Recording Johnny O’Leary – By Terry Moylan in Scart on Saturday Night

Mike Rice (left) with Mairéad Corridan and Gearóid Keating were among the musical guests on the January Handed Down programme at Scartaglin Heritage Centre. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Caoimhe Flannery from Rockchapel playing at the January 27th Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Caoimhe Murphy and Lauren O’Connor from Templeglantine were on the Young Musicians guest list for the January Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Handed Down founder member, PJ Teahan pictured with the Dan O’Connell Memorial Award at the January Handed Down programme. Included are: PJ’s wife, Siobhán (left) his sister Mag Teahan-McGrath and his daughter, Eibhlís. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Handed Down guest musicians on the January 27th. programme included, from left: BrId Ann Cronin, George Evans, Grania Evans, Billy Joy and Margaret Looney. ©Photograph: John Reidy 27-1-2018

Special guest, Mary McCarthy, Tom McCarthy’s Bar, Castleisland with her son John (left) with members of the Handed Down team, Pj Teahan, Mick Culloty, Maggie Prendiville-Keane and special guest, Jackie Daly at the January Handed Down in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Méabh Ní Chonaill from Cill Na Martra was one of the young musicians at the January Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Dave Buckley’s repertoire included a greatly admired song about his native Scartaglin at the January Handed Down programme. ©Photograph: John Reidy

On door duties at the Scartaglin Heritage Centre for the January 27th. programme were: Deirdre O’Connor and German guest, Katharina Lipski. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Calling the shots: Jackie Daly organising the dancers at the end of the January 27th Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Aidan Connolly playing at the January 27th Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Eimear Flannery from Rockchapel playing at the January 27th Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Con Moynihan was on the guest list at the January 27th Handed Down programme in Scartaglin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Like Peter Browne’s association with Patrick O’Keeffe in the Sliabh Luachra scheme of things, Terry Moylan will always be linked with Johnny O’Leary.

O’Keeffe and O’Leary, both hugely influential, Sliabh Luachra music exponents and guardians were brought out of themselves by Browne and Moylan respectively.

Would we have the knowledge and respect we have for the music of O’Keeffe and the phenomenal repertoire of O’Leary but for the intervention of these two pioneers?

Intervention in 1993

Peter Browne’s intervention in 1993 prevented Patrick O’Keeffe’s massive legacy from going over the cliff of silence – as Con Houlihan would say.

And would Johnny O’Leary have sat down and do with he did with Terry Moylan without understanding the levels of appreciation he felt from his interviewer.

Voyage of Rediscovery

Peter Browne has spoken of his voyage of rediscovery on O’Keeffe before in Scartaglin as part of the Handed Down series of lectures and concerts.

On Saturday night, March 24th it’s Terry Moylan’s turn to put the focus on his productive encounters with Johnny O’Leary. It’s sure to be a fascinating story.

Musician and Archivist

Terry Moylan is a musician, archivist for Na Piobairi Uilleann and founder of the Folk Music Society of Ireland. He has published and lectured on music and dance throughout Ireland, Britain and the USA.

Recording Johnny O’Leary, Presented by Terry Moylan. Handed Down on Saturday, March 24th. at 8pm sharp to 10:30pm

Special guests: Bryan O’Leary, Ellen Healy nee O’Leary, tin whistle.

Guests on the Night

Guest musicians: John Brosnan, accordion; Cárthach Ó Faoileán and Cáilín Ní Shé.

Songs with Terry Moylan.

Young Musicians: Aoife and Meadhbh McCarthy, Aubane, Millstreet. John Power, Caroline Hurley and Seán Fitzgerald, Sliabh Mish CCE.

After a night’s entertainment that would be hard to surpass on January 21st, the Handed Down team had another special box of magic with Paudie O’Connor in February.

Snow and Storms

However, snow and storms put and end to that.

While all these ‘Scart nights’ are special in the niches they create for themselves this one is expected to be up there with the very best.

Admission: Adults €8. Child U-12 €3.

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