traditional Irish music focus
In Fermanagh and particularly in the island county town there is a great deal of traditional music and evenings full of song most nights of the week, a great upsurge in recent years a welcome trend, long may it continue.

It is very rare however to hear the uilleann pipes here, there, or anywhere more’s the pity. Come to think of it the bodhrán is often absent in these parts as well apart from sometimes at the highly recommendable Gaby McArdle-led Sunday early evening Granny Annies sessions.

Many musicians including Gaby and his fellow Blake’s Friday band colleague Jim McGrath turned out for this treat and evening of high art. People just know.

This gallery bar show, tuned in the “softer” key of B explained piper Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn who indicated that after the break the second set (he jokingly called the first set, A, and the second B) would be in D, was doubly rare being a duet with a fine harpist, Laoise Kelly on Irish harp. There is no greater instrument in Irish music than the harp, stating the obvious, Turlough O’Carolan still revered centuries on and rightly so his music inspiring countless generations. 

It did not take nicely self deprecating county Monaghan man Tiarnán and from county Mayo Laoise long to tune up. Both players were superb and the blend a velvet confection. The slip jigs, ‘Comb your Hair and Curl it,’ ‘Dusty Miller’, and the ‘Rocky Road to Dublin’ stood out for me. Come back soon. SG
Link to their recording Ar Lorg na Laochra (On the Shoulders of Giants).