Legendary Fiddler Séamus Creagh added to Féile Átha Dá Chab 2007 Line Up

Ballydehob, County Cork, will be sliding in and out in perfect time to the fine fiddling of Séamus Creagh for Féile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song, and Dance Weekend, on April 20-22, 2007.
One of Ireland's most respected fiddle players, Séamus Creagh is originally from Westmeath but now resides in Cork. His relaxed style has brought him to international prominence, particularly in his duets with accordion players Jackie Daly and Aidan Coffey.
Séamus spent five years (1988-1993) in Newfoundland, Canada, where he made regular appearances at the St John's Folk Club and folk festivals. He also taught and played traditional music with a number of St John's musicians during this time. His solo album, Came The Dawn was released in 1993. While in St John's, Séamus was also a member of the band, Tickle Harbour, and appeared on their album, The Brule Boys in Paris.
Séamus also worked as a session musician on a number of other Newfoundland albums. Since his return to Ireland, he has been visited by a constant stream of Newfoundland musicians.


Séamus is perhaps best known for his duets with Jackie Daly and their fine renditions of the music of Sliabh Luachra on the Cork/Kerry border. This area is famous for its unique style of music, the dancing of quadrille sets and its special repertoire of tunes, slides and polkas in particular. And no better men to showcase Sliabh Luachra tunes than Séamus and Jackie. Their 1977 album of tunes from this region is a must-have for any self-respecting lover of traditional Irish music. Even better again is to hear their playing live. Their unequalled performances are a pleasure to witness, the banter in between the tunes being all part of the fun.
In the 1970s, Ballydehob was lucky enough to enjoy the music of Séamus and Jackie on a regular basis. It will be a great honour to have this pair play us a few more tunes during Féile Átha Dá Chab 2007.
As part of the Ballydehob Féile, Séamus Creagh will give a fiddle workshop on Saturday April 21, 2007. This will be the perfect opportunity for fiddle players to watch a master at work and learn just how to play slides and polkas properly! By the way, properly means making people want to get up, form a set, and beat it out on the floor!!!!
PS The fine Black and White Photo of Séamus above is by Marie-Annick Desplanques

Ón Iarmhí ó dhúchas, tá ard-mheas ar Shéamus i measc saineolaithe an cheol. B’fhéidir go bhfuil an cháil is mó air de bharr na díséid a sheinneann sé leis an seinnteoir bosca ceoil, Jackie Daly. Tá stíl seinnte ar leith aige is é faoi thionchar Stíl Shliabh Luachra, suite ar theorainn Chorcaí agus Chiarraí. Tá an-aithne air in Iarthair Chorcaí, áit a mhúineann sé is a sheineann sé go rialta. Buail isteach go dtí an ‘Corner Bar’ I Sciobairín i rith an tSamhraidh is cloisfidh tú nótaí meidhreacha ag teacht ó fhidil Shéamuis.

Highly Acclaimed Flute Player, Garry Walsh, to take part in Féile Átha Dá Chab 2007

Féile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song, and Dance Festival, is delighted to add flute and whistle player Garry Walsh to the wonderful line-up of talented musicians due to teach and perform in Ballydehob, County Cork, Ireland, on the weekend of April 20-22, 2007. Brought up in Manchester, Garry now lives in Ballydehob and will be making a much-appreciated contribution to his new home by showcasing his talents during the Féile and also mentoring and nurturing local flute players. He learned his music from his father and mother, who came from Drogheda and Cork, respectively. Both of Garry's great - grandfathers, his grandfathers and father played traditional music and much of his music originates from the family reportoire. Featuring forgotten but not lost music from Counties Louth and Cork, Garry's first debut album "Uncovered" is currently receiving excellent reviews.
As with all Féile Átha Dá Chab workshops, Garry's class will be open to both young and mature students of the flute.

Tógtha i Manchester, d’fhoghlaim Garry Walsh a chuid poirt ón a athair agus a mháthair, a chuaigh ar imirce go Sasana ó Dhroichead Átha, Có an Lú agus ón Sciobairín, Iarthair Chorcaí. Tá bailiúcháin suimiúil de phoirt aige nach gcloistear a thuilleadh, ón dá chontae sin ach go háirithe. Tháinig roinnt de na poirt seo ar ais go dtí a n-áiteanna dúchais nuair a sheinn Gary in Iarthair Chorcaí agus é ar thuras le Máire Bhreathnach, Colm Murphy agus Cyril O’Donoghue. Tá Gary ag maireachtaint i mBéal Átha an Dá Chab faoi láthair agus is mór an cúnamh do cheol traidisiúnta na háite é.

Féile Átha Dá Chab welcomes Colm Murphy on bodhrán

Féile Átha Dá Chab will offer those interested in learning the bodhrán the opportunity to do a workshop with renowned bodhrán player, Colm Murphy, on Saturday, 21 April, 2007.
A long time member of DeDannan, Colm has played and recorded with many well-known traditional musicians over the years, including Sean Ryan, Micheal OSuibheallain, Breanndan OBeaglaoich, Altan, Cathal Mc Connell, Jackie Daly, Seamus Creagh, Sliabh Notes, Mairtin OConnor,Beginish and Conal OGrada among others.His style of playing is appreciated by his fellow musicians for it’s sensitivity and dynamic élan.
Those interested in attending this workshop would be wise to book a place in advance, as Colm prefers to work with a small number of students to ensure that the lesson is as productive as possible. As with all Féile Átha Dá Chab workshops, this workshop is open to students of all ages, young and old alike! Finally, just to say that this workshop has been generously sponsored by Camier's Service Station, Ballydehob, County Cork.
Maidir leis an bodhrán:
Bhíodh drochmheas ar an mbodhrán trath, uirlisi eile an cheoil thraidisiunta.Go deimhin, b’fheidir go raibh roinnt eigin den tarcaisne seo thuille aige, ach sa la atá inniu ann, is deacair an meon sin a choisaint a thuilleadh.
Ta a n-ionad féin ag na cnaguirlisi I bhformhor cheolta an domhain, agus ta dearmad mór orthu siud a dhearbhaionn nach bhfuil feidhm thabhachtach ag an mbodhrán sa cheol Gaelach.
A little note about the bodhrán:
The bodhrán used to have a bad reputation compared to other traditional Irish instruments. While it certainly may have deserved some of this bad press, it would be hard to defend criticism of it nowadays. Percussion instruments have their own place in world music and those that claim that the bodhran does not have an important role in Irish music are making a glaring omission.

Is ball den ghrúpa Dé Dannan é Colm Murphy ón tús agus tá sé tar éis seinnt agus taifeadadh a dhéanamh le scata ceoltóirí le clú agus cáil orthu thar na blianta; Micheál O’Súilleabháin, Altan, Jackie Daly, Séamus Creagh, Mártin O’Connor agus Breandán Ó Beaglaíoch i measc daoine eile. Is breá le comhceolteoirí a stíl seinnte atá mothálach agus bríomhar ag an am céanna. Cúigear ar a mhéid a bheidh ina cheardlann bodhráin atá á chur ar fáil do thosnaitheoirí amháin.