Friday 3rd February 2012
Around the house continues this week.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 27th January 2012
A big Folk Club Happy Birthday to one of our youngest singer songwriters LauraL who celebrated with friends at the local Foroige based youth club in the village which is on every Friday night for post primary students.
Lots of singing tonight with seven guitar players who can all sing this was a new record for the club and the variety of song selection across all musical styles was amazing.
Having opened the concert with whiskey in the jar Ronnie then moved along to Ted who treated us to the Ringsend Rose a great favourite once made famous by Brendan Grace.
The Bodhran man V Delaney was in great fettle and sprung into the star of the Co Down which he dedicated to all the ladies.
Martin Byrne was back in the club tonight and gave us a fantastic selection of songs from John Denver to closing the show with his original song when I was a soldier, which sent the audience home looking for more, Martin will be back next week so have your request to hand.
Our only lady performer tonight was violin and soprano Diana Hebold and Diana sang all about he laddie and then played an Irish slow air on the violin.
Moving around the house and one of our resident romantic performers Pat Bonas sang a couple of love songs which we reminded the audience with Valentines day approaching we may have a love song night.
John Kealy was here tonight and uplifted our spirits with his unique guitar picking and fantastic delivery of his folk songs. Moving along with Eugene who played some Eagles for us and a big hit from 1970’s it never rains in California this one had the audience rallying behind him in the chorus’s.
Ken Browne revised that Jim McCann hit from Gerry Rafferty Her father didn’t like me any way and also covered a David Gray song later in the evening.
We had a song from the audience from Jack Fitz who gave us the town I loved so well, well done Jack this one had us all singing along.
One of our newest visitors to the club Tom from Donaghmeade played a couple of pop styled numbers coupled with county rock from the Eagles was a memorable performance, Tom tells me he will be a regular visitor to the club now that he has found us.
Following a series of America songs Ronnie gave a performance of The River, from Bruce Springstein and befor the end of the night a first time performance of the infamous Don McClean classic American Pie. Emphasising what a great variety of song choice there is to be had at the Folk Club every week.
Next week we will continue with the round the house session and we are planning to have a love song night on Fri 17th Feb so look up those love songs and come down to the club and treat us all to the pleasure of the song.
Friday 20th January 2012
A great return to the Friday night Folk Club Session with some new performers attending and bringing along additional audience made for a great night on Friday.
The Morning Dew with V, on the Bodhran got the night into full swing wit a couple of opening numbers and then we headed straight around the house with everyone in great for a good session.
Niamh from the First Ladies, opened with ‘Winter song’, and accompanying herself on guitar was a memorable performance.
Peter on the accordion gave us some hearty jigs this set the feet tapping all around us.
Diana Hebold our resident German violinist opened with a song tonight in our native gáeilge, later Diana would play a German dance tune for us.
Pat Bonas was in spirited humour and accompanying himself on guitar was able to get the audience singing with his opening ABBA song.
Tim Sexton on guitar played a couple of classic folk songs and Tim closed the show for us on the night.
Eugene Crummy made a welcome return to the FC and had some additional instruments in that he had a set of bongos which he played along to so may of the up-tempo songs.
Christy Penrose was accompanying everyone on the accordion and played a solo along with Peter a great selection of music on the night.
Two new musicians visiting from Skerries for the first time were Dermot and Neil the lads do a couple of gigs locally in Skerries. Dermot sang the Rocky road to Dublin and the Hot ash Felt two great rousing Dubliners songs, while Neil gave us King of the fairies on the mandolin accompanied by Ronnie on guitar.
It’s great to be back in action from now until the spring, you can catch the concerts every Friday night at 8pm in St Patrick’s Hall Ballyboughal.
Next week we will continue with the round the house sessions.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 13
th January 2012
Happy new year to all our musicians and audience supporters.
We’re back in concert next Friday night 20th January 8pm hope to see you all.
Friday 16th December 2011,
Ho Ho Ho! And the Christmas season is no upon us. What a contrast in this years weather compared to last year when the country was gripped in the clasp of the driven snow and icy conditions which gave us all a lovely Xmas feeling but we don’t miss it one bit.
A brilliant night in the club with allot of Santa’s turning up to play music, plenty of Xmas hats and goodies on the night.
Some very good song choices on the night with Ted singing ‘Galway Girl’ for a special request which was much appreciated by the audience.
Martin Byrne was there in his Santa hat and sang the Bodhran Man and the beautiful ‘Mary’s Boy Child. along with the Christmas medley which sent us all home full of the Christmas cheer.
The youngest participant in the club so far Isobel Delaney sang a beautiful Xmas carol all about Joseph Mary and walking the donkey, Isobel was accompanied by her dad David on the guitar who also sang a couple for us.
A couple of other young singers on the night were Darragh Lawless who sang ‘The Spanish lady’, from the Dubliner’s and a great version it was.
Tadgh Sexton had a fantastic gáeilge version of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer; this was a great bit of fun and Xmas cheer, while dad Tim gave us a very funny parody about the man in the red suit.........not santa, he is the man who slits the turkey's throat at Christmas.
The Bodhran man himself V, was in great form and gave us the classic ‘Isle of Innisfree’ always a great favourite at this time of year, from the film of the Quite Man. Well done V and we look forward to maybe having the mummers out early January.
A few Christmas carols were also sang on the night with Niamh singing ‘Winter song, and Dianna singing ‘Walking in the Air all adding to a great night’s entertainment.
The twelve days of Christmas was portrayed by Jim Casey who had dedicated each day of the twelve to the audience who participated in the singing, what a great bit of fun we had.
Pat Bonas gave us Galileo which was very fitting for this festive season while Tom from Donaghmeade made his debut with Four Strong winds. We had a lovely Scottish air from Christy Penrose on the Accordion while Una from Skerries played some polkas on the concertina.
We closed up with the ‘Fairytale of New York’ and a Christmas medley of songs including Rudolf and jingle bells, well how could you resist it is that time of year.
Merry Christmas to all our musicians, singers storytellers and audiences and we hope you all have a joyful new year.
Club returns on Friday 20th January.
Friday 9th December 2011
All counties night tonight and we had a great response to the challenge to sing a song from every county in Ireland and we did it.
Plenty of enthusiasm around in the club with musicians and singers wearing their county shirts to add some colour. The words of the songs were displayed on the projector and this encouraged huge audience participation on the night.
1. Opening with Fermanagh and Ronnie sang the well known Enniskillen Dragoons
2. Kilkenny was The Rose of Mooncoin by Ted O’Reilly
3. Leitrim that great favourite from V Delaney ‘Lovely Leitrim.
4. Louth was represented by ‘Red is the Rose’, Ken Browne
5. Down and ‘My Lagan Love’, from Diana Hebold.
6. Kerry the one and only ‘Rose of Tralee’ sung by Pat Levins.
7. Carlow had the old Planxty favourite ‘Follow me up to Carlow’, performed by Ted
8. Tyrone and Martin Byrne sang for us ‘The pretty little girl from Omagh’.
9. Antrim and the haunting ‘Carrickfergus’ by Martin Byrne.
10.Kildare and the ‘Curragh of Kildare from Ted.
11.Cavan and we all sang the ‘Cavan Girl’, along with Ted.
12.Westmeath a song about their capital ‘The reason I left Mullingar’, from Tim Sexton
13.Donegal and Jim Casey sang ‘Mary from Dungloe.
14.Armagh and we all joined with Peter Flynn in the ‘Boys from the county Armagh’.
15.Offaly and Ronnie sang ‘The Offaly Rover.
16.Mayo ending the first half Ted sang ‘Take me back to Mayo.
This concluded the first half of the night and everyone was enjoying the selections from all over the country. Continuing in the second half.
1. Wexford and ‘The Irish soldier Laddie’, Ronnie opened part two.
2. Limerick and V Delaney gave us ‘Limerick you’re a lady’.
3. Cork every one joined with Ronnie in the ‘Banks of my own lovely Lee’.
4. Dublin and Jack Fitzsimons sang ‘The changing face of Dublin’. By Martin Byrne
5. Monaghan and the Tommy Makem classic ‘Town of Ballybay’, from Ted O’Reilly
6. Laois and ‘Lovely Laois’, specially learned for tonight by Niamh Delaney
7. Sligo Yeats country and V sang ‘The Isle of Innisfree’.
8. Waterford ‘The old Dungarvan Oak’, sung by Martin Byrne.
9. Derry and ken Browne delivered a great version of ‘Back home in Derry’.
10.Galway and the ‘Galway Girl’, who else from Jim Casey and the Tulips.
11.Meath this time Diana Hebold gave us ‘Tara Hill’, from Finbar Furey.
12.Wicklow and ‘Among the Wicklow Hills’, was sung by Ronnie and all.
13.Clare where Tim Sexton is a native of, he sang ‘Clare to here’,
14.Tipperary and Peter Flynn lead us all in ‘Long way to Tipperary’.
15.Longford…………&16 Where the three counties meet’.
16.Roscommon what else but we rolled the last two into one to sing ‘Where the three counties meet’.
There you have it a great tour around Ireland in song, we hope to do it again soon with some changes of course and suggestions are always welcome.
This week is our final week for 2011 what a great year and we wish all our musicians and audiences a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
Friday 18th November 2011
A great sadness around the village of Ballyboughal when we heard of the sad passing of Fr Gerry Caning who was curate in the village in the 90’s through to 2000. A lovely wee man from Ballinamore in Co. Leitrim.
Gerry visited the club and loved music and all that we are doing to promote fun and entertainment in Fingal, may he RIP.
Ronnie opened the concert with a minutes silence to remember Fr Gerry, then without further adieu, briskly broke into song with Lovely Leitrim in remembrance.
Having acknowledged the birthday of the great Luke Kelly who would have been 71 this week, Ted opened with ‘The night visit song’, a great Luke favourite.
Moving along with Christy Mahon and the working man Christy would later play some haunting Irish airs o the button box.
Donegal Danny another great Dubliners song was performed by Martin Byrne who also sang the parting Glass to end the concert later on.
The master of waltzes is how Peter Flynn would be described if you were looking for an accordion player to play a couple of dances for you.
Everyone rising to the Luke Kelly remembrance and Jim Casey sang ’Scorn not his simplicity’, and timeless ballad so beautifully and emotionally written by Phil Coulter.
The man from Ardee David blasted out the Star of the Co Down which prompted us to think we might have an all counties song night on 9th December.
Ken Browne’s opening number was ’Easy and slow’, another song from a former Dubliner Jim McCann, Ken also sang ’Only our Rivers run Free later in the evening.
Our first lady singer of the night was Diana Hebold who sang for us ’Sonny’s dream, what a crystal clear voice to portray such a lovely song.
Moving along with another instrumental and Una from Skerries played a very nice selection of polkas o the concertina.
Pat and ‘The Tulips’, were in great form and Pat Levins sang that favourite love song ’Scarlet Ribbons, with Fran Flynn on guitar and Peter on the accordion.
A new duo to visit the club were Audrey Fay and her guitarist Enda, they performed ’Bobby McGee, and a unique version of ’Raglan Road’, we look forward to a few more visits from this working duo and maybe have a feature night with them soon.
Denis O’Connor from the back lane stood up from the back of the hall and joined the musicians for ’Silver tongued Devil, a song from classic Don Williams.
Before winding up the Bodhran man would belt out ’I’ll tell me Ma’, always a great audience pleaser.
We are planning to have an all county song night in two weeks on 9th December. We will have a play list of suggestions and we would like singers to put their name against the songs on the list.
Friday 11th November 2011
Country & Gospel Night.
Well if the world was due to end on the 11th of the 11th what a great ending it would have been at the Country & Gospel night at the club. What a great response to the night with all the musicians and audience turning up in typical cowboy gear. Check shirts waistcoats boots and even spurs were on display courtesy of David Lynch, we made him sheriff for the night.
Opening with that very popular Folsom prison Blues from Johnny Cash Ronnie immediately have the feet tapping and some yahoo ing around the house.
The Bodhran man V Delaney then sang ‘The Rhinestone Cowboy’, followed by Ted and the Roseville Fair.
This was a great opening to the night and set the scene.
Peter Flynn on the accordion then played for us ‘The turkey in the straw & I come from Alabama, later in the evening Peter would sing the country classic ‘I wanna go home.
This is where the cowboy rides away, was an opening song from Christy Mahon who later would team up with Jodie Doolan on Cello to play for us the Tennessee Waltz.
Tim Sexton was in great country mode and his first song ‘Desperados waiting for a train’, went down a treat with the audience Tim also sang She ain’t goin nowhere, later in the concert.
David the man from Ardee had a song Ghosts of the past, and later would give us a gospel song of sorts in the Halleluiah.
Diana Hebold our violin player tonight sang the haunting ‘Ride On, followed by John Kealy on the Auto Harp playing and singing all about, courting the lovely Nancy.
We had a new selection of tunes from Una on the concertina which had a country flavour to them adding to the occasion. First time visiting the club local lad Eric Tierney sang the very popular 'Low Places ', from the Garth Brookes collection.
‘Your Cheatin Heart’ and Take the ribbon from your hair, from Ken Browne and Jodie Doolin playing Country Roads on the Cello were two highlights of the evening, what a great selection of songs and music we had and we may repeat the night in spring before we break for the summer.
Giving us a gospel flavour Mary Terry sang for us ‘Down in the river, with great harmonies from the other performers and audience.
The Balbriggan band The Tulips were in great fettle and Tommy sang Bobby McGee along with Pat Levins and The Dance and rounding up the night with Jim Casey with Man of Constant sorrow.
Rounding up Ronnie sang ‘I saw the light and Ring of fire plenty of foot tapping music on this great night of entertainment we look forward to doing it all again next Friday.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 4th November 2011
A very lively start to the concert tonight with Ronnie opening with ‘The Irish Rover’, plenty of foot tapping and a great piece of the washerwoman at the end. Certainly a great responsive audience in tonight with some great performances to follow.
The ballad of Uncle Mike, with the big black bike, this is what we call the skiddery da, song with audience participation a must its just infectious entertainment from V, on the Bodhran.
Our first piece of music tonight was from Diana on the violin who treated us to ’Phantom of the opera and later in the evening Diana would play King of the fairies.
Farewell my green valleys, from ken Browne this was kens first public performance of this song and he did a really great version.
Peter on the accordion opened his account with some polkas and later would upbeat waltzes just what was needed for the first session of the winter.
Neil Young was represented by David who covered Four strong winds, and after the interval would sing the classic ’my best friend from Don Williams
I see the bad moon arising, rang out from Pat Levins who was in great company with Fran Flynn on Guitar/mandolin and Jim Casey making up a great trio. Jim Casey gave us ’Song for Ireland, with great backing music from all the musicians.
Lonestar, was beautiful melodic cover from the Flynn cousins, Niamh & Orlaith who paired up for this special performance accompanied by both dads also they would sing, ’Some day I’ll get over you and to set us up for next weeks Country & Gospel night the ladies closed the concert with ’Fly away.
A very funny recitation from Una [seomara hocht] brought a great deal of laughter to the concert then Una played us some Polkas.
Guitar picking John Kealy sang for us Sarah and followed with a great picking song to remember.
Next week we will be having a Country & Gospel night so remember to wear a hat, check shirt and boots if available we look forward to a great night.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 28
th October 2011
What a week of tragedy we had across the country with Flood waters destroying allot of homes and causing several fatal accidents. We look forward to a better weekend and the lands drying out ahead of the Halloween bank holiday weekend.
There was a great buzz around the club on Friday night as evident with lots of musicians arriving early and gathering for tuning and quick rehearsals ahead of the performances.
Opening the concert tonight we had Ted playing ‘Jed Clampet’, on the banjo and running into ‘You are my sunshine’, this got us all warmed up and checked the tuning for most of us.
Following on Ronnie sang ‘The garden song’, which he said would be the last time this year until spring.
V our Bodhran man opened with ‘The village of Askee’, great Kerry love song and later on ‘Do you want your O’ul lobby washed down’, would have us all singing in the chorus’s.
Peter on the piano accordion rattled out the ‘Washer woman’, and a few jigs this was a very energetic set accompanied by Christy also on accordion.
The night they drove O’l Dixie down’, Was the war cry from Tim Sexton on guitar that great favourite from Joan Baez what a reception this song got with a haunting chorus line from the audience. Tim later would also sing from van Morrison.
A gospel flavour to the session and Eugene would sing ‘Fly away’, great participation on this one with banjo’s picking in the background Eugene also sang that Bob Dylan classic Baby Blue.
Frankie goes to Hollywood would have been proud of Ken Browne’s version of their classic ‘The power of love’, a song we have heard before and is ageless in its appeal.
Moving along with a musical piece and Diana Hebold on violin played the Lonesome Boatman and later a folk tune fro her native Germany, the latter we now know allot better and the production as great.
The yellow rose love song was probably the highlight of the night as Pat Bonas performed this original from a friend of his who wrote it for his wife, and what a beautiful melody and lyric it was.
Another musical piece and Una on the concertina played a selection of polkas to which several of the musicians joined with and produced a rousing set.
Singer songwriter LauraL played two delightful sons for us the first one was @only Exception and following up with Christina Perry’s ‘Jar of Hearts, this was without doubt a great performance.
Back visiting the club was Sean McNulty and Deirdre bringing banjo, flute, violin and whistle as their music and of course their fine voices. Sean sang Lord of the dance and Rare ould mountain dew while Deirdre sang for us ‘Sonny’s dream and The old Man.
David from Ardee had his guitar well tuned to sing for us that Garth Brookes classic ‘Much too young to feel this dam old, we know what you mean D, we were all feeling a bit like that after the week we had.
Denis O’Connor stepped into the ring and sang the ‘Gypsy Woman’, this was a classic from Don Williams many years ago, and amazingly the audience all seemed to know it.
The clubs First lady Niamh was in tremendous singing form when she sang a new song to her repertoire the very catchy ‘This is the life’ from Amy McDonald how well did this one go down very popular with everyone.
Christy Mahon picked up his double row accordion to give us a few tunes which were well complemented by all the musicians accompanying Christy in the performance.
Next week we will continue with the round the house sessions.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 28th October
Halloween weekend and a bank holiday Monday, for us all to relax and and have a day off. Should be some ghostly songs this week for a bit of fun.
Friday 21st October
Halloween is almost upon us and the nights are closing in, what better way to start off the real winter weekends than with a visit to the Folk Club on Friday nights 8-10pm.
Kicking off the night with All Gods Creatures, the scene was set for a first half performance of classic songs from all area of the folk world.
Planxty was remembered with Ted singing the Raggle Taggle Gypsy fond memories of Andy Irvine performing this one in the 70’s
Whiskey on a Sunday the Danny Doyle Classic, was performed by V, who does an exceptional job on this one, in the second half v would sing ‘The Isle if Innisfree’ by request.
Martin Byrne was back tonight much to the delight of the audience and Jack Fitz who also made it down. Martin sang Home from the Sea and the Ringsend Rose and had the audience joining in the choruses.
With visitors in from the beautiful Co Clare we had Hard Headed woman, from Tim Sexton who accompanied himself on guitar much to the appreciation a very attentive audience.
Eugene sang the favourite Country roads, which set the feet tapping and hands clapping in a fine round the house accompaniment of this country song.
Christy Mahon was in house with his accordion and guitar and opened his performance with Working man, later Christy played some slip jigs.
The Marino Waltz was played by Diana on the violin, later in the session Diana sang for us her version of Where have all the flowers gone in he native German language which it transcribes excellently to.
Taking us to the break Ronnie sang Summer in Dublin, in anticipation of a great weekend of weather across the country. It turned out to be a great weekend but what followed on the Monday was the worst rainfall and flooding in over 100 years. All cleared up now and time to get on with things so here’s to next Friday night and Halloween.
The Folk clubs youngest performer Laura Lawless was in great form and fine voice while playing a song which she learned from a CD over the summer. Our town, went down great with audience got its first airing this night, accompanying herself on guitar. Visiting with Laura was Ciaran on classical guitar and he played us a flamenco version of Hotel California and also Stairway to Heaven.
Never gonna see my home no more, from John Kealy also John plucked his G Banjo and performed ‘My Grandfathers clock’, this was a pleasant revival and the younger members of the audience some had never heard it before.
D from Ardee, gave us Time of your life, Every Rose has its thorn, was also sung by David later in the evening this one was well known by the audience and was well received.
Around the house Denis O’Connor gave us a classical old Irish Ballad Mavourine Las, a song which is well known in all the singing circles. A new visitor to the club Christy Penrose was playing his accordion accompanying all the great singing on the night.
Pat Bonas was in tonight and as ever will have some great love songs tonight Pat gave us ‘I will love you, followed by Come what may, I will love you forever, a great favourite and full audience participation on this one.
Time to wrap up the session and Ronnie invited the musicians to all join in the Wild Rover in the Johnny Cash style of Yippee, yi ey.
Ted went on to finish what was a great night with some say the divil is dead. This was a very fitting end to another exceptional evening.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 7th October 2011
A tremendous welcome back for the Folk Club after the summer break and we had a fantastic turnout of musicians and audience for our first night back.
The Morning Dew opened the session with The Wild rover, this was to get everyone in tune and set the scene for a great night’s entertainment.
Moving around the house Ted sang that beautiful ballad from Galway to Graceland this is a favourite of many visitors to the club. The Bodhran mad V Delaney was in fine voice after the summer break and treated us to the wild Colonial Boy which he sang for Patrick Murray and the family who were still celebrating the Dubs all Ireland win over Kerry.
A first time visitor to the club Christy Mahon sang the beautiful love song The water is wide; Christy also gave us a chilling slow air on the button accordion. Tim Sexton made it for the opening session and what a performance from him with a little help from his young sons and daughter.
The man from Ardee David was there to sing a couple of rock classics in a unique acoustic version. There were plenty of Irish tunes including some polkas from Una on the concertina to get the feet tapping.
Continuing around the house violinist Diana Hebold sang the ever popular Sonny’s dream to much surprise to the audience who loved the version.
Local singer songwriter LauraL [Lawless] sang in her very own unique style a song from Adel which we all enjoyed picking along to.
Her father didn’t like me anyway, no I’m not talking about the family but the ageless song from Gerry Rafferty made famous by Jim McCann and covered so well by Ken Browne on the night.
A special surprise on the night was the performance from the clubs first ladies, Niamh and Yvonne who made the trip home from London to be with us on the opening night, we really enjoyed 'Those were the days' and we look forward to many more great nights.
Winding up the session and with Ireland playing in the quarter finals of the world cup rugby we all sang Irelands call to help set the scene for a famous victory, which alas was not to be.
Next week we will be back at the usual time of 8pm and we welcome all musicians and singers to join us in the intimate and unique venue in the heart of Fingal. Please come before eight to secure a seat as the nights are usually full house and we don’t want to disappoint anyone.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Summer break until the autumn.
Friday 15th April 2011
This was our last performance before the Summer break and what a fantastic night with a rousing round the house session. This was the biggest night of the year with a full house of musician’s singers and audience to make up what was a fantastic atmosphere to close the club for the summer break.
Opening the concert Ronnie sang The Irish Rover, to get the feet tapping and the hands clapping ending this one with washerwoman reel played by Ted and Peter. Continuing in the lively vein Ted’s opening song was ‘Galway Girl’, brought a few ye haw’s etc. from this lively audience who turned out for the final night.
Thinking of Summer sunshine V Delaney opened with that Australian classic ‘The wild colonial boy’, from the film of the Quite man Jack Duggan was well remembered here tonight.
Martin Byrne was her tonight and opened with that classic ballad McCafferty, later in the second part of the show Martin would sing the song he wrote about V, ‘The Bodhran man, everyone loved this song as it seemed to capture what having a party is all about.
Accordion music the way it should be played was performed by Peter Flynn when he played a selection of South American Cha Chas, and Blue Spanish eyes which the audience enjoyed singing along to.
I’ve been a Moonshiner all of my life, or so Eugene Crummy would have us believe when he sang this great ballad with such affection. Later Eugene would give us that Gospel number ‘Fly Away’, with banjo’s picking mandolins plucking and people singing this song really raises the spirits.
Neil Young’s ‘Four strong winds’, was sung by Jim Casey with his very own backing band the Tulips, this was a real classic version of the song then following up with ‘If tomorrow never comes’, this is a song to bring people together in a chorus like no other.
Diana Hebold our violinist played a very sweet French dance tune and then went on to sing ‘She moved through the fair’ in a magical haunting style. Fisherman’s blues, that great favourite from the Waterboys was performed by Tim Sexton who also treated us to ‘You got a friend from James Taylor. LauraL sang the beautiful ‘Feel my Love’, and then dueted with her Mam Mandy to give us Caledonia.
Bad moon arising, that classic rock song from 1970’s was given a great acoustic make over by Pat Levins and the Tulips. Following on with the beautiful Phil Coulter song ‘Steal away’, Ken Browne did a great version with haunting choruses from the audience Ken also sang a David Gray song ‘Late night Radio, before the end of the night.
Walk the line and Bank of the Ohio were two classics performed for us tonight by Tommy Monaghan, great choruses on these two as everyone seemed to know them well.
Pat Bonas made a welcome return to the club and sang for us ‘A part of me will always be in love with you’, a great love song that I recognise from Foster and Allen Pat also performed ‘I will love you’, from the Furey’s a very romantic set.
The clubs first ladies were in tremendous form and performed a cranberries song called ‘Dreams’, also the girls had ‘Stuck in the middle’, well rehearsed and sounding fantastic.
From around the house we had Jack Fitz who sang ‘The changing face of Dublin from Martin Byrne, and also Denis O’Connor sang by request that favourite of allot of people ‘John Of Dreams’.
We gave the honour of closing this seasons concert to the Bodhran man V Delaney who led us all in that rousing song ‘Tell me Ma’, which sent us all off home in great spirits.
What a busy night we had 31 individual performances in the couple of hours and the time went so quickly. Everyone is a little sad that we are taking a break for the summer, but it will really give us a chance to re-charge and learn some new songs for the start-up on Friday 16th of September
Friday 8th April 2011
National music day and we marked the occasion with some brilliant performances in the folk club.
With a fantastic weekend ahead of us with the forecast giving such great weather Ronnie started the concert with ‘The garden song’, to get us all in the swing of things. Having told the audience that the day was National Music Day, we moved swiftly along to Peter on the accordion who opened with a selection of Jigs.
Remembering those folk groups of the sixties Ireland, Ted went on to sing the ‘Raggle Taggle Gipsy’ from Planxty’, with the lovely tune ‘Tabher dom Do Láimh’, to finish.
I’m leaving my Nancy O’, was Martin Byrnes opening song, great to hear this one again as it hasn’t featured for a long time.
Some American flavoured folk music from Joan Baez who had a huge hit with ‘Dixie’ this song was performed by Tim Sexton, giving us all reason to sing along to ‘The night they drove old Dixie down’.
Dianna Hebold brought along mandolin this week and performed some Irish airs for us and the chilling sharp sound of the instrument rang out through the hall.
LauraL was here tonight and bravely sang a great version of ‘Someone like you’, later Laura would give us one of her own compositions ‘I love you ‘till the day I die’.
The musical styles represented are really so diverse that it makes these Friday nights so special that we never know what new song will be performed. Ken Browne opened with ‘Come By the Hills’, and later would treat us to a Frankie goes to Hollywood song ‘The power of Love’, and before the night ended Ken gave us that classic from Ralph McTell ‘Clare to here’.
Getting back to a traditionally Irish folk sing-along song Ronnie sang the ballad of ‘Dicey Reilly’ for all the Skidoo clan on the night. David was performing some rock ‘n Roll acoustically with ‘Every Rose has its thorn, we all knew this version and everyone joined in.
After a special request for Ronnie & Ted to perform ‘Duelling Banjos’, the Morning Dew, lads let rip and blasted it out, great to hear that bit of bluegrass and ye ha from the audience.
With the night catching up on us, Ted sang ‘The Galway Girl’, following with Martin Byrne singing ‘The Mermaid’, what a version with great music being played to enhance the song.
To close the night on what was National Music day; Ronnie invited Peter to finish with a tune on the accordion. Peter chose to play ‘The turkey in the straw’ a fantastic lively tune to bring this night to a close.
Next week will be the last night for the spring sessions.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 1st April 2011
A night of love songs from all musical styles.
April fools day, well at least it is in Ireland don’t know if the rest of the world have such a tradition but we enjoy it making fun of the children etc. They say only fools fall in love, then the folk club was full of fools tonight with a huge effort being made by all the performers to come up with a love song for our theme night of love songs.
The water is wide’, this beautiful folk song depicting a mans love for his lady when he would risk his life though he cant swim, to get across the river to be with her this song was the opening song from Ronnie who would go on to sing that Elvis classic ‘Wise men say’. The Furey’s classic ‘Sweet sixteen was Teds opening song and he would also go on and sing ‘Grace in this first part of the concert.
A new song learned and performed by V, was a song called ‘Two Loves’, the tale of a young soldier in love with his sweetheart but not allowed to marry her as his father says he must marry a lady instead. Eugene Crummy opened with ‘The Roseville Fair’, and would also go on to sing the Beatles ‘All my love’n’, later in the concert Eugene would also sing ‘I will love you’ another from the Furey’s what a romantic bunch they are.
We had a few polkas from Una on the concertina and also Una would go on to play that beautiful Irish air, The old resting chair’.
Jim Croce one of the finest love song performers of the seventies was represented by Tim Sexton who played ‘Time in a bottle’,
The man from Waterville Co Kerry, Michael Dineen was back again this week up for the weekend Michael sang us that great Kerry theme song ‘The rose of Tralee’, which we all enjoyed so much especially being performed by a Kerry man, later Michael would go to Donegal for on of his favourites ‘Mary from Dungloe’.
A regular performer at the club Ken Browne, sang and played ‘Stuck on you’, a song he learned specially for the occasion and later Ken would sing that classic love song ‘Red is the Rose.
A song for Ireland and Maggie’ were performed by Diana along with her playing ‘The lonesome boatman’, on the violin. Diana learned the two songs especially for the night of love songs. The man from Ardee, David was in a very romantic mood and sang for us that Prince classic made famous by Sinead O’Connor, Nothing Compares to you’, this one he followed up later with ‘Four strong winds’, from Neil Young a man who has many a rock ’n roll love song in his repertoire.
We had a selection of love themed tunes played on the night and Jodie Doolin was at the gig with his Cello and played for us, Plasier D’Amour, [hope I spelt that right] a very beautiful French piece of music followed by ‘Michelle’ that classic song from the sixties which we all sang lowly as we listened to the beautiful cello.
Around the House and Jack Fitzsimons sang that beautiful Scottish song ‘Lagan Stream’ performed in acapella the melody and Jacks voice carried this one off to perfection.
Mary Terry who sang for us a few months back was in house and when asked to sing gave us a splendid version of ‘Black is the Colour’, this one got a great response with all the audience joining in. The man on the G Banjo John McKeever prepared a couple of love songs, ‘The writing on the wall and ‘Nadiene’, bringing in all the musicians to give a beautiful accompaniment.
Rounding up what was a tremendous night of Love songs, a theme we may repeat next season for Valentines day now that we are all rehearsed and in the groove, Ted got the feet tapping and the beat swaying with ‘say you love Me’, and in finishing off Ronnie gave the last song to the King of love songs Elvis and ‘The wonder of you’.
Next week we will be back to around the house, and with only two weeks before we wrap up for the summer we hope you can get along to one of the performances.
Friday 25th March 2011
The last Friday in March and what a great turnout in the club with a full house of musicians and plenty of audience there to enjoy the night.
Getting the session off to a rousing start with that great favourite song ‘Slievenamon’, this song gelled all the musicians and was a great measure of things to come on the night.
Do you want your O’ul lobby washed down, washed down was the question posed in V’s first song of the night when we had a great audience chorus on the verses.
The Ballad of John Williams followed from Martin Byrne and then Jim Casey sang ‘The cliffs of Dooneen’, rounding of this set Peter Flynn played some Jigs on the accordion.
Moving around the house Eugene sang ‘Down by the Liffyside’, a remembrance from the Ronnie Drew era when he was with the Dubliners. Our fiddle player Dianna swapped the fiddle this week for a German medieval song which she translated and explained the story to us of the soul passing over the bridge to the other side where there would be dancing and celebrations. A very beautiful melody and Dianna sang it with beautiful affection.
A visitor from the Kingdom on button accordion was Michael Dineen; Michael played along with all the tunes and sang a wee Irish lament for us bringing a great reaction from his audience. A Shane McGowan song one of my favourites ‘A pair of brown eyes’, was performed by Ken Browne with the whole audience joining in, this was a great performance.
The Fingal Brigade’s first visit to the club, they currently play on Friday night in the Star Bar in Swords and it was great to have them out for the session. Martin Dardis [Dardo.ie] lead the group with the ‘Irish soldier laddie’, and later on would sing for us the ‘Night visit’, from the late Luke Kelly.
A man on his banjo John Keely chose to play a blue grass tune in hammer style. This was a very melodic piece as the musicians quickly picked out the melody. The ballad of ‘Dicey Reilly’ was revised by Pat Levins on guitar and getting the audience clapping and foot tapping along.
The Holy ground, and ‘Fine girl you are, was the chorus’s that Ronnie had planned for this lively audience and they did not disappoint. A great rousing version of this Clancy brother’s classic. Back with the man on the Bodhran and V sang ‘when I was single again’, a humorous song telling of a mans wishes to be back living the single life.
Another new visiting musician singer Frank play a splendid version of ‘if’, that David Gates song very much a love song and we hope Frank will make it back next week for the night of Love songs.
Into the great wide open, Ken Browne delivered this one very well and we had some great chorus from the audience.
Around the house and local lady Marie Lynch had prepared a beautiful poem telling us all to slow down a little and enjoy what life has to offer. Following up with story of how a young lady with a dog called sex, had to manage to get through life. Encountering marriage mishaps a judges ruling etc. this little story had us all laughing and will be one for the next comedy night.
Stones taught me to fly’, and Tim Sexton followed up his earlier funny song about singing like Bob Dylan, with this classic. Jim Casey would follow up with ‘The isle of Innisfree’, Jim said this was V’s song we all probably acknowledge that, but it was still a great version from Jim.
Always something new at the folk club and Jimmy McNally treated us to a few verses of ‘The wild Colonial boy’, and with the musicians and audience joining in for the last verse and chorus this was very uplifting for Jimmy and his friends.
The man from Corduff, Jim Brennan on the around the house boldly stood up to join the musicians and sang Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’. This was a first time visit for Jim and he is a man who can sing many a song. Rock n Roll I gave you all the best year of my life was the song chosen by Tommy Monaghan this week with full backing from Fran Flynn on guitar this one brought back a few memories.
The man from Ardee DavidD revived that great favourite from Foster and Allen ‘Old Flames’, David will be back next week for the night of love songs.
With the time catching up on us the Dianna played ‘Scarborough Fair’ on the violin and John Keely sang ‘The streets of London. Wrapping up tonight’s concert Martin Byrne led us in a rousing version of ‘Katie Daly’.
Next week will be Friday 1st April, Fools day and we are planning a night of love songs after all only fools fall in love, or so the song says.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning
Friday 18th March 2011
What a night Friday was when we celebrated the first birthday of the Fingal Folk Club. We celebrated in a truly Irish way following on From St Patrick’s Day. A full house on the night with musicians and singers that regularly attend, to some we haven’t seen for a while coupled with visitors for their first time. A truly splendid night of entertainment we even had a St Patrick’s Day dance on stage.
Starting with the ‘Bold O’Donoghue’, this rousing song set the scene for the night with Peter and Ted playing the ‘Washer woman’, traditional tune at the end of the song it got many hands clapping and feet tapping.
Ted opened his performance of that great song ‘Paddy’s green shamrock shore’ accompanied by Diana on the fiddle this was a truly magical piece of music. The wild colonial boy’, was V’s first song of the night and was welcomed by the response of the large audience we had in on the night.
Peter Flynn had an O’Carolans piece for us on the accordion a beautiful slow air ‘Fanny Power’, which really brought home to us all that is Irish about us. Ken Browne rejuvenated ‘Only our Rivers, and later would rise the tempo with ‘The Black Velvet Band’.
LauraL was here to celebrate with us. One of our youngest singer songwriters Laura had penned a song about the folk club and I think she captured everyone in this imaginative song with its catchy chorus’ And we jammed, and we jammed and we jammed all day long. What a reception this got from our audience, later Laura would sing ‘Someone like you’, what a performance it can seen on our you tube channel.
Martin Byrne stepped up to play two songs from his hugely successful album ‘My Ireland’ and for the Irish week that was St Patrick’s, Martin opened with the ballad of ‘Thomas Ashe’, and gave the recitation that Ashe, would have treasured in his own words, ‘I’ll carry my cross for Ireland, Lord’, following up with the ‘Home sweet home’, this was a very professional performance enjoyed by one of Martins greatest fans Jack Fitzsimons Jr. At only fiver years of age Martin reckoned that this brought his average fan club age down considerably, all great humoured and fun.
Diana Hebold the violin player from Germany gave us some Irish airs and later would accompany a couple of very talented ladies with their duet.
First time to the club Orla Flynn daughter of our regular guitar/mandolin player Fran, settled in like she was here every week. Orla sang and accompanied herself on guitar to a song as gáeilge, all about the mermaid. Very fitting song choice to show what a wonderful voice and performer Orla is.
Taking us to the break Eugene sang the beautiful ‘Gentle Annie’, and later would lift the roof with Country Roads. Before we had the tea, Jim Casey stepped in to sing ‘Dirty old town’ and then helped his colleague Pat to deliver ‘The wild rover.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Folk Club……..this was the celebration song as we had a beautiful cake from ‘Jackson’, he’s some man, and Ronnie invited LauraL to blow out the candle thus marking the first anniversary of the club.
Time for Tea and chat mmm.
Rousing us into the second half John Reilly on Accordian played the very popular Sharron Shannon tunes ‘Blackbird’, blending in with the banjo and fiddle this was a very popular arrangement. The jug of punch’ sung by John Keely had a lovely chorus which all in the club seemed to know and everyone joined in the chorus’s.
Another first time visiting singer to the club was Niamh Flynn, daughter of our accordion player Peter, Niamh lifted our spirits with the classic Gospel number from Hank Williams ‘I saw the light’, there was plenty of praise the Lord for this rendition.
Later on the two cousins Niamh and Orla would duet with ‘All the lies that you told me’.
A wee spot of Irish dancing was performed by Patricia Delaney and Yvonne [from the first ladies] they danced a St Patrick’s day on stage accompanied in the main by Peter Flynn on accordion, great step which added an extra flavour to the celebrations.
The man from Ardee, David stepped up to sing ‘I’m much to young’, from the works of Garth Brookes, Dave delivered this one with a poetic charm. Starting around the house with the floor and Jack Fitz, gave us a Martin Byrne composition one of his favourites ‘The changing face of Dublin’, how beautiful the accompaniement from the musicians and audience in joining in the chorus. Back to LauraL and a song called ‘Someone Like you’, was one we may get her to do on the night of love songs coming up on Friday 1st April.
For the green week we are having Denis O’Connor revived that Johnny Cash classic that he wrote after visiting Ireland, ‘Forty shades of green’, how fitting for this week when most of the world wears a bit of green.
Having rested after her dancing we had the clubs first ladies Yvonne and Niamh on stage to sing a cranberries number called ’Dreams’, this was a bit of a tonic and represented the other face of Irish music associated with our rock stars in Ireland.
With time catching up on us, this was such a full night of entertainment, Ken Browne lifted us with the ‘Black velvet band’, Jim Casey performed ‘The Red rose café, and the rousing the night to a close Ted sang ‘Pay me my money down’.
Many thanks to everyone who made this first birthday such a great night and we look forward to the next four weeks before we break for the summer.
Friday 11th March 2011
All hands on deck tonight as there was great interest in the forthcoming club birthday celebrations. Next week we will have the clubs first birthday and we expect to have a full house on the night. The night will be ‘Truly Irish’, following on from the St Patrick’s Day celebrations across the country on Thursday.
Starting the concert tonight in spring fashion with the ‘Garden Song’ Ronnie had the audience singing along and thinking of getting out into the garden over the weekend.
The man on the Bodhran V started with the ‘Nightingale’ these we two very happy songs to open the night’s entertainment.
In the club tonight we had our very own Martin Byrne performing his song ‘Home sweet home’ of his debut album My Ireland, which he was voted best original album on West Limerick FM102. Martin received his award on Monday night when he travelled down for the prize giving. Martin’s songs have already been recorded by several Irish singers and we wish him every success he can possibly have in the future.
Some country music story telling from Eugene when he sang ‘Della and the dealer’, hadn’t heard this one for a long time and all the musicians joined in. Eugene also gave us a version of ‘Those were the days, my friend’ which prompted a great chorus from the audience.
Some Scottish tunes from Peter on the accordion along with ‘Mise Eire’, gave a great St Patrick’s week flavour of things to come. If tomorrow never comes’, that Garth Brookes favourite was sung by Jim Casey, who also gave us ‘Green fields of France’, and ‘Song for Ireland’. Pat sang that Mick Hanley classic ‘Past the point of rescue’, coupled with ‘Scarlet Ribbons, not a dry eye in the house.
Pin Floyd’s ‘Wish you were here’, from Ken Browne is a folk club favourite for allot of people especially Noel on lighting who could be heard joining in. Later in the night Ken would give us ‘Steal away‘from the Furey’s another club favourite.
The clubs first ladies Yvonne and Niamh had two new songs on the night, ‘I feel it in my fingers’ from wet ,wet, wet, and the Killers ‘Are we Human’, went down a teat with all the musicians and audience and brought a rapturous applause. The town I love so well’, one of Jacks favourites and he sang it so well bringing out the best in all around him joining in.
A request for Mr & Mrs McNally Ronnie sang ‘The Voyage’ which had a great chorus from the audience and musicians. Following with V, and a club premier of ‘’Little travelling Man’, one could only laugh at the lyrics so well delivered by V.
Wrapping up tonight after ‘The wild colonial boy’, we got our award winning singer songwriter Martin Byrne to wrap up tonight’s show with ‘rambles of spring.
Next week we will be celebrating the Folk Clubs 1st Birthday and we hope you will all come along and join in with our celebrations.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 4th March 2011
Comedy night at the club and the focus was on funny songs stories and we even had a funny tune. A tremendous response from the musicians rehearsing and learning a piece for the occasion.
After a memorable day in the Irish cricket calendar, history was made when the Irish cricket team beat England in the world cup game in India. We had our very own champion in Martin Byrne who wrote a song called ‘C’mon Ireland’, for the last world cup success in 2008. This was Martins opening song with some of the lyrics changed to reflect on the current players on the team, what a start to the night allot of smiling happy faces in the club.
With the session kicking off around the house we had a fantastic turnout of musicians and singers on the night.
Ken Browne was in great form and sang ‘Sullivan’s John’, in a very nice version which we hadn’t heard before. A highlight of the first half of the concert was Diana on Violin playing a piece of music from the ‘Lord of the Rings’, very haunting and such a pleasure to her a classical piece.
Starting off the second half of the concert Ronnie revived that great favourite from Val Doonican ‘Paddy McGinty’s Goat’, this brought a smile to allot of faces as it was probably wasn’t expected and a good revival.
Kicking on with Ted and ‘The Rooster’, everyone seemed to know this one and the chorus were very uplifting, we never really figured out how the story ended, I think the hen was the boss.
Galway Bay, hasn’t been heard like this for a long time when Martin Byrne sang the comedy version of the lady in the Bath, you guessed it, as she bathed, she watched the suds flow into Galway Bay’, this brought such a round of laughter from the audience.
The Dubliners Button Pusher was portrayed By Eugene Crummy he even had the actions to go with the lyrics.
Jim Casey sang that great youthful courting song ‘Twice Daily’ one to be looked up on the You Tube great version from Jim with the full backing of the musicians who knew the song.
Local seanachie Denis O’Connor was in house to give us a rendition of the ‘Ballyhoo Hotel’, the story of the young farmer from the west away for the weekend and taken in by a lady of the night who stole all his money, a lesson to be learned.
The big strong man’ was belted out by Pat Levins, it was great to hear this one again, its very well known and all the musicians were able to play along.
We had a comedy tune in the form of the ‘Combine Harvester’, played on the Cello by Jodie Doolin this had a great impact on the audience as we listened to the melody and lowly sung the chorus.
The man on the accordion Peter Flynn revived his fathers very old song telling the tale of the farmer buying a hen to lay an egg only to discover it was a cock, with the chorus of Toor a loo, Toor a loo, this was a great one to sing along with.
A song from the floor came from Cathal Moore who sang the ballad of the carpenters’ wife not a woman to be crossed.
The Char ladies ball’ was revived by John Keely who also gave us a song about a shark who would not eat woman or child, but alas ate the fisherman. Be nice to hear that one again and sing it for the fishermen in Skerries.
Surprise performance on the night was Jack Fitzsimons and Josie Delaney [our door lady] teaming up to sing ‘The hole in the bucket’, the pair were rehearsing before the Gig as they both knew the song and then they performed it so well.
Winding up what was a great evening of funny songs and stories, Martin Byrne sang ‘An O’ul ma came courtin’, while Ted wrapped the show up singing ‘Some say the divil is dead’.
Next week we return again with the round the house session and we would encourage people to come along and enjoy this great music night in the heart of Fingal.
Ideas on another thyme night are invited and we hope to have one very soon.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 18th February 2011
Many new faces at the club on Friday night which is proving to be a great venue to go see some great artists in this special venue.
Earlier round the house produced a collective contribution for all being led by Eugene in ‘Fly Away’ that very special gospel number which lent itself to natural harmonies around the musicians and singers.
The Ballad of ‘Danny Farrell’ was revived by Ronnie and Ted, telling the tale of a typical down your luck citizen trying to make it from day to day.
Rousing polkas on the Accordion from Peter with Fran plucking on the mandolin coupled with the sound of the Banjos gave a hearty lift to the session.
Bono was represented by David who sang one of the U2 frontmans pieces solo.
We had visiting ballad singer Jim Casey who gave a rendition of the ‘Bright Blue Rose’, always such an emotional song and the chorus were intense with the audience.
Come by the hills’, that ageless lament of Scottish scenery and beauty was sung by Ken Browne with backing from Fran and Ted and Diana on the fiddle.
The Dubliners John Sheehan, would have been so proud to hear his immortal ‘Marino waltz’, played so brilliantly by Diana on the fiddle and later it was followed with a version of ‘Danny Boy’, known as ‘Londonderry Air’, to a rapturous applause by the audience. Look out for this version on the Fingal Folk Club You Tube site.
We haven’t heard the ‘Fields of Athenry’, for a while but Jack Fitzsimons put that right with his version belting out in verse and chorus sounded so fantastic in this concert with musicians playing so well and the audience responding to the chorus’s.
The man from Clare Tim Sexton treated us to couple of classic folk sons including one from James Taylor getting a great response form the audience on the night.
John and Eileen made up a duet with guitars and harmonica to perform well known numbers memorably ‘Blowing in the wind’, from Dylan.
Our young songs tress LauraL was at the gig and performed one of her own songs and then accompanied her Mam Mandy in a version of Caledonia with both of them sharing the chorus in harmony its was a really beautiful performance.
With another tragedy on the Irish seas today, off the Wexford coast a trawler went down with the skipper missing. This was inspiration for Martin Byrne to sing his fantastic ballad of such tragedy’s having been inspired from the loss of the Honey Dew and Per Charles in 2010 this song is called ‘Flowers on the water’, and we will have the performance up on the website ASAP with support from Directing Media who have been covering the Folk Club concerts every week.
The funny story of the ‘little bit of elastic and the little bit of lace’, made for to cover your important little place’, this was V’s funny song this week and the verses brought allot of laughs around the audience on the night.
Rounding up with ‘Say you love me’ from Ted this brought conclusion to another great nights entertainment and we look forward to next weeks session.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 11th February 2011
Some fantastic rousing songs complemented with ballads of sincerity tales of broken love and Irish freedom echoed around St Patrick’s Hall tonight with a touch of classical music also thrown into the mix, made up a great night’s entertainment at the Folk Club.
Starting with ‘The Irish Rover’, this one from Ronnie started the session on a high note and got all the musicians very quickly in tune. Playing the ‘Washer woman’ tune at the end of the song Ted on banjo and Peter on the Accordion this made a good rousing start to the concert.
This weeks humorous song came from V Delaney with his version of the Council worker, Chorus: Come in time, go home in time and take your time all day’. Wasn’t long before the audience had captured this melody and joined in the chorus.
Martin Byrne revived a beautiful love song that he learned some 25years ago from a friend in Skerries. The Fingal Lass’, wend down really well with our audience and the musicians very quickly adapted to the melody a new gem that we hope to hear again soon.
The man on the Ivory Keys peter Flynn played us a couple of Irish Airs. This was a classical piece of accordion playing with Peter improvising and giving great expression to the music pieces as he played them.
A Damian Dempsey’s song got a rendition from Ken Browne who also produced a performance of Phil Coulter’s ‘The Old man’, which was made famous by the Furey’s back in the Ninety’s.
Our fiddle player from Germany Dianna Heblod this week placed her fiddle on her lap and told us that she was going to sing ‘Where have all the flowers gone’, in German. This was truly a wonderful version of this 1960’s folk song and how amazing to hear an audience singing along throughout the performance. Diana went on to play the lonesome boatman on the fiddle following her singing.
John McKeever plucked his banjo and performed three classics which had the audience captivated in moment of brilliance as he lamented his songs with his lay back style.
After the interval we were joined by Jodie on the Cello. Jodie had performed with us a few months past and it was great to see him back in the club again. Jodie played a classical piece to start and the followed with ‘Stranger on the shore’, that well known piece from Acker Bilk. What a performance as we could hear a pin drop until the spontaneous applause at the end of the tune.
The Clubs First ladies were well rehearsed this week and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Beatles, the girls sang ‘Help’ with fantastic harmonies throughout. Following on with ‘Stand By Me this was memorable performance from the girls.
Peter Donegan was in the swing of things with his thoughts on the romantic weekend that was ahead of us in Valentine’s Day coming on the Monday, Peter sang the Dire Straits song ‘Romeo and Juliet’. This song had us all love struck for a moment.
Rattling on to closing the night Ronnie sang ‘Morningtown Ride’, from Peter Paul & Mary. This was a huge hit in the late 60’s and is still in the minds of people today and it was nice to see this song revived.
Closure this week came from Martin Byrne leading all musicians in the hill Billy version of ‘Katie Daly’, always a great favourite in the club.
Next week we return again with the round the house session and we would encourage people to come along and enjoy this great music night in the heart of Fingal.
Ideas on another thyme night are invited and we hope to have one very soon.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 4th February 2011
First Friday in spring an already there are signs that the evenings are brightening up with some flowers even blooming around St Patrick’s Hall, amazing how everything in nature bounces back even after such bitter cold and snow we had over Dec & Jan.
This must have put a pep in Ronnie’s step as this weeks session opened with the ‘The Garden Song’, following later in the concert with ‘The water is wide, and the ‘Wild Rover, this one had everyone singing their Yippee, Eye, Ey bringing great closure to a fantastic night.
The tone seemed to be set by Ted who sang a great Planxty song ‘Jolly Beggerman’. Which was followed later by Ken Browne and the ‘Good ship Kangaroo’ Planxty fans would have enjoyed these two favourites.
Scottish Hornpipes we rattled out by Peter on the accordion to the delight of some visitors from Glasgow on the night, we even had a medley of tunes to include the Northern lights etc.
What a good year for the Roses’, this was made very famous by Elvis Costello but tonight John McKeever gave us his rendition of this old Country song.
There were some magical and spellbinding performances and one special one from Diana Hebold who played a very old German lament on the violin coupled with singing the last verse. Diana explained the origins of the piece which are written in Old German and were discovered in a graveyard in medieval times.
Another first for the Folk Club was John Kealy playing the Auto Harp. It’s exactly what it says on the tin a beautiful sounding string instrument played by strumming across the double strings and playing buttons to get the notes and chords check out this performance on the Live performances link.
Just back from her performances in Beauty & The Beast over the Christmas Panto season Laura L, was back with her guitar and sang an original number and also that great Bruno Mars hit ‘Just the way you are’.
Must have been the inspiration of the Scottish tunes earlier in the night which inspired Jack Fitzsimons to sing ‘Go Lassie Go’ although I’m sure it was a pre valentine version for Margaret and we all loved it and singing of the chorus from the audience was captivating.
The Bodhran man V, had a new trick up his sleeve with ’Delaney’s Chicken’ a song which tells the tale of a chicken so tough that it must have lived in biblical times, extract, The chicken must have crowed when they built the tower of Babel. Was fed by Kane and Able, and it lived in Noah’s Stable……..etc This one sparked great reception from the audience and some good humour to the session.
Next week we return again with the round the house session and we would encourage people to come along and enjoy this great music night in the heart of Fingal.
Concert starts at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 28th January 2011
A full house tonight with an abundant of talent and new material being performed by all participants in the club.
It was inevitable at some stage that we would have that great folk song from 1960’s Peter Paul and Mary’s ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’. John Kealy performed this one for us and I believe every one on the night joined in the chorus’s. John went on to perform the ballad of the ‘Motorway’ going through his back garden what can only be described as 20th century protest song and a testament to the Celtic tiger! Check it on the Live performances.
Eugene Crummy was back with his guitar and had a few new songs for us as did Ken Browne who played a few beautiful ballads including a David Gray song which added a new dimension to the night and proved that folk music comes in all shapes and forms.
Some new musicians on the night gave us their flavour of folk music with Ray Harrison performing the timeless Makem & Clancy classic ‘The Dutchman’. Fantastic to hear and audience sing in such melodic tones in the chorus’s of this one.
Tim Sexton, Peter Flynn gave tremendous contributions the night with some exciting finger-picking guitar from Tim and rousing tunes from Peter on the accordion, with his brother Fran on guitar and mandolin.
The man from the Naggs head, John McKeever had his G/Banjo with him and gave us three songs on the night and much appreciated backing on several songs.
A special rendition of one of Martin Byrne’s songs ‘ The changing face of Dublin’, was performed by [Jackson], Jack Fitzsimons with accompaniment from Peter on Accordion it was very well performed and one Martin would be proud of.
Fantastic to see songwriters showcasing their songs and then for other performers to appreciate them and perform them, it’s a defining moment in a songwriters career.
First ladies Niamh & Yvonne were also back in the club and performed the Imelda May current hit, ‘Tainted love’, great contrasting performance from the ladies who also covered ‘Big bad Hansom man ‘, on the night, this brought a great response from the audience who are looking forward to next weeks performance from the girls.
Pat Bonas made a welcome return and sang such a fond love song while accompanying himself on guitar. Rounding up the night with ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ Ronnie thanked all the musicians and singers and asked V if he would close the night with the ‘Little Willie Wagger’ to send us all home on a giggle.
Next week we will continue with the round the house session.
Sessions start at 8pm sharp and all are welcome.
Performers are requested to be at the venue for 7.30pm for preparation & tuning.
Friday 21st January 2011
Christmas Eve and all is quiet everyone is waiting in anticipation that Santa will visit and bring a special gif this Christmas.
