Crosskeys Inn - Live in the Kitchen

Issued in 2000 as part of a funding drive to support the three hundred-year old thatched Crosskeys Inn between Toome and Ahoghill in County Antrim, this excellent CD features a host of musicians and singers from the Six Counties.

Tracks 3, 7, 12 and 18 are songs, and track 9 is a story from the Mullaghbawn raconteur John Campbell who died in 2006.

Track 1 features an unknown Scottish bagpipe reel. Track 10 has two unknown Scottish tunes, an air and a reel. The unknown tunes on tracks 11 and 16 are, respectively, a jig and a reel.

The personnel is as follows:

1 and 10) John Hendry (fiddle), Brendan Henry (accordion), Frank Cassidy (bouzouki), and Séamus O’Kane (bodhrán);

2 and 14) Maurice Bradley (fiddle) and Ciarán Kelly (melodeon);

3) Len Graham (vocals);

4) Seóna Agmew (fiddle), Cailin Weir (tin whistle and bouzouki), Mairéad Graham (fiddle), Bronagh Graham (banjo) and Christopher McGlone (bodhrán);

5 and 17) Aoibheann Connolly (fiddle) and Deaglan Devlin (guitar);

6) Claire Creelman (harp) and Brian McCort (flute);

7) Sheenagh, Aileen and Cailin Weir (vocals);

8 and 19) Mairéad Walls (whistle) and Séamus O’Kane (bodhrán);

9) John Campbell;

11 and 15) Sheenagh Weir (flute), Aileen Weir (fiddle), Aisling Weir (accordion), and Coilin Weir (bouzouki);

12) Mairéad Walls (vocals);

13) Michael Herron (fiddle) and Eoghan O’Brien (guitar);

16) Brendan Henry, Mark Lavery and Kate O’Brien (fiddles), Paul McSherry (guitar) and Eoin Mullan (bodhrán);

18) Len Graham (vocals) and John Campbell (mouth harp);

20) Clodagh Warnock (fidde), Geraldine Lyons (banjo) and Eoghan O’Brien (guitar).

The eagle-eyed will have noted the presence of three members of Déanta.

Thankfully, the Inn is back up and running. See https://crosskeys-inn.com/