Saturday, May 17th. is World Fiddle Day. PJ Teahan and friends: Tom O’Connell, Mick Culloty and Con Moynihan are planning a special weekend of fiddle music in Castleisland and Scartaglin.
The event will get under way on Friday evening at Browne’s Bar at 9-30pm. That’ll be used for turning-up, tuning-up, limbering up and lubricating up in preparation for the ‘big one’ in Scart on Saturday. Apart from the World Fiddle Day celebrations there is a special significance in the Scart sessions in that they’ll celebrate the 1969 recording of The Star Above the Garter LP. That will be at Lyons’s Bar in Scartaglin at 4-30pm. There will be open sessions in both, Fleming’s and O’Connor’s Bars in Scart earlier at 2-30pm.
This classic recording by the brother and sister pairing of Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford is regarded as one of the most technically perfect, traditional fiddle music recordings made. It was recorded and released by Claddagh Records in Dublin in 1969. The artwork on its cover by Catherine Folatre was also regarded as being away ahead of its time – whatever that meant then. The 40th anniversary of Denis Murphy’s death occurred on April 7th while Julia Clifford died in June 1997.
While there are no invitations being issued to this event there is a growing list of prominent fiddle players who have pledged their support and promised their presence on the weekend. There is also a great welcome for the weekend among musicians in general.
It has all the makings of a great one. While most of the planning is done there is a little fine tuning left and we’ll keep you informed as the time draws near.