Are You The Concertina Player?

New CD just released by young concertina player Kate McNamara from Tulla, Co. Clare, who plays with a lovely East Clare style, similar to her former tutor Mary McNamara. Launched at this year’s Fleadh at Tulla last night!

Available from Custy’s in Ennis - http://www.custysmusic.com/

Is there any relation between the two McNamaras?

When I asked Kate when I first met her 3 years ago in Shortt’s in Feakle, she said “no”. (PS Mary spells it “Mac”, not “Mc”.)

Kate does have three very talented siblings, however. I’m blanking on the name of her sister who plays accordion (can anybody fill that in?). Then there’s Amy who plays fiddle (now 13 yrs old, I think) and Gearoid who plays whistle (around 11 yrs old). In the clare-fm interview with Paula Carroll last week, Kate also mentioned that her grandparents taught set-dancing.

Thanks for the inside info Gary.

Track 3: “Cones Memories” is, of course Coen’s Memories, and “Reel on the Doorstep” is another name for The Plough and the Stars.

“The Whinny Hills of Leitrim” is really this one https://thesession.org/tunes/612.

McHugh’s is Joe Derrane’s :https://thesession.org/tunes/3321

is really this one:https://thesession.org/tunes/1139

Gan Ainm = https://thesession.org/tunes/93

Gan Ainm = https://thesession.org/tunes/3010
Pauline’s Place

Liner notes: “This is a beautiful Joe Bane tune I learned from Mary MacNamara a few years ago, it can also be played as a barndance.”

Anyone know of any other recordings of this?

It’s a Tommy Coen tune: https://thesession.org/tunes/558/comments
from which you can find other recordings of tunes that have a title in common with it. Which ones are really this tune is another question. Mary MacNamara recorded it in G dorian on “Blackberry Blossom”.

I’ve posted a transcription of Kate McNamara’s version in the comments to tune 558, linked above.