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Greetings, Trad-lovers!   

It's time for our last folk club of the season, and thanksto all who came out to support our last concert, which was a huge success. If we continue to have good attendances at these concerts, we will continue to bring the very best musical talent to Carlow for your listening pleasure.

Our next concert on Friday the 1st April, 2006, will feature a husband and wife duo, Martin Quinn, who has visited Carlow many times over the years, and his wife Angelina Carberry who I first met at the All-Ireland Fleadh around 1985/1986 in Listowel when she was just a young girl playing the tin-whistle for her dad in exchange for Taytos and coke !!

Born in Manchester in the late 70's into a County Longford family steeped in traditional music. It was not long before Angelina's interest and keen ear for the music quickly developed. Starting on the tin whistle she soon moved to the banjo following in the footsteps of her father Peter and her grandfather Kevin. Angelina has since developed a highly personal style with an electric rhythm that captivates anyone who is lucky to hear. In 1998 Angelina moved to Galway and quickly established herself on the local music scene. Soon after she recorded a duet album with her father Peter on Accordion and accompanied by much sought after accompanist John Blake on piano and guitar. The CD received critical acclaim from leading newspapers and music journalists.

Martin Quinn comes from a family of musicians and raconteurs of traditional stories. The family has it's roots in County Armagh. At an early age Martin developed a keen interest in traditional music and especially that of the accordion. Martin took up the accordion in 1981 and since then he has developed a highly refined unique style and is regarded as one of Ireland's finest exponent's of the accordion. Martin began his professional career as a musician in 1994. Since then he has toured Europe and the USA various bands including Lá Lugh appearing at festivals in France, Finland, Britain and Germany.

Together, Martin and Angelina have recorded a spellbinding album of traditional music and their visit to our little club is greeted with much anticipation. For those who appreciate the very best in traditional music, this next concert is not to be missed!

The Carlow Fleadh Cheoil is coming up the weekend of 22nd-24th of April in Leighlinbridge and there are many events planned to titillate the musical senses. As well as the competitions, which will take place on Saturday morning and afternoon, there will be an opening session on the Friday night in The Lord Bagenal Inn. An interesting and diverse traditional music session trail is in the pipeline for the various pubs in Leighlinbridge on Saturday and Sunday. Outdoor entertainment will be available weather permitting on Sunday and the highlight of the weekend is a very special concert in the parish centre on Saturday night where two of the most legendary traditional musicians ever known will take to the stage.

Tony McMahon and Barney McKenna are household names in the world of traditional music and we are fortunate to have these two giants of music coming to Leighlinbridge to entertain at the fleadh.

Barney McKenna is undoubtedly the most important Irish banjoist in history. Everybody who plays the Irish banjo today has been influenced by him in one way or another. Indeed, it was Barney that invented the Irish tuning of the Tenor Banjo, using the tuning GDAE as opposed to the CGDA tuning which all banjos used up to then. Nowadays, every banjo player with the possible exception of Gerry O'Connor uses his tuning and because of this, Barney McKenna revolutionized traditional music on the tenor banjo.

Barney McKenna began playing the banjo at a very early age. Apparently he really wanted to play the mandolin, but a banjo was all he could afford! In 1962 he joined Paddy Moloney's new band The Chieftains but left after just a few rehearsals and teamed up with Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew and Ciarán Bourke to form The Dubliners instead.

Barney McKenna still sings and plays banjo, mandolin and melodeon with the Dubliners as the only original member still in the band. He has also been a guest musician on countless sessions, most notably with his old band mates in the Chieftains. In 1976, both Barney and Tony recorded together with The Boys Of The Lough on the band's 6th album.

TONY MCMAHON is one of the greatest Irish Traditional musicians of our time. His music has been described as a language of passion... a wounding music. His extraordinary interpretation of the old airs of Ireland, in particular, stands alone, inhabiting spaces where mystery and magic find full expression. Most interviewed and quotes in the world of native Irish music, Mac Mahon is its least visible icon - and its most respected, even feared, ideologue. His contribution to Irish music as broadcaster has been equally singular; Ireland and its music were always made to appear noble and strong in his 5 major radio and television series for RTE - a far cry from an Ireland now sporting the For Sale sign. He has played and worked with the greats - including Seamus Ennis, Tommy Potts, Joe Cooley, Willie Clancy and Sean O'Riada. It was at his desk in RTE that the Bothy Band originated, during productions of his radio series The Long Note

in 1974. His recent CD Mac Mahon from Clare has attracted much critical acclaim. The Kronas Quartet commissioned arrangements of 5 selections from this CD shortly after its release. Mac Mahon recorded with The Kronas Quartet in August 2002 and followed with stage performances at Stanford University and Battery Park New York. Exquisitely measured timing, masterly proportioning of space and silence - as well as astonishing subtle control of dynamics, ornamentations and harmony, marks his airs of lamentations. A similar sense of rapport with the music animated jigs, reels and set dances - via his unerring balance between formal rigor and richly nuance expressive vitality. His music has a call - a draoicht -, which has moved more than one listener to tears.

"It is not wild imagination to suggest that this accordion is a natural extension of his body, nimbly directed by mind, heart and spirit. No sooner has a notion occurred to him than it is translated into music. This is a natural gift, not given to everyone, which his own intellect has enhanced."

So we have a lot of great music to look forward to in the coming weeks. Finally I wish to take this opportunity to inform you of a very special fund-raising night planned for 4th June next. "Ceol For Zambian Children" is a charity, which my wife and I founded following a trip last year to Zambia. While there, we visited the shanty townships of Lusaka where double orphans queue on a daily basis outside the church gates in the hope of gaining a place in the school that day. Double orphans have become a huge problem in Zambia through the scourge of AIDS, which affects 46% of the population. These children have nowhere to go but to fend for themselves on the streets. If they gain access to school, they are guaranteed a meal a day. However, the Government charge $30 per year to attend school and as the average monthly wage is just $25, not many children can afford these fees. AIDS is on the increase and life expectancy in Zambia is the lowest on the planet at just 33 years of age. It is estimated that the number of orphans in Zambia is over 1 million under the age of 18 and that out of a total population of 10 million! For $30, a child can get a year's education and a meal a day. Our charity is raising funds to directly enable these orphans to attend schools and every cent raised will be spent on this cause. Not one euro will be swallowed up in administration as happens with official Government aid to Zambia. This summer, we are organising a summer ball in The Dolmen Hotel, Carlow scheduled for the 4th June. The evening will consist of a punch reception, five course meal, followed by music and dancing with The Cracked Bucket Band (a local 6 piece group featuring yours truly and Dave Sheridan), DJ and of course, a late bar! Tickets are priced at EUR50 and a table of ten is EUR450. Dress code is lounge suits (collar and tie) and the ladies can dress up for the occasion! As it is the bank holiday weekend, we hope to have a session on Sunday afternoon so why not make a weekend of it!!

With your help, we hope this night will be a tremendous success and that money can be raised for a very worthy cause. Tickets may be obtained by calling Janet on (087) 2368406.

So that's it for now and we hope to see you at our next concert in The Carlovian top bar, Teach Dolmain, Tullow Street, Carlow on 1st April at 9pm.

Regards

Ger Moloney

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