Gleneely Céilí Band

The Gleneely Céilí Band performed at local dances around the area, playing traditional tunes and popular songs of the day. Members included Jim and Archie Warnock, James Bradley, Frank Griffin, Mickey Curley and John Mc Gonagle. On occasion Deirdre McGrory (née Doherty) joined them on vocals.

THE GLENEELY DANCE BAND members 1940s-1950s
Back row, L-R, Archie Warnock, Moville (piano accordion), Mickey Curley, Gleneely (drums), John McGonigle, Ballintroohan (button accordion), Jim Warnock, Moville (button accordion).
Front Row- James Bradley (fiddle), Frank Griffin, Gleneely (fiddle). John Mc Gonigle & Frank Griffin were the founding members of the band

‘Pat the Fiddler’

‘Pat the Fiddler’ (Patrick Doherty), a travelling fiddler and tinsmith from Sligo, is reported to have spent a great deal of time around the Culdaff/Malin area in the 1950s-60s.

A new set of musicians has been emerging recently in the Malin area. These include The Henry Girls (Lorna, Karen and Joleen McLaughlin); Paula and Melanie Houton; and Eimear Mc Colgan, Ruardhrí McCarron, Breda Doherty and the O’Connor family to name a few.

Paddy Byrne

Paddy Byrne and his brothers Michael and Cara, all fiddlers, played a major role in the music of Inishowen. Alongside  traditional music, they were able to perform the popular music of the day for dancing.

Paddy Byrne (1918-2003), Malin Head

Ceolan School of Music

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Ceolan School of Music was set up in October 2010 by Clodagh Warnock and Roisin Mc Grory and  is a community initative for teaching music to children aged 6-18years. Our main focus is traditional music, and classes are held weekly in Moville in a range of instruments. Tuition is available in fiddle/whistle/accordion/banjo/mandolin/concertina/harp/traditional singing/piano and guitar accompaniment. We have high quality tutors that provide excellent tuition and guidance for the young students. Our class sizes are small for optimal teaching, and all teaching material is co-ordinated so that all types of instruments can come together and play the same tunes

We emphasize that children are able to play their music together, and although Ceolan school is still in its infancy, our pupils are already enjoying performing with other children their own age. To date we have had several concerts and communal sessions and look forward to a regular session next term for all our pupils.

Due to demand we have just recently started our adult classes and these are extremely popular

Ceolan is a non-profit making organisation and any funds that are raised are re-invested for the purchase of new instruments. These instruments are then available to be used by our pupils.

Contact Clodagh 0861522322

 

 

The Buncrana Céilí Band

The Buncrana Céilí Band

The Buncrana Ceili band was formed in the early 1950s and members included Joe Mc Laughlin(Dick) on accordion, Pat Mulhern, Dinny Mc Laughlin, and John Mc Cracken all played fiddles. Johnny Doherty played drums and Sadie Cutliffe played piano; later Rita Cutliffe joined the band on piano.

Crana Céilí band with Fr Mc Glinchey. From Left to right back row, Pat Mulhern, Rita Cutliffe, Frankie Doherty and Dinny Mc Laughlin. Seated at front left to right John Mc Cracken and Paddy Kelly.

Pat Mulhern

Pat Mulhern

Pat Mulhern

Pat Mulhern’s earlist recallection of musicians was from his uncle James Mulhern who learnt the fiddle from a man called Neil Mc Kinney who lived in Owenboy. Pat Mulhern learnt a lot of his music from his uncle James and also got lessons on how to read music from a man called Anderson who worked in the train station house in Ballymagan. Pat Mc Donald was a travelling travelling fiddle player who made a huge impression at fair days throughout Inishowen. Pat Mc donald was also the noted fiddler that played at the quayside in Derry when people were leaving for America.

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Jimmy Clingan

Jimmy Clingan

Carndonagh it’s Jimmy Clingan, a Carndonagh fiddler. James Kearney button accordion and his wife Nelly Kearney (nee O’Connor ) origionally from the Illies was a piano player. Two melodion players who performed at social events in the mid 1900s were Denis Doherty and Pat Mc Closkey. Victor Gillespe, Peter Clark were also noted musicians of their day.

Jimmy Clingan from Carndonagh

The Sweeney Family

The Sweeney Family

The Sweeney family made an enormous contribution to music in the Clonmany area. Clement Mac Suibhne from Ardara south Donegal married Josie (Lavin) and began teaching music in the Malin school where he was principal and in Ballyliffen. Later Damhnait and Blaithin carried on this work through the 80s and 90s bringing through another generation of musicians. In west Inishowen a triving traditional music scene exists and familys such as the Mc Gonigles and Tolands have encouraged and ensured this tradition is alive. Currently the Inishowen Traditional singing circle is growing in popularity enjoying attention throughout countries with also a great culture of traditional singing, it has one of the biggest colections of english songs archived, visit the website inishowensinging.ie

Today the fruits of teaching by the Sweeney family can be heard in a younger group of musicians such as Mary Doherty, the Mc Daid, and Devlin families passing on the tradition.

Clonmany Céilí Band

Clonmany Céilí Band

The Clonmany Céilí Band was formed in 1956 by local curate Fr. Desmond Mullan to promote céilí dancing. The early members, along with Seamus were Jimmy and Ned Doherty (drums and double bass), his lifelong friend Maeliosa Doherty (button accordion), John McCarron (button accordion), Neil Mc Gonigle (fiddle) and Desmond Kavanagh (piano) and in later years Pat Hughes (piano). Dinny McLaughlin (fiddle) also joined them regularly for céilí dances and Feiseanna in the early days. Connie Doherty (piano accordion) carried on the great work of the ceili band with Seamus up until the late 70s.

Clonmany Ceili band Derry Feis