Limerick Flute Players

Lately getting curious about fluting style from Limerick. So far I know Louise Mulcahy and Francis O’Connor.
Looking for suggestions on more artists to listen to. Thanks!

Paddy Taylor, see:
https://thesession.org/recordings/1119
https://thesession.org/recordings/4244
Marin

I’ve never heard it suggested that there was any distinct “Limerick” style of flute playing, with any musical characteristics associated particularly to that county. I can’t really think of that many - Paddy Taylor, as Marin points out, is the obvious one.
One name which surfaced and was discussed recently is John Joe Harnett, some examples of whose music was carried on by Francis and Aine O‘Connor [ nee O’Connell ] on their fine CD “They Didn’t Come Home Until Morning”. The CD insert notes say that JJH had “a distinct regional style of flute playing” which “marked him as an epitome of a local traditional West Limerick style”. I would certainly bow to the superior knowledge of Frances O’Connor, and would like to hear more of JJH’s playing. I think a recent discussion either here or on “Chiff & Fipple” located a few examples.
A double cassette tape of recordings made in Galway and Limerick by Ciaran MacMathuna going back to 1955 has a solo flute track by one Seamus Carroll. I’ll try to upload it on Youtube soon.
PS - I think Eamonn O’Riordan might be from Limerick : https://thesession.org/recordings/5048
That CD did include a set of tunes “associated with John Joe Hartnett [sic ], who was a flute player from Strand in West Limerick”.

Same as Kenny. Never heard of a Limerick “style” of flute playing.
There is a Limerick style of <ahem> poetry though…..

There was a young man from Askeaton
Whose flute playin’ took some baytin’
On 10 pints played 10 reels
He then ate 10 meals
But got told that aytin’ was chaytin’

Your last line reminds me of a Kinky Friedmann song, but maybe best not go there.

I have had the pleasure of many a tune with Patsy Moloney from Limerick. I played with him when he was still in Birmingham, England, many times on the Liverpool to Dublin Ferry, and in Limerick.
And, on a notable trip to Listowel, ’85, with the McHughs from Glasgow, ended up in an all-nighter in Carrigkerry, and then at Abbeyfeale the next lunchtime, with his brother Tommy!
He’d apologised at 4.30am saying that he had to go and milk the cows, but there he was, playing with us at the lunch session along with Dónal Murphy and crew.

Then, straight up the road for a grand old session at the Cultúrlann, where we grabbed a few hours of much needed sleep.

The next day, along with Martin McHugh and Isabel Hirst, I was on the Dublin-Belfast train which was blown up!
Thankfully, mercifully, no-one was hurt.

Keep safe and well everyone
All the best
Brian x

Kenny, here’s another one with a load of John Joe Harnett / Hartnett and Moss Murphy tunes:
https://thesession.org/recordings/7454

Thanks , Nico.I must have missed that, and will investigate.
Good shout, Brian. I was in the audience at the 1977 Ennis Fleadh when Patsy Moloney won the Senior Flute title, a certain Mr Flatley from Chicago coming second, and Mick Gavin of Dublin third. [ I thought Mick [G] was the best - so it goes.
We’re not really getting a lot of names here , are we ?

Thanks for the info. I found Francis’ and Louise’s style somewhat similar (watching some YouTube clips), and got curious if there’s regional influence, etc.

Another Limerick man (city), Gusty McNamara played in an Oireachtas winning trio with Tadhg Smalle (fiddle) and Andy Keane (pipes).

I tried to get a recording of them from The RTE archives some years ago but failed. My dad was very taken with their music.

http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/musicians117.pdf

Hello again both tradlad and Kenny!

For once I’m stuffed with trying to remember another flute player from Limerick.
Maybe posting this might aid your quest, and, indeed, others people’s memories.

Thinking back to that Abbeyfeale session and Dónal Murphy, I am reminded of a fantastic weekend in Perranporth, Cornwall, when I was playing for a St Patrick’s set dance weekend, probably March ’97, with Simon Knight et al, Dónal and band, Moving Cloud etc.
Dónal’s line-up included a fantastic left-handed fiddle and equally gifted left-handed flute player; I am sure he was called Francie, Francis.
Now, maybe with it being a set dance occasion, there could have been musicians from all round the Sliabh Luachra area, he might have been from Kerry, elsewhere perhaps?
But, with Dónal being in Abbeyfeale, there’s every reason to suggest he was a Limerick lad. And I think he might have been there at the Abbeyfeale session in ’85.

Anyway, it was a great get together and fabulous craic. On a sad note, it was the last time I met up with Connie Ryan, a master teacher who so respected the musicians about him as he taught his craft with so much passion.

I do hope that this might be of some help to you.

All the best
Brian x

Michail Mac an Ri ( Michael King from West Limerick )
All Ireland Flute champion 2004 approx ( Clonmel )

https://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_268_1_flute_player_michael_king/

I imagine there are many flute players there on the ground….

Two more prize winners from the Senior “Flute Slow Airs” category :
1997, Catriona Ni Chlochasaigh , County Limerick
2002, Seacailín Ní Ealaithe, County Limerick