Handed Down on the late Jerry McCarthy in Scart Tonight

The late Jerry McCarthy pictured with the late RTÉ broadcaster, Ciarán Mac Mathúna as he received a presentation from event organiser, Mary Jones (right) and Ciarán's wife, Dolly McMahon on the occasion of the celebration of his 40th year of broadcasting at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland in 1995. ©Photograph:  John Reidy 11-3-1995
The late Jerry McCarthy pictured with the late RTÉ broadcaster, Ciarán Mac Mathúna as he received a presentation from event organiser, Mary Jones (right) and Ciarán’s wife, Dolly McMahon on the occasion of the celebration of his 40th year of broadcasting at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland in 1995. Jerry passed away just over a month after this photograph was taken. ©Photograph: John Reidy 11-3-1995

A reminder that the first Handed Down of the 2016 / 2017 is on in Scartaglin Heritage Centre tonight.

In tonight’s programme, Paudie O’Connor will look at the life and music of late Gortglass native, Jerry McCarthy. It kicks off at 8pm sharp and people are asked to be seated for a few minutes before the off time.

Box player and broadcaster, Paudie O’Connor is well got in the area as his father was a Ballinthourig man and mother from Kilsarcon.

Great Fiddle Player

Paudie will take a look at the life, music and story of the great fiddle player, the late Jerry McCarthy from Gortglass. There is video footage and rare recordings made in Cordal in 1969 on the night’s programme.

Paudie will also play on the night with his wife Aoife Ni Chaoimh and their daughter Roisín on fiddle. Roisín will be making her first musical visit to Scartaglin.

“Our other young musicians are: James O’Mahony on fiddle who is a grandson of Jerry McCarthy Bronagh and Shane Browne on fiddle and box are grandchildren of the late Dan Jerimiah O Connor of Scartaglin,” said Handed Down / World Fiddle Day Scartaglin founder PJ Teahan.

Lucky and Privileged

Only this very Saturday morning I was talking to fine fiddle player Paddy Jones. In the course of reeling off all the people he played with he counted Jerry McCarthy among those he was lucky and privileged to have known and sat down with.

Special guest in Scart tonight is Aidan Connolly of Dublin whose mother Eileen and uncle Con Moynihan are Gneeveguilla natives and former pupils of Nicky McAulliffe. Aidan is coming to Scartaglin to showcase music from his new CD prior to its launch at Browne’s Bar on Saturday evening, October 29th at 5pm during the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival.

Some of the tracks on the CD have Scartaglin connections and the CD will be available to purchase on the night. Patrons are asked to arrive early and be seated by 8pm. Admission Adults €7 and Children €3.

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