The Sweets of May/Aoibhneas na Bealtaine: The Céilí Band Era, Music & Dance of South Armagh

A project researched and compiled by Tommy Fegan, Josephine Keegan, Kieran Burns, Walter Bradley, and Tom Quinn - with much thanks to many others who contributed material…

Book, hardcover, with two CDs, a DVD also available
Publisher: Ceol Camlocha; 1st edition (16 Mar. 2009)
ISBN-10: 0956232108
ISBN-13: 978-0956232106

The book’s contents, 139 pages:

Part 1 -
CD 1 Ceili Bands / Introduction / Track list / Sleeve notes
CD 2 Music Today / Introduction / Track list / Singers & Musicians / Sleeve Notes

Part 2 -
Introductions / From early bands to today’s bands / The Céilí Bands / The Céilí Bands onwards / Reminisces / Pub Sessions / The Dnce Tradition / Sheet Music / Acknowledgements

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From the back cover of the book:

(compilation book including two CDs & accompanying DVD)
This book and accompanying CDs ( one of which contains remastered recordings from the céilí band era) is part of “The Sweets of May” publication, an ambitions project which recounts the story, tunes, dances, musicians and céilí bands of South Armagh.

The main focus of the project is the 1930s-1960s, and era of great social upheaval which was reflected in the evolution of the céilí bands.

The DVD has local dance schools from Armagh and Newry performing old South Armagh dances, many almost lost to obscurity and seen here for the first time outside the area. - - -

CDs compiled, mixed, and mastered by Tom Quinn

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Their Ceol Camloch website as listed on the back appears to no longer exist…

_1. ) reels: The Johnny Pickering Céilí Band
Johnny Pickering - accordion, Brendan McGlinchey - fiddle, Margaret Pickering

_2. ) jigs: The McCuskers Céilí Band
The nine brothers - three fiddles, piccolo, banjo/mandolin, button accordion, piano accordion, piano & drums

_3. ) reels: The Malachy Sweeney’s Céilí Band

_4. ) jig: Paddy Murphy - fiddle & Louis McDonald - button accordion

_5. ) reel: John Murphy - solo fiddle

_6. ) hornpipe: The John Murphy Céilí Band
John Murphy - accordion, Fintan Callan - piano accordion - - -

_7. ) song: Gerry Burns with The Jackie Hearst Céilí Band

_8. ) reels: The Vincent Lowe Céilí Band
Vincent Lowe - piano accordion - - -

_9. ) reels: The McCusker’s Céilí Band
The nine brothers - three fiddles, piccolo, banjo/mandolin, button accordion, piano accordion, piano & drums

* 9 / 10 ~ problems in the book with the numbering, 9 is missing…

10. ) jigs: Johnny Pickering - fiddle solo (*11 - page 9)

11. ) jigs: The Johnny Pickering Céilí Band (*12)

12. ) song: Anna Boyle with The Inisfall Céilí Band (*13)

13. ) reel: The Inisfall Céilí Band with Anna Boyle on banjo mandolin (*14)

14. ) set dance: Jackie Hearst Céilí Band (*15)

15. ) reels: Joe Keegan - solo flute (*16)

16. ) marches: McCuskers Céilí Band (*17 - page 10)

17. ) reels: Peter Murphy - fiddle (*18)

18. ) song: Gerry Burns with The Jackie Hearst Céilí Band (*19)

19. ) reels: Siamsa Céilí Band (*20)
John Joe Gardiner - flute - - -

20. ) hornpipes: John Joe Gardiner - fiddle & Brendan Gaughran - piano (*21)

21. ) reels: Johnny Pickering Céilí Band (*22)

22. ) marches: Fred Hanna Céilí Band (*23)
Fred Hanna - accordion - - -

23. ) air: Peter Murphy - various instruments & Eugene Smith - piano & synthesizer (*24)

24. ) - _1. ) reels: Caroline Fegan - button accordion, Marian McGauley - banjo, Josephine Keegan - piano

25. ) - _2. ) jig: Brendan McGlinchey - fiddle & Mary Mulholland - piano

26. ) - _3. ) barndances: Pat Murphy Group
Pat Murphy - fiddle, Bernard O’Hanlon - whistle, John Toal - bodhran, Josephine Keegan - piano

27. ) - _4. ) air: Dearbhla Bennett - voice & harp

28. ) - _5. ) jig: Mullaghbawn Scór Group
Elaine O‘Sullivan - box, Briege Quinn - fiddle, Moira Hughes - whistle, Sean O’Chuinn - banjo, Feargal O’Brien - bodhran

29. ) - _6. ) barndance/reel: Jimmy Burns & Family
Jimmy, Kieran, Paddy, Mark, Jame, Marykate, Eoin, Aoife, Eamon - & Josephine Keegan - piano

30. ) - _7. ) jigs: Una Devlin - fiddle & Rosie Ferguson - fiddle

31. ) - _8. ) air: Tommy Fegan - uilleann pipes (made by Dave Williams)

32. ) - _9. ) reels: Mullaghbawn Scór Group
Elaine O‘Sullivan - box, Briege Quinn - fiddle, Moira Hughes - whistle, Sean O’Chuinn - banjo, Feargal O’Brien - bodhran

33. ) - 10. ) Planxty: Dearbhla Bennett - harp

34. ) - 11. ) hornpipes (C: Josephine Keegan): Josephine Keegan - fiddle & Kathleen Gavin - piano

35. ) - 12. ) reels: Una Devlin - fiddle, Rosie Ferguson - fiddle, Josephine Keegan - piano

36. ) - 13. ) air: Aine McGeeney - voice, unaccompanied song

37. ) - 14. ) jigs: Ursula Byrne - fiddle & Clair Byrne - uilleann pipes

38. ) - 15. ) reels: Brenda McGlinchey - fiddle & Mary Mulholland - piano

39. ) - 16. ) barndance: Fainne Cairde
fiddles - Betty Molloy, Shauna Hughes; Martina & Niall Murphy; Sinead, Orla & Ursula Savage; Nicola Byrne & Josephine Keegan
piano - Kathleen Gavin

40. ) - 17. ) slip jigs (C: Paul Murphy): Josephine Keegan - fiddle & Kathleen Gavin - piano

41. ) - 18. ) air & jigs(C: Marrita Savage): Emma Murphy - flute & the Murphy/Savage Family
Martina & Niall Murphy - fiddles, Conor Murphy - banjo, Emma Murphy and Mairead Savage - whistle, Angela Savage - piano

42. ) - 19. ) hornpipes: Fainne Cairde
fiddles - Betty Molloy, Shauna Hughes; Martina & Niall Murphy; Sinead, Orla & Ursula Savage; Nicola Byrne & Josephine Keegan
piano - Kathleen Gavin

43. ) - 20. ) jigs: Jimmy Burns & Family
Jimmy, Kieran, Paddy, Mark, Jame, Marykate, Eoin, Aoife, Eamon, & Josephine Keegan - piano

44. ) - 21. ) reels: Niall Murphy - fiddle & Josephine Keegan - piano

It’s the first publication that I know of the local musicians & céilí bands in the area. 140 pages of biographies, photos and music scores with the two cd’s reflecting the cross-section of the tradition. The C & W singer Susan McCann from one photo started out in John Murphy’s céilí band.
A beautifully presented heritage that always has something new.
Peter

Great to see this info on a great local recording!
Just slight clarification re the John Joe Gardiner track. Although Brendan Gaughran accompanied and recorded with John Joe Gardiner in John Joe’s latter years, this track is a much earlier recording made with Dundalk pianist and organist Moya Acheson. The same recording featured John Joe on flute with his sister Kathleen (Mrs) Harrington on fiddle, and always empathetic playing from Mrs Acheson, organist and choir mistress at one of the local Dundalk churches. Darren Magee.

Much thanks for the clarification Darren, always welcome, especially when crediting a contributor. I was going by what was written in the book, but have since found the book would have benefited from a close proof reading, etc., for clarification on several counts, but it seems here too. Still, an enjoyable exploration between the covers and within the accompanying recordings.

I must get my hands on a copy - it looks like it sounds great! D

by Nigel Boullier
Ulster Historical Foundation, 2012
https://www.ancestryireland.com/
https://www.booksireland.org.uk/
ISBN: 978-1-908448-51-4

If your interests are sparked I highly and especially recommend Boullier’s book. It’s a joy, a work of passion and care that includes photos, bios, tune & dance transcriptions, and history. And, I also recommend the following recordings for your ears:

“Dermot Rafferty, Emily Rafferty, Seamus Sands: The Green Bunch Of Joy”
https://thesession.org/recordings/4438

“Seamus Sands: Across Bridges”
https://thesession.org/recordings/5041

And anything by the McCusker Brothers, just for starters…
https://thesession.org/recordings/1178
https://thesession.org/recordings/1553

https://thesession.org/recordings/4280

Thanks ceolachan - have the Boullier, working away through it!