A chance meeting with a Castleisland native during the recent Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival has led to a dot joining mission since.
The dots are far flung and reach all the way from the 1960s to the present day, from College Road to Church Street, from Galway to Mallow and from the Shandrum Céili Band to Boland’s Bar in Castlegregory.
Joining the dots with me is Paudie O’Callaghan formerly of College Road and now resident in Mallow.
As a youngster, coming and going to and from the boys national school, I remember Paudie striding down College Road with a fiddle case and I never knew where he was going until now.
And the reason the explanation has come my way is that, earlier this year, he released a CD with the title: Paudie O’Callaghan – To Castle I’m Going and the sleeve notes tell a lot.
Lessons with Sr. Rupert
The College Road to Church Street routine of all those years ago was to attend fiddle lessons with Sr. Rupert in the Presentation Convent Primary School.
The musical grounding he got there stood to him – even if he did change instruments. On this CD you’ll hear Paudie on tenor banjo and mandolin.
Back to the mid 60s briefly, Paudie joined forces with fellow Islanders: Pa and Laurence Curtin, Terence McQuinn and Brendan O’Rourke to form The Island Folk.
Affinity with Castlegregory
In the late 1960s life in Galway beckoned and Paudie along with Killarney Road native Ted Murphy and Des McCarthy, a Corkman with Castleisland connections, formed the group, Na Tuigheadóirí.
Paudie is now living in Mallow and spends time in Castlegregory with family and friends and the influence of the West Kerry village on the CD is artistic, inspirational and obvious.
“The CD title is a testament to our affinity with Castlegregory and its people. It has become our spiritual home these 40 years and we always look forward to returning to our summer abode in Maherees. In the words of the poet ‘the savage loves his native shore! said Paudie on the sleeve notes.
Sliabh Luachra Tunes
The album includes a number of Sliabh Luachra tunes and Mikey Duggan, Dan O’Connell and Tom Billy Murphy are all celebrated and credited.
Paudie is joined on the CD by other members of his family, his wife Anne and his children: Aileen Eimear and Brian and by Ger Naughton.
Aileen and Ger are members of the well known Shandrum Ceili Band.
Paudie has been playing music for the past 60 years, learning his craft in Castleisland before his work took him to Galway, back to Kerry and Cork – where he continues to play in sessions.
All Proceeds to Hospice
The CD can be purchased on Bandcamp for €13 plus postage. All sale proceeds are being donated to the Kerry Hospice Foundation and Marymount Hospice.
Just search for Paudie O’Callaghan or To Castle I’m Going on Bandcamp to purchase the CD.
Alternatively contact Paudie by email at: ocallaghanpaudie@gmail.com
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