The Fabulous Kilfenora Ceili Band

http://www.dublinrecords.com/kilfenora.html

Dublin Records DU-1004
http://www.dublinrecords.com/

After ‘The Tulla Ceili Band’ released their LP “Echoes of Erin” in 1958 -
https://thesession.org/recordings/1425
‘The Kilfenora Ceili Band’ thought it was time they release one too and the above recording was out in 1958, almost immediately afterwards the membership of the band went through drastic changes and continues to evolve and adapt…

A completely different group took the ‘All-Ireland’ three consecutive times in 1993, ‘94 & ’95…

PJ Lynch - violin
T. Eustace - violin
Gus Tierney - violin

Pat Madigan - flute (sax & clarinet)
Jim McCormack - flute
Gerry Lynch - accordion
Paddy ‘Organ’ Mullins - bass
Gerard O’Loughlin - drums
Kitty Linnane - piano

The band changed directorship from PJ Lynch to Kitty Linnane in the 1960s. In the early ’70s “The Kilfenora Céilí Band”, still under the leadership of Kitty but with changes in membership, recorded two more albums:

“Clare Céilí ” - E.M.I.
“The Kilfenora Céilí Band” - Transatlantic

http://www.kilfenoraceiliband.com/

I saw some of the retired members of the band having a session in Kilfenora around a couple of years ago. I don’t remember the name of the pub, but I think they still entertain people as “The Old Kilfenora Band.”

Oops! - forgot the dates. #1 is the same as “The Fabulous Kilfenora Ceili Band”. #s 2 & 3 as yet are not available in a rerelease on CD, sadly…

1.) “Kilfenora Ceili Band” – Shamrock, 1958
2.) “Clare Ceili” – E.M.I., 1973
3.) “Kilfenora Ceili Band” – Translantic, 1974

When melodeon player Jerry Lynch left “The Kilfenora Ceil Band” for Amerikay, 1960 - 1975, Kitty Linnane, the then director, and Jimmy Ward convinced Michael Sexton to come on board. As the story goes, and maybe it says something about box players, Michael was the longest serving melodeon player the band ever had the pleasure of. Michael Sexton was there for the two recordings made in the 1970s - “Clare Ceili” with EMI and “The Kilfenora Ceili Band” with Transatlantic. One account of the second album is that it “- was produced by Mick Moloney and recorded in one day at the West County Hotel outside Ennis” - 1974… With this in mind, and with Michael in mind, I hope whatever powers that be, those with the capability, will soon consider rereleasing these two recordings, possibly as one of those two-for-one CDs - “The Kilfenora Ceili Band” under the leadership of Kitty Linnane (RIP), with much respect, and featuring all present plus the late great Michael Sexton…

If you know any of those in power - pester them…

#2-of-3 in Kilfenora Ceili Band Set, 50’s
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on September 4th 2002 by Bannerman.
https://thesession.org/tunes/949

Ceolachan has listed two of the three jigs while the third was posted by Mark Cordova on Sept 3rd, 2002 (see https://thesession.org/tunes/947). Just one change to this jig (Bar 2 of B part played as DFA d2) played by the original Kilfenora Céilí Band, to me anyway, improves the tune. It would be great if these recordings could be re-released as CDs.

1.) “The Kilfenora Jig” ~ 2-parts
Also known as “Kilfenora Jig No. 1”, “Kitty Lie Over”, “Paddy’s Return”, “Patsy McCann’s”.
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on September 3rd 2002 by Bannerman.
https://thesession.org/tunes/948

2.) “The Kilfenora Jig” ~ 5-parts
Also known as “Kilfenora Jig No. 2”.
Key signature: D Major
https://thesession.org/tunes/949

3.) “The Kilfenora Jig” ~ 2-parts
Also known as “Kilfenora Jig No. 3”, “Paddy Murphy’s”, “Thomond Bridge”, “Uncle Jim’s”.
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on September 3rd 2002 by Mark Cordova.
https://thesession.org/tunes/947

= “Uncle Jim’s Jig”
Also known as “The Steamboat March”, “Steamboat Quickstep”, “The Steamboat Quickstep”, “The Steamboat”, “Uncle Jim”, “Washington Quickstep”, “The Washington Quickstep March”, “The Washington Quickstep”.
Key signature: A Major
Submitted on August 9th 2006 by McMandolin.
https://thesession.org/tunes/6083

I added song links for track 9. Connamara Stockings/Westmeath Hunt(Jim McCormack’s)/Rip the Calico. I wasn’t sure how to handle this because I think the tune titles are probably incorrect and out of order so I don’t want to create aka’s on the tune pages.