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The Limerick Leader "Fiddler Diarmuid rocks the cradle of West Limerick Music" Glin has given the world more than its fair share of top class traditional musicians over the years, but has done so quietly, making no loud claims for itself as the cradle of a distinctive West Limerick style. A new CD from one of its most gifted musicians, may well blow this modest cover however. "A wonderful CD which expresses very finest of the music of West Limerick" Donal O'Connor said last Sunday when he launched the cd, Cairde Cairdin in the GAA club house in Abbeyfeale. "Diarmuid O'Brien is a master fiddle player and definitely from the top echelon". He went on to praise Diarmuid's sensitive, beautifull and very traditional style , as well as his choice of music and the accompanying musicians. Even the sleeve notes came in for praise. The result, Mr O'Connor said was a masterpiece. "I think you would travel far and wide before you would meet a CD of this quality." There wa no one in the packed audience who would have disagreed with him, particularly as Diarmuid launched straight away into one of those sessions that will remain always in the memory. In a seamless repraise of the cd, which is built aroud fiddle and accordion duets with nine of West Limericks foremost exponents on the button, Diarmuid invited each to come on stage with him for a set. It sounded and felt like richness itself. Linking with the nine players from the cd was, for Diarmuid a kind of homecoming. "These are musicians I grew up playing tunes with" he said. Although each accordion player on this album has a very distinct unique stlye, one underlining theme is evident throughout, that is the rhythm and lift of the West Limerick style of music that I cherish".
The cd is in many ways a tribute to Diarmuid's "greatest musical influence", The late Martin Mulvihill from Glin, who achieved legendary status in the music community of Irish America and who died in 1987. "The album contains many of his compositions and his versions of many tunes. There are also many other tunes only common to the West Limerick area" Diarmuid explains, adding that he has dedicated the cd to Martin. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Kerryman WEST Limerick's wonderful tradition of accordion playing will receieve some richly deserved and long-overdue exposure with the launch of a brand new album, Cairde Cáirdín, during the Fleadh by the Feale in Abbeyfeale this weekend. Organised, performed and explained in great detail by well-known Glin fiddle player, Diarmuid O'Brien, the CD is sure to bring the rich musical tradition of west Limerick to a whole new audience previously under-informed about the significance of the area's sound. And, as Mr O'Brien explains, it's all in an effort to redress an imbalance that sees west Limerick often overlooked in the music pantheon for the traditions of Clare and north Kerry. "Throughout the years, musicians from the surrounding areas in west Limerick maintained that the area and its music were snookered between Clare and Sliabh Luachra, therefore never receiving its rightful recognition," he told The Kerryman. But far from being a lesser relation, the area has made its own unique stamp, one in which the accordion has taken pride of place. "The night before I recorded this album I called to accordion player Domhnall De Barra from Athea, Co Limerick," he explained. "Domhnall who features on the album started off learning his music in 1951 from Liam Maloney of Templeglantine.
While chatting I asked him, why is accordion playing so popular in west Limerick? ³Donal went on to explain how there was a number of influential factors. Céilí bands with accordion players were very popular; the GAA could not hold a dance without providing a céilí band as entertainment. He explained how The Wren, which is still popular in the west Limerick area, is a factor from which the popularity of accordion playing emerged. This is mainly because the accordion had the volume required to lead out the Wrenboys and Domhnall himself has contributed greatly to this phenomenon of west Limerick accordion playing,² he said. Domhnall is one of many excellent musicians to now feature on the album, along with the likes of Donie Nolan, Brian McGrath, Jerry McNamara, Dan Brouder, Willie Larkin, Dónal Murphy, Pa Foley, Mick Mulcahy and Derek Hickey - to name but a few of west Limerick¹s finest. Cairde Cáirdín will be launched in the Abbeyfeale GAA Clubhouse on Sunday at 5pm. Not to be missed. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
O’BRIEN CD
By John Reidy Anyone with an interest in Irish Traditional Music will greatly appreciate the forthcoming CD launch by Glin fiddle player, Diarmuid O’Brien. Cairde Cairdin is the title of the compilation. It includes, with Diarmuid on fiddle, the outstanding box playing skills of: Donie Nolan, Mick Mulcahy, Donal Murphy, Gerald Culhane, Pa Foley, Derek Hickey, Dan Brouder, Domhnall de Barra and Willie Larkin. If it’s background on the music included you’re after you won’t find better. After Nicky McAuliffe’s foreword, Diarmuid himself gets down to the business of informing his ‘customers’ of the traditions of West Limerick music and the origins of every tune included on the CD. The sleeve notes almost reach the status of a small book and for measure there’s a biography of each of the players included. The CD is to be launched at the Fleadh by the Feale in Abbeyfeale at the Fr. Casey GAA Clubhouse on Sunday evening May 6 at 5-30pm. Diarmuid O’Brien has a long and happy association with Castleisland and the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival. He won the young musician award on its inaugural year in 1993 and was deemed worthy on that occasion by no less than, Denis McMahon, Matt Cranitch and Seamus Creagh and Connie O’Connell. Have a read of the following and you’ll see what I mean. We’ll start with Nicky McAuliffe’s foreword. “The strong musical and singing tradition of West Limerick is well documented and respected the world over. It is from this background that Diarmuid’s music has been crafted. An old head on young shoulders,’ conscious and respectful of the music of West Limerick, for here was the little ‘fatherland’ of trailblazers, Paddy Taylor (flute player and composer), Martin Mulvihill, (fiddle player and teacher), Con Greaney (singer), Patrick Ahern (fiddle player), and Tulla native, Seán Aerach Ó Seanacháin, author of the great drinking song ‘An Buachaill Caol Dubh’ Seo chughaibh anois, más ea, togha cheoil ós na scoth-cheoltóirí seo, Diarmuid agus a cháirde. Táimid cinnte go mbainfear taitneamh as a gcuid cheoil.
Gura fada buan iad. Introduction by Diarmuid O’Brien “The night before I recorded this album I called to accordion player Domhnall De Barra from Athea Co. Limerick. Domhnall who features on the album started off learning his music in 1951 from Liam Maloney of Templeglantine. While chatting I asked him, why is accordion playing so popular in West Limerick? Donal went on to explain how there was a number of influential factors. “Céilí bands with accordion players were very popular; the GAA could not hold a dance without providing a céilí band as entertainment”. He explained how “The Wren”, which is still popular in the West Limerick area, is a factor from which the popularity of accordion playing emerged. This is mainly because the accordion had the volume greatly to this phenomenon of West Limerick accordion playing. Over the years he has taught the accordion to many musicians in this album, including Derek Hickey, Willie Larkin, Dan Brouder, Dónal Murphy, and later Gerald Culhane. Willie Larkin in turn passed his music onto Pa Foley, Gerald Culhane, and to me among many others. However it was the generations of the past that structured a West Limerick style of music full of life and vitality which remains with us today. Traditional Irish music in West Limerick has emerged over the centuries partly when musicians were required to play for weddings, parties, “The Wren” and “dancing at the crossroads”. These were for so many years one of West Limericks major centres of recreation. It was the playing at these occasions and especially the playing for “sets” (short for sets of quadrilles), that structured a West Limerick style of playing as we know it today. Slides and polkas followed by marches, jigs, hornpipes and a small repertoire of reels were the choice of tunes for many years and it wasn’t until the arrival of outside influences such as the gramophone and radio, that other melodies were commonly played. Throughout the years, musicians from the surrounding areas in West Limerick maintained that West Limerick and its music was “snookered” between Clare and Sliabh Luachra, therefore never receiving its rightful recognition. While this may be the case there is no doubt that West Limerick’s music was influenced by the music of both Kerry and Clare. During the early part of the 20th century the coastline of West Limerick had more regular contact and interaction with West Clare than it has today. People living on the West coast of Clare from areas such as Labasheeda, rowed their boats across the river Shannon to the villages of Glin or Loughill. This was roughly a distance of one mile and was much more time efficient than tackling a “pony and trap” and travelling into the town of Kilrush which was a much greater distance. The fishing industry was popular in the Shannon Estuary and fishermen from Clare spent time in Glin where a salmon weir was located. As this interaction developed, the people of West Clare were soon crossing the river Shannon to attend sports days as well as music sessions. It was this interaction between the musicians of West Clare and West Limerick that helped influence and develop a style of music in the locality. West Limerick and Kerry’s influence in Clare’s music can be heard in the fiddle playing of Patrick Kelly R.I.P of Cree. He was renowned for his playing of slides, which was one of the more popular choices of tunes more commonly heard in West Limerick and Kerry.
West Limerick’s music is strongly associated with Kerry, and musically
is divided only by a geographical boundary.”
CEOL Many highly talented Irish traditional musicians are scrambling for outlets and options during the current churn, which accounts for the sharp rise in self-issued recordings. Four of the top 10 Irish traditional albums listed below for 2007 are self-issued, underscoring the trend. No longer are self-issued recordings stigmatized as "vanity releases." Quality has climbed with quantity. Vital amid volatility, the quality of Irish traditional music persists because of recordings like these outstanding 10. No. (8) "CAIRDE CAIRDIN" by Diarmuid O'Brien (DOB1979; www.diarmuidobrien.com) An accomplished fiddler's nod of respect to accomplished box players, "Cairde Cairdin" features West Limerick fiddler Diarmuid O'Brien performing with nine button accordionists closely linked to the music of West Limerick: Derek Hickey, Donal Murphy, Willie Larkin, Donie Nolan, Gerald Culhane, Domhnall De Barra, Dan Brouder, Pa Foley, and Mick Mulcahy, who was born in Brosna, Kerry, but has lived in Abbeyfeale, Limerick, since 1967. The music gloriously swings throughout and includes five tunes written by West Limerick native fiddler and revered Bronx, N.Y., music teacher Martin Mulvihill, to whose memory the album is dedicated. FolkWorld CD Reviews "Cairde Cairdin" is the debut album from Diarmuid O'Brien. Diarmuid hails from West Limerick, growing up in the townland of Glenagragra in the parish of Glin. Diarmuid is a relative to the late Martin Mulvihill who not only gathered an enourmous repertoire of West Limerick music before emigrating to the USA, but was a prolific composer as well. Mulvihill tunes featured are: "Mick Moloney's Rambles" (after -> FW#32), the set "The High Road to Glin / The Low Road to Glin / The Tarbert Ferry" (after the ferry which crosses the Shannon Estuary to County Clare). Many tunes are from the area, peculiar from playing sets of quadrilles, mostly slides and polkas followed by marches, jigs, hornpipes and occasionally reels, for weddings, parties, crossroads dancing and Wren festivities. The West Limerick style of playing is also special, the area sandwiched between Clare and Sliabh Luachra and thus influenced by both (or vice versa). The accordion being especially popular, it had the necessary volume both for ceili bands and to lead out the Wrenboys. So a good deal of "Cairde Cairdin" consists of a number of fiddle-accordion duets, featuring Diarmuid on fiddle and well known accordion players from the West Limerick region, including Dónal Murphy (Four Men and a Dog, Sliabh Notes, Dervish), Mick Mulcahy (he recorded two albums with his daughters before) and Derek Hickey (Arcady, De Dannan). This is music for the dancers, lively and energetic. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Diarmuid O’ Brien Cairde Cairdín [self-released DOB1979] to the top of the page Diarmuid O’ Brien Cairde Cairdín [Self – Produced] to the top of the page Diarmuid O'Brien - Cairde Cairdín This is one of the nicest concepts, and the sweetest albums, that I've heard in a long time. Young West Limerick fiddler Diarmuid O'Brien has sat down with numerous accordion players from his neck of the woods, and recorded a duet track with each of them. There are some impressive names here: Domhnall De Barra, Donie Nolan, Mick Mulcahy, Willie Larkin. Derek Hickey represents the younger generation, and is probably the best known outside Ireland from his time with De Dannan. Gerald Culhane and Pa Foley are of a similar vintage. Dónal Murphy is somewhere in between, and appears on two tracks, as does Dan Brouder. Diarmuid also plays three fiddle solos. Jerry McNamara and Brian McGrath provide bouzouki and piano accompaniment. |