player Tommie Potts.
Music collected by Canon James Goodman in the 19th Century in Munster in the 19th Century and played on a new CD by Mick O’Brien, Aoife Ní Bhriain and Emer Mayock. Tunes also from Joseph Browne, Micho and Pakie Russell.
Aibhlín McCrann pays tribute to the late Éamonn de Buitléir, musician, broadcaster, film maker and leader of the 1970s traditional group Ceoltóirí Laighin and we hear an archive recording of Éamonn talking about his friend, the composer and musician Seán Ó Riada.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the death of West Co. Clare uilleann piper, tin-whistle player and singer Willie Clancy we hear again a documentary programme “Lashings of Music” with contributions from friends, family and admirers and excerpts from radio interviews done by Willie in the early 1970s
An interview with Charlie Lennon on the publication of his book and CDs – Musical Memories, Volume 2. Also, two songs from Mary Dillon, concertina music from Noel Hill and a new piece by the West Ocean String Quartet.
We hear again an obituary documentary of the life and music of fiddle player Tommie Potts, first broadcast in March 1988, with contributions from his nephew Seán Potts and others
The launch of the RTÉ CD “Tommie Potts – Traditional Fiddle Music from Dublin” at the House of Lords, Bank of Ireland, Dublin with speakers Cathal Goan, Helen and Séan Potts, music from Liam O’Connor and Seán Mac Eoin and interviews with Seán Óg Potts and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin.