Archive Details
Title Of Tune : The Bocan Waltz
Catalogue Number : ITMP2012-070TB
Artist : Tom Byrne
Type: Waltz
Source of Tune : Paddy Byrne
Recorded Date: 12/06/2012
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’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.
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 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
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
Neily McColgan
Another fiddler influential in the music of Clonmany was Neily McColgan, a blind fiddler from Ballyliffen. When not entertaining on pleasure boat trips on the Foyle or boat trips to Scotland, Neily was called upon to play for big events in the community. Travelling musicians by the name of McGinley and Gallagher were frequent visitors to the area as well as Pat McDonald and the famous Doherty brothers.
Other Southern Inishowen Musicians
Jimmy Mc Bride (singer) a native of Gaoth Dobhair moved to Buncrana in the 60s. Jimmy has made a major contribution to traditional singing in Inishowen setting up The Inishowen singer’s Circle in 1988.
Other musicians to note from Buncrana area are Michael Gallinagh, Michael and Paul Rodden, the late PV O Donnell and Oliver O’ Donnel Buncrana. Over the years Buncrana has seen many musicians move to live in the area among them are Tom Byrne, Jim Woods, and Keenan Barret.
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