Return to 2018

20th

Camden Town
www.returntocamden.org Magazine FREE

THE ORIGINS
OF RTCT
FESTIVAL

PLUS: FULL
FESTIVAL
PROGRAMME

Venues include: Kings Place, Clayton Crown Hotel, London Irish Centre,
Green Note, Fiddler’s Elbow and more...

FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE

TUESDAY 23RD – MONDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2018

CONCERTS, SESSIONS, ALBUM LAUNCHES,
SET DANCING CÉILÍS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE
 CONTENTS

CONTENTS FESTIVAL VENUES WELCOME TO THE 20TH RETURN

WELCOME
For venue maps see pages 4 and 5.
MAIN VENUES: SESSION VENUES:
TO CAMDEN TOWN FESTIVAL
03 DIRECTOR'S CAMDEN SCHOOL THE COBDEN One of IMDL’s recent proud achievements is
WELCOME FOR GIRLS 28-30 Camden High Street, the relaunching of the youth project ‘The Trad
Sandall Road, NW5 2DB NW1 0JH Gathering’ which brings together 60 great young
04 MAIN FESTIVAL CLAYTON CROWN SIR COLIN CAMPBELL
musicians between the ages of 12 and 25 from
VENUES HOTEL 264–266 Kilburn High Rd,
different music teachers across London to rehearse
and play music at high profile events. In the last
152 Cricklewood Broadway, NW6 2BY
FEATURE NW2 3ED
THE CROWN
two years, the group have studied and performed
music from the repertoire of the highly regarded
THE FIDDLER’S ELBOW 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, Leitrim fiddler, Bryan Rooney and the renowned
THE ORIGINS OF
06  1 Malden Rd, Camden, NW5 3HS NW2 3ED musical family from County Clare, The McCarthys.
RtCT FESTIVAL THE GREEN NOTE THE FLASK

LISTINGS
11 FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
20 FULL EVENT
PROGRAMME
22 FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
DIRECTOR: KAREN RYAN
EDITOR: LAURIE HARPER
DESIGN: ANTONIA BAILEY
PRINTED BY: STUDIO DESIGN AND
PRINT LTD [+44 (0)20 8361 2233]
Cover photo:
Reg Hall, Maureen Hankins and John
McLeod at the London Irish Centre,
Return to Camden Town Festival
2017 – photo by Geoff Holland
W
106 Parkway, Camden Town, 14 Flask Walk, Hampstead, e feel that our Festival, which started at the
NW1 7AN NW3 1HE tail end of last century, has hosted hundreds
THE KING AND QUEEN THE GOLDEN LION of the most wonderful traditional Irish
1 Foley Street, near Goodge 88 Royal College Street, NW1 0TH musicians, singers and dancers, entertained thousands
Street, W1W 6DL
THE HARRISON
from across the globe, celebrated living legends and
those who have passed, spawned numerous new
KINGS PLACE 28 Harrison Street (off Gray’s Inn
musical collaborations, ignited and strengthened
90 York Way, King’s Cross
London N1 9AG
Road), London WC1H 8JF
friendships within the immediate community and
HOLE IN THE WALL across waters, helped to educate a whole generation
LONDON IRISH CENTRE 5 Mepham St, Waterloo, SE1 8SQ of new exponents of the tradition and more – has
50-52 Camden Square HOWL AT THE MOON much to celebrate in its 20th anniversary year.
Camden, NW1 9XB 178 Hoxton Street, N1 5LH Return to Camden Town Festival was founded in 1999
LONDON IRISH CENTRE by Geoff Holland (the London Irish Centre's resident
KENNEDY HALL Set Dancing Teacher), Jerry Kivlehan (Director of the
Murray Mews (junction with London Irish Centre at the time) and myself. We have
Murray Street), NW1 9RJ been extremely fortunate to work with great team
members at various points over the last two decades
(many of them pictured here at Cecil Sharp House
at the end of a Return to Camden Town Festival
concert, featuring Altan in 2006) – my huge thanks
goes to each and every one of them for all their hard
work – for making such wonderful things possible.
TICKETS All Festival tickets can be purchased through links at: We are delighted that the Festival has become a huge
www.returntocamden.org annual focus for the Irish community in London – a
SPECIAL OFFER COMBINATION TICKETS strong community which continues to grow as young
Saturday, Sunday and Monday – concerts and céilís: £40 Irish emigrants grace new shores. It has been the catalyst
Saturday and Sunday – dance workshops and céilís: £30 for bringing the genre to many new and mainstream
venues and events in the capital city. Our team’s
Irish Music and Dance in London would like to thank its generous foundation of the organisation ‘IMDL’ (Irish Music and
donor who has supported this year's Festival, Helena Mullins. Dance in London) in 2014 formalised intentions to do
wider work throughout the year to ‘spread the gospel’
of Irish music, song and dance in the city and further
afield and we fully intend for that to continue and grow.
We've pulled out all the stops for our 20th
year of the Festival - you might struggle to
find such a high concentration of the top
traditional Irish musicians, singers and dancers
in any other town on any other week .
Our unending thanks goes to all of our partners, funders
and sponsors this year, without whom we could not
even dream of staging our annual Festival and other
cultural events. They include: The Emigrant Support
Programme, Culture Ireland GB18, The John Griffin
Foundation, P. Flannery Plant Hire (Oval) Ltd., Ardmore
Group, Instalcom, Innisfree, Irish Youth Foundation, The
Irish World, The Irish Post, London Irish Centre Charity,
Sliced Events and Kings Place. There has been a lot of
work involved (since last November) in getting to this
point. I feel very fortunate to have the most wonderful
Organising Group working with me and I would like
to thank them wholeheartedly for all that they do.
They are: Margaret Reilly, Sue Banks, Laurie Harper and
Bernadette Babayigit. I would also like to express a
huge thanks to our large number of volunteers (many
fellow musicians) who help in many ways throughout
the year to promote and deliver our events – a sure
sign of the strength of community in the traditional
Irish music, song and dance community in London.
There are some exciting developments ahead for
IMDL in 2019 – please be sure to keep in touch
with us and all that we're doing through www.
irishmusicinlondon.org and please be sure to have
a fantastic 20th Return to Camden Town Festival.

2 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 3
VENUES

MAIN FESTIVAL VENUES

5
THE GREEN NOTE
106 Parkway
London NW1 7AN
1 Tel: 020 7485 9899

2
4

THE FIDDLER'S ELBOW

1 Malden Rd
London
3
NW5 3HS

1. LONDON IRISH CENTRE CAMDEN ROAD STATION

50-52 Camden Square, London (London Overground)
NW1 9XB • Tel: 020 7916 7272
CAMDEN TOWN STATION
2. THE GOLDEN LION (Northern Line)
88 Royal College Street, London KINGS PLACE
MORNINGTON CRESCENT STATION
NW1 0TH • Tel: 020 7387 2035 90 York Way
(Northern Line)
3. THE COBDEN London N1 9AG
28-30 Camden High Street, London Tel: 020 7520 1490
NW1 0JH • Tel: 020 7209 2472
4. THE GREEN NOTE
106 Parkway, London
NW1 7AN • Tel: 020 7485 9899
5. CAMDEN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Sandall Road, London NW5 2DB

Please see page 2 for complete list of Festival venues.

4 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 5
FEATURE
I
n 1999, three like-minded
souls sat down to discuss
an idea. All felt that, after
the effects of the 'Celtic Tiger'
bringing many pub and music
venue owners back to Ireland, the
once booming 'trad scene' was
becoming much quieter as a result.
The three – Karen Ryan (Irish
musician and teacher, and Director
of the Festival to this day), Geoff
Holland (set dance teacher) and
Jerry Kivlehan (then Director of the
London Irish Centre) – believed it
was vital to provide a high-profile
platform for Irish music, dance
and song, where people could
come together to celebrate and
enjoy the tradition in the capital.
The mass emigrations from
Ireland in the 1940s and 50s had
brought a great many traditional
"So why the name, Return to Camden Town?
London, and Camden Town in particular
was the birth place of the ‘session’."
musicians to the major cities –
London, Manchester, Liverpool
and Birmingham - in England.
They settled, worked and made
their lives here and in their free
time, played their music, sang
their songs and danced.
This was far more than just
entertainment. Keeping their art
and culture alive was a vital part
of maintaining their identity and
self-respect, especially given that
so many found themselves living
THE ORIGINS OF
in unfamiliar environments, where
they could be on the receiving end
of attitudes which were not exactly
RETURN TO CAMDEN
welcoming towards Irish people.
During the 1950s, Irish music
TOWN FESTIVAL
was almost entirely unknown to
mainstream society (and certainly
to the media) in England. Its
By Laurie Harper
6 RtCT2018
promotion was solely by word of
mouth among the Irish community.
It was sometimes even claimed
that there was better Irish music
to be heard in London than in
Ireland. An exaggeration, perhaps,
but due in no small part to the fact
that the emigrations of the 1940s
and 50s had brought many of the
finest Irish musicians to London
to find work. Even today, there
are surprisingly few professional
players of traditional music. Virtually
all have 'day jobs' of some sort.
If you would like to learn more
of the history of Irish music in
London, I recommend Reg Hall’s
mighty book, A Few Tunes of Good
Music, which was published in
2016. It is available to download
free at www.topicrecords.co.uk
and is the product of more than
60 years during which Reg has
played, recorded and documented
Irish music in the capital.
So why the name, Return to
Camden Town? London, and
Camden Town in particular, was
the birth place of the ‘session’.
The session as we know it, where
musicians, singers, dancers and
listeners gather in a pub to play and
enjoy traditional music, is actually
a relatively recent development.
Camden and its near neighbour,
Kentish Town, was home to a
large number of Irish musicians,
who arrived here during the
1940s, 50s and 60s. In the middle
part of the twentieth century,
the area was not the fashionable
(and expensive) place it is now. It
www.returntocamden.org 7
 FEATURE
served, as did many of London’s
inner-city boroughs, as a landing
place for émigrés, somewhere
where property was relatively
cheap to rent or even buy (hard to
believe, when you glance in the
windows of local estate agents
today) and where employment
was plentiful and close at hand.
The present vogue for inner-city
living is quite new. Traditionally,
people would arrive from
overseas in London and the
major conurbations, settle near
to their jobs, work hard and save
for that long-awaited day when
they could afford to move out
of ‘The Smoke’ to the green and
quiet of the suburbs. Members
of my own family did exactly
that. How things change.
The fact that a major Irish civil
engineering and construction
company had (and still has) its base
in Kentish Town drew Irish people
to the area. Many were musicians;
they would meet socially in local
pubs when their work was done for
the day and it seems inevitable that
they would play music together.
The reality was less straightforward.
It sounds ridiculous now, but in
the buttoned-up England of the
1950s, spontaneous public music
and dancing, especially if ‘ethnic’
or non-mainstream in character,
was often frowned upon and
even actively discouraged by
the authorities. Reg Hall once
recounted an instance to me where
the local constabulary insisted, on
pain of relieving the landlord of his
licence, that if a traditional musician
played in a pub, that musician
was required to keep one foot on
the pavement outside the front
door, so that he could be legally
classed as a street performer.
8 RtCT2018
"On any night of the week, one might hear
musicians of the calibre of Bobby Casey,
Willie Clancy, Michael Gorman, Margaret
Barry, Jimmy Power and Roger Sherlock."
Fortunately for us, such attitudes
did not prevail and the area
became a focal point for Irish music
in the capital, where many noted
and even legendary musicians
played on virtually every night of
the week. In Camden Town, Kentish
Town and Holloway (two or three
square miles at most), there were at
least a dozen famous session pubs,
including The Bedford Arms, The
Buffalo, The Elephant’s Head, The
Caernarvon Castle, The Brighton,
The Norfolk Arms, The Brewery Tap,
The Mother Red Cap, The Crescent,
The Oxford Arms, The Mulberry
Tree, The Shakespeare, The Cock,
The Favourite and The Half Moon.
On any night of the week, one
might pop in to one of them
for a drink and hear musicians
of the calibre of Bobby Casey,
Willie Clancy, Michael Gorman,
Margaret Barry, Jimmy Power
and Roger Sherlock. Truly an
embarrassment of riches.
A session is not merely a
performance. Musicians, singers
and often dancers gather, usually
in a pub, to play and enjoy
traditional music. It is a social, as
well as a musical occasion and
is unstructured and amateur in
nature; those who participate,
including musicians who may play
professionally, do so purely for
its own sake. One or two of the
musicians who lead the session
may be paid a nominal sum
and receive the occasional free
drink, but little or no payment
is involved apart from that.
There is little delineation between
listeners and performers as such
and people often join and leave
the circle of musicians, singers and
dancers throughout the course of
an evening, swapping between
playing and singing, dancing,
listening and chatting with friends.
It is quite unique; you will find few
equivalents in other musical worlds.
The first Return to Camden Town
Festival ran from Sunday 24 to
Sunday 31 October 1999. Timed
to coincide with the autumn
half-term and based at the then
newly-refurbished London Irish
Centre on Camden Square, it was
an immediate hit. The format
was as it is now – a week of
concerts, céilís, instrumental and
singing workshops (teaching and
encouraging interest in Irish music,
especially among younger people,
was and remains a key focus for
us), sessions and album launches.
Perhaps most important, it enabled,
as it continues to do today, those
who love Irish music to meet, play
together and celebrate the finest
traditional musicians, singers and
dancers, both living and passed.
Since 1999, Return to Camden
Town has spawned numerous new
musical collaborations, ignited and
strengthened friendships within the
immediate community and more
widely, and helped to encourage
and educate a whole generation
of new exponents of the tradition.
It’s interesting to read the
programme for that first Festival.
Several legendary musicians,
who are visiting us again this
year, appeared on the bill. Fiddle
player Bryan Rooney launched his
"Since 1999, an astonishing number of the
great Irish traditional musicians have performed
at Return to Camden Town. The Festival
has grown to become an important annual
focus for the Irish community in London."
now-classic album, The Godfather
at Return to Camden Town 1999.
He joins us this year with his great
friend and musical colleague,
John Carty. Tin whistle virtuoso
Mary Bergin performed and gave
a workshop, as did the great
accordionist, Mairtín O’Connor.
Since 1999, an astonishing number
of the great Irish traditional
musicians have performed at
Return to Camden Town. The
Festival has grown to become an
important annual focus for the Irish
community in London – a strong
community which continues to
grow as young Irish emigrants land
on new shores. It has been the
catalyst for bringing Irish music
to many new and mainstream
venues and events in the capital.
Its success led us, in 2014, to found
Irish Music and Dance in London
(IMDL), to formalise our desire and
intention to work more widely
throughout the year to ‘spread the
gospel’ of Irish music, song and
dance, in London and further afield.
www.returntocamden.org 9
One of IMDL’s recent proudest
achievements is the relaunching
of the youth project, The Trad’
Gathering, which brings together
60 great young musicians between
the ages of 12 and 25 from different
music teachers across London to
rehearse and to perform at high
profile events. During the last
two years, the group has studied
and performed music from the
repertoire of the great Leitrim
fiddler, Bryan Rooney and the
renowned musical family from
County Clare, The McCarthys.
Our 20th anniversary Festival
takes place from Tuesday 23rd
through to Monday 29th October
2018 – seven days of concerts,
céilÍs, workshops, album launches,
sessions and more. We shall be
presenting events at a myriad of
venues in and around the London
Borough of Camden. You can read
about them in the following pages.
You might struggle to find such
a high concentration of the top
traditional Irish musicians, singers
and dancers in any other town on
any other week – so be sure to
check out full details of all these
events, plus our wonderful session
programme, and book your tickets
at: www.returntocamden.org
or at www.irishmusicinlondon.org
Twitter: @ReturntoCamden
Instagram:
irishmusicdanceinlondon.
We look forward to seeing you
and here’s to the next twenty
years of celebrating Irish music,
song and dance in London.
ADVERT

Heart of the Irish in London

Croí na nGael i Londain
Care, Culture and Community
Cúram, Cultúr agus Comhluadar

Learn more about our work, get involved,

or join our Friends Scheme at:
www.londonirishcentre.org
@LDNIrishCentre /londonirishcentre

RETURN TO CAMDEN TOWN

PROGRAMME LISTINGS
10 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 11
 LISTINGS
TUESDAY 23RD OCTOBER
OPENING CONCERT
Please note that all advertised times are door opening times. The performance at The Green Note will
start at 8.30pm. Performances at all other concert venues will start 30 minutes after doors open.
• THE FRIEL SISTERS
• JAMES CARTY, GARY CONNOLLY AND REG HALL
7.30pm • The Green Note • £10 in advance (booking strongly advised – a compact venue)
THE FRIEL SISTERS
Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel were
born and brought up in Glasgow,
but their family roots are in the
Donegal Gaeltacht. They play
fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes
James Carty Gary Connolly
JAMES CARTY,
GARY CONNOLLY
AND REG HALL
London born flute player,
James Carty comes from a
very musical family originating
in Boyle, Co. Roscommon. His
multi-instrumentalist father, John
P Carty, played with London’s
Glenside Céilí Band during the
1960s. James’s debut album,
SESSION
9pm • The Lamb Tavern • Free • Mick O’Connor, Goretti Anglim, Mick Bailey
12 RtCT2018
and perform songs in English and
Irish, many of which are drawn
from their family repertoire.
They released their debut album,
The Friel Sisters, in 2013. They have
performed extensively across
Europe, America and Asia and have
appeared with acts such as Altan,
The Chieftains, Lúnasa, Sharon
Shannon, The Máirtín O’Connor
Trio, Cherish the Ladies and Solas.
In 2016, the girls performed at
Festival Interceltique de Lorient, and
won the prestigious Trophée Loïc
Raison for best band of the festival.
Reg Hall
Upon my Soul (2003), is regarded
as a classic. His music is firmly
rooted in the North Connaught
tradition and he is highly
regarded for his stylish phrasing
and the energy of his playing.
Also from London, accordionist,
Gary Connolly is the son of
traditional singer Pat Connolly from
South Connemara, who has hosted
our singing events for many years.
Their second album, Before the
Sun, was launched in December
2017. Recorded and produced
by Jack Talty, Before the Sun
was awarded 4 stars by the
Irish Times and has received
extensive airplay. It was featured
on RTE 1’s ‘The Rolling Wave’,
as part of the celebrations for
International Women’s Day 2018.
In February 2018, Clare received
TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoiltóir Óg/
Young Musician of the Year 2018.
This evening the sisters will be
joined by guitarist, Martin Barry.
Gary has led many traditional music
sessions in the capital (currently
resident at Camden Town’s Golden
Lion) and is widely respected for
his musical knowledge, rock-solid
timing and enormous repertoire.
James and Gary are accompanied
on piano by musician, author
and historian of Irish music in
London, Dr Reg Hall. Reg’s
involvement with the tradition
dates back to 1955. He was
awarded the Gold Badge of the
English Folk Dance and Song
Society in 1987, a doctorate in
history from Sussex University
in 1994 and the TG4 Gradam
Cheoil musician’s award in 2009.
WEDNESDAY 24TH OCTOBER
EVENING CONCERT
• BUTTONS AND BOWS
• FAIR PLÉ LADIES OF LONDON
7.30pm • Clayton Crown Hotel • £15/£6 U18s
BUTTONS AND BOWS
Since 1983, Buttons and Bows has
delighted listeners with its fresh,
flamboyant and individual take on
Irish music. The members of the
band – accordionist Jackie Daly,
fiddlers Séamus and Manus
McGuire and mandocello, guitar
and piano player Garry O'Briain
– are all virtuosi in their own right.
The four musicians began playing
FAIR PLÉ LADIES
OF LONDON
This evening’s concert will
open with a short collaborative
performance featuring a large
number of the finest traditional
together at sessions in Kinvara, Co
Galway, where they discovered a
shared taste for musical adventure,
informed by time spent living in
Scandinavia, Shetland, Canada
and North America. With its
roots firmly planted in Irish
traditional music, Buttons and
Bows explores graceful Quebecois
waltzes, lively Danish quadrilles
and beautiful Shetland airs.
Irish musicians and singers on the
London Irish music scene. This
‘Fair Plé Ladies of London’ group
first performed as a 40 piece at
Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall during
Irish Music and Dance in London
www.returntocamden.org 13
The band was invited to perform
as the opening act at the 1983
world premiere of The Brendan
Voyage (composed by Shaun
Davey and performed by Liam
O’Flynn and the RTE Symphony
orchestra) at the National Concert
Hall, Dublin. They have since
performed across the globe.
They have released four albums
– Buttons & Bows (1984), The
First Month of Summer (1987),
Gracenotes (1994) and The Return
of Spring (2015). Their albums
have won numerous awards
and The Return of Spring was
named Album of the Year by The
Irish Times, The Chicago Irish
American News and Live Ireland.
(IMDL)’s ‘Irish Night’ earlier this
year. The group were inspired
to come together as part of the
ongoing Fair Plé campaign founded
by Irish singer, Karan Casey. Fair
Plé is an inclusive, grass-roots
organisation, founded to address
gender balance in Irish Traditional
and folk music performance.
For more information on the
movement and to subscribe to
updates, see: www.fairple.com
 LISTINGS

THURSDAY 25TH OCTOBER

EVENING CONCERT
Please note that all advertised times are door opening times. Performances will start 30 minutes after doors open.

• SOCKS IN THE FRYING PAN

• NÓTA
7.30pm • The Fiddler's Elbow • £10/£6 U18s
During recent years, our Thursday night concert at the Fiddlers Elbow has showcased some of the
most exciting younger bands in Irish music. This year is no exception and we are delighted to present
a concert featuring Socks in the Frying Pan and Nóta.

SOCKS IN THE The Irish Music Association NÓTA

FRYING PAN
From Co. Clare, Socks in the Frying
Pan is a trio, comprising Aodán
Coyne (guitar and vocals) and
brothers Shane (accordion)
and Fiachra (fiddle and banjo)
Hayes. The Socks are renowned
for their virtuosic musical abilities,
dynamic vocal harmonies and
onstage wit. All come from
established Irish musical families
and all have been playing virtually
since they were able to walk.
recently named them ‘New Band
of the Year’ and they have been
embraced by the United States,
where they have performed at
every major Irish music festival and
been praised for their modern and
energetic approach that remains
true to the spirit of the tradition.
Nóta features Anna Bradley
Scott (fiddle/ vocal), brothers Seán
(accordion) and Noel Angland
(flute), Joe Devine (banjo and
guitar) and Sam De Santi (guitar
and bodhrán). The band, forged in
London’s Irish traditional sessions,
combines deep respect and love
for the tradition with a wide range
of musical influences in tasteful
and inventive arrangements.

SESSION
8.15pm • The Flask, Hampstead • Free • John Rynne, James (fiddle) Carty,
Anthony McGrath

14 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 15
 LISTINGS
FRIDAY 26TH OCTOBER
EVENING CONCERT Sponsored by:
Please note that all advertised times are door opening times. Performances will start 30 minutes after doors open..
• FRANKIE GAVIN’S ROARING 20s ORCHESTRA
• MEMBERS OF THE TULLA CÉILI BAND
7.30pm • Kings Place • £14.50/£9.50 savers
Tickets from: www.kingsplace.co.uk
FRANKIE GAVIN’S
ROARING 20s
ORCHESTRA
Between 1820 and 1920, over 4
million Irish people emigrated
to the United States. Many were
musicians, but most remained
unknown to those outside their
circle of acquaintance. With
the development of recording
techniques in the US during the
MEMBERS OF THE
TULLA CÉILÍ BAND
The Tulla Céili Band is the
most famous and certainly the
16 RtCT2018
early twentieth century, records
of musicians such as Michael
Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy
Killoran and the Flanagan Brothers
became widely available and
created great interest in Irish music.
The 1920s became something of
a golden age and many of those
recordings found their way around
the world and even re-invigorated
musical styles back in Ireland itself.
longest established céilí band
in the world. They celebrated
their 70th anniversary in 2016
(when they also appeared at
Return to Camden Town).
Formed in 1946, the band enjoyed
success almost immediately
and has been in existence
continuously since. The list of
past members of the Tulla reads
almost like a Who’s Who? of Irish
music. Many great musicians
have passed through its ranks.
The 1920s era was celebrated
by Frankie Gavin and De
Danann on their best-selling
1989 album, Star Spangled Molly.
Now Frankie is reviving that
extraordinary era once again
with his Roaring 20s Orchestra.
The core of the orchestra is a
quartet, featuring Frankie (fiddle),
Martin Murray (banjo), Emma
Corbett (melodeon) and Carl
PROUD SUPPORTER OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC
Hession (piano) – this four piece
will perform at this evening’s AND THE RETURN TO CAMDEN TOWN FESTIVAL
concert. The band’s first live
performance, on Gala Night at
Tradfest, Dublin in January this year My WEEK
was an enormous success and their the
the voice of the Irish in Britain www.theirishworld.com 30 June 2018 • Issue No.1626 • £1.50
in TRAD
with Helen
THE VOICE OF THE
World Cup star Harry Kane’s Irish trad music roots
debut album ‘By Heck – a toast to
See
Mullen
Page
15
Awkward... ED SHEERAN’S
EXCLUSIVE From trad to rock
the 1920s has just been released. Clinton
and Comey LONDON IRISH
IRISH IN BRITAIN
in Dublin CENTRE
on the
CONCERT
same day
See page 6
Festivals king Vince Power returns with
In our
2
iw section
the Liverpool Feis and an all-star line up
I SAW THESE two young busking
rockers in Piccadilly Circus recently
and aside from their livewire
performance that left shoppers
EVERY WEDNESDAY
enthralled, my eye was caught by the
placard with their names: Orlaith and Mollie. I don’t
suppose I get a prize for guessing they were Irish.
Damien I found out that the pair were not only over from
Tonight’s concert presents a rare
Dempsey Belfast for the weekend to compete in the �nal of Gigs,
LEARN A
Imelda the Mayor of London’s annual busking platform (Orlaith
May and Mollie are the only Irish act to do so), but it turns
out they are also talented trad musicians.
Orlaith plucked on a banjo before she picked up a bass
Van
IN ALL GOOD
Nathan and Mollie played �ddle before �nding out Metallica
opportunity to hear three of the Carter
Morrison
Shane sounded better on an electric guitar – and both
NEW TUNE
MacGowan competed in Comhaltas and Fleadh Cheoil competi-
tions in their younger days.
POWERED UP
They’ve since swapped jigs’n’reels for rock ’n’roll
and have played everywhere from Lissan House to the
Tulla’s current key musicians, fiddler
Portaferry Festival this summer. They even recently
released their debut EP of self-penned songs. And did I
EVERY
mention they’re both still only eighteen-years-old? Well,
NEWSAGENTS
they’re both eighteen years old. Amazing!
It demonstrates that if you start in trad, you certainly
Mark Donnellan, accordionist
don’t have to stay there as you can take your music
training and talent with you into any genre.
 The Irish festivals
M As rock fans like to say, Orlaith and Mollie, we
ean Fiddler to travel and be a world
WEEK IN
f o u n d e r beater in the tradition of
Vince Power Riverdance. salute you!
mogul who lost it all is – the man Power, 71, originally
Charlie Harris and pianist Jim
who helped to transform from Kilmacthomas in Wa-
back with a bang with
music festivals in the UK terford and who started in
into the huge money spin- business in this country
the biggest line-up of ning industry we know selling furniture in Kil-
Irish talent event seen
today – will make his re-
turn next week with the
burn, was at one point the
biggest concert festival pro- Learn
first ever Liverpool Feis. moter in Europe, selling to Play!
OUR TRAD
at a single gig – and it’s The one-day festival is a Tom missing from the run-
The Ashplant
Button
Corry, in a concert setting.
glittering Who’s Who? of ning order. Continued Pages 4-5
Irish musical talent with DIFFICULTY: Accordion
in Liverpool only U2 and the late Big
And the man behind it
thinks it has the potential
Plus Liverpool Feis
tickets to be won ●●❍
CAN’T FIND A COPY IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSAGENT? COLUMN!
CALL 0208 453 7800
/THEIRISHWORLD @THEIRISHWORLD THEIRISHWORLD.COM
www.returntocamden.org 17
 LISTINGS

EVENING CONCERT AT MUSICAL SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER

TRADITIONS CLUB
• LANDLESS
8pm • The King & Queen • £10/£8 concessions, Members – £8/£6 concessions
We strongly advise booking in advance. This is a compact venue.
We are collaborating once again this year with London’s long-established Musical Traditions Club to
present a concert of traditional Irish song.
LANDLESS
Landless have been delighting
audiences around Ireland, the
UK and Europe since 2013. They
are Ruth Clinton, Meabh Meir,
Sinéad Lynch and Lily Power.
They sing unaccompanied
traditional songs from Irish, Scottish,
English and American traditions
in close four-part harmony. Their
repertoire features songs of love,
death and lamentation, as well as
WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS AND
AFTERNOON CONCERT
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive 30 minutes before start time to allow for
registration. Tickets may be purchased on the door, but advance booking is recommended as workshops are very
popular and places are limited.
work songs, shape-note hymns
and more recently penned folk
songs. Landless have performed WORKSHOPS
in a variety of settings, both in SET DANCING WORKSHOP WITH MAIRÉAD CASEY
Ireland and abroad, and are closely 10am–12pm • London Irish Centre • £8/£6 under 18
involved with traditional singing
sessions in Dublin and Belfast. ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH DAITHÍ GORMLEY
Their impressive debut album, 11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18
Bleaching Bones, recorded CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH ALEX KELLY
in a number of historic 11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18
churches across Ireland, was
released in March this year. FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH MICK CONNEELY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18

SESSION FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH DAVE SHERIDAN

11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18
9pm • The Golden Lion • Free • Gary Connolly, James (flute) and James (fiddle) Carty,
Francis Gaffney TIN WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH MARY BERGIN
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18
9pm • The Colin Campbell • Free • Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan, Joe O’Donnell
UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH PADRAIG MCGOVERN
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18
FESTIVAL CLUB
From 11pm • The Golden Lion • Free • Musicians welcome GUITAR WORKSHOP WITH JOHN MCCARTIN
Our traditional late-night Festival Club carries on into the small hours for those who want the music to 11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18
continue for a little longer. SINGING WORKSHOP (ACAPELLA SINGING, REPERTOIRE
AND ARRANGING) WITH LANDLESS
2pm–4pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 under 18

‘I Looked East and I Looked West’ Longford. Mairéad grew up in a

musical family; her parents, Bridgie
championships. Her passion for
séan-nos dancing began after
from Sliabh Luachra to East Anglia and James Harley, were musicians. she met and learned from Mick
A celebration of the life and music of Julia Clifford Their home was a meeting place Mulkerrin, a greatly admired dance
for musicians, dancers singers and teacher, in 1995. Since then, she
26th - 28th April 2019 - Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK friends and Mairéad first danced has taught both set and séan-nos
info: @ilookedeast contact: ilookedeast@gmail.com MAIRÉAD CASEY to her father’s fiddle playing. From dancing at festivals all over Ireland,
Our set and step dance tutor the age of ten, she attended the Europe and the United States.
this year is Mairéad Casey, from Kitty Carberry School of Dancing
Newtowncashel, in South West and subsequently won many

18 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 19
 LISTINGS

FULL EVENT PROGRAMME 4pm

4pm
Session

Session
Laurence and Mick Linane, Sinéad Munroe, Reg Hall London Irish

Paula Hanley, Rita Farrell, Nigel Stevens

Centre (Hub)
Howl at the Moon
Free

Free
ALL MUSIC AND SONG EVENTS FOR UNDER 18s: £6 All children free to céilís when accompanied by a 4pm Session Alex Kelly, Deirdre Glynn, Eoin Toher The Cobden Free
paying adult. Festival tickets available from: www.returntocamden.org 5pm Album Launch Pat Connolly/ Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha London Irish Free
and Tommy Mellett Centre (Pres)
SPECIAL OFFER TICKETS: £40 Sat/ Sun/ Mon Concerts and Céilís Ticket 5pm Session Sam Proctor, Colman Connolly, George Staines The Golden Lion Free
£30 Sat/ Sun Dancing Workshops and Céilís Ticket 7pm Session Ronan Heenan, Marie McCormack, Caroline The Colin Campbell Free
Please arrive 30 minutes before advertised times for instrumental and singing workshops to allow time for Kunzler
registration. Advertised concert times are doors open time, onstage time is half an hour later. Album launch on 7pm Singing Session Hosted by Peta Webb and Landless London Irish Free
stage times are approximately the same as door open times. Centre (Chapel)
7.30pm Evening Concert Mairtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden and London Irish £15/ £6
KEY: London Irish Centre • Mac: McNamara Hall • Pres: Presidential Suite • Hub: Bar/Chapel is upstairs Séamie O’Dowd/ Órlaith McAuliffe, Daithí Centre (Mac) under 18s
• Ken: Kennedy Hall is on the ground floor on the other side of the building from the main entrance – Gormley/ Dylan Carlos and Catherine
please access via Murray Mews McHugh/ London Irish Pensioners Choir
8pm Evening Céilí Tulla Céilí Band Camden School for Girls £12
TUESDAY 23 OCTOBER 2018 8pm Session Conor Whelton, Kevin O'Connor and friends London Irish Free
7.30pm Evening Concert
The Friel Sisters/ James (flute) Carty, Green Note £10 adv. Centre (Hub)
Gary Connolly and Reg Hall From 11pm Festival Club Musicians welcome The Golden Lion Free
8pm Session Mick O'Connor, Goretti Anglim and Mick Bailey The Lamb Tavern Free SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER 2017
WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2018 10am-12pm Set Dancing Mairéad Casey London Irish £8/ £6
7.30pm Evening Concert Buttons and Bows/ Fair Plé Ladies of London Clayton Crown Hotel £15 / £6 Workshop Centre (Mac) under 18s
under 18s 11am-1pm Button Accordion Colm Gannon London Irish Centre £10/ £6
THURSDAY 25 OCTOBER 2018 Workshop under 18s
7.30pm Evening Concert Socks in the Frying Pan/ Nóta Fiddler’s Elbow £10/ £6 11am-1pm Concertina Kelly Gannon London Irish Centre £10/ £6
under 18s Workshop under 18s
8.15pm Session John Rynne, James Carty, Anthony McGrath The Flask, Hampstead Free 11am-1pm Fiddle Workshop John Carty London Irish Centre £10/ £6
FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER 2018 under 18s
7.30pm Evening Concert Frankie Gavin’s Roaring 20s Orchestra (feat. Emma Kings Place £14.50/£9.50 11am-1pm Flute Workshop Órlaith McAuliffe London Irish Centre £10/ £6
Corbett (melodeon), Martin Murray (banjo) savers under 18s
and Carl Hession (piano)/ Members of the Tulla 11am-1pm Banjo Workshop Theresa O’Grady London Irish Centre £10/ £6
Céili Band (feat. Charlie Harris (accordion), Mark under 18s
Donnellan (fiddle) and Jim Corry (piano) 11am-1pm Piano Accordion Collette O’Leary London Irish Centre £10/ £6
8pm Evening Concert Landless Musical Traditions Club £10, concs. Workshop under 18s
– King and Queen £8 (members 11am-1pm Harp Workshop Steph West London Irish Centre £10/ £6
£8, concs £6) under 18s
9pm Session Gary Connolly, James (flute) and James The Golden Lion Free 11am-1pm Bouzouki/ Mick Conneely London Irish Centre £10/ £6
(fiddle) Carty, Francis Gaffney Accompaniment under 18s
9pm Session Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan, Joe O’Donnell The Colin Campbell Free Workshop
From 11pm Festival Club Musicians welcome The Golden Lion Free 1pm Session Mick Mulvey, Teresa Connolly, Paula Hanley London Irish Free
Centre (Hub)
SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2018 1-4pm Matinée Set Tulla Céilí Band London Irish £12
10am–12pm Set Dancing Mairéad Casey London Irish £8 Dancing Céilí Centre (Mac)
Workshop Centre (Mac) 2-4pm Singing Workshop Eleanor Shanley London Irish Centre £10/ £6
11am-1pm Accordion Workshop Daithí Gormley London Irish Centre £10/ £6 under 18s
under 18s 2pm Afternoon Concert The Dublin Lasses/ Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha London Irish £10/ £6
11am-1pm Concertina Alex Kelly London Irish Centre £10/ £6 and Tommy Mellett/ Terence O’Flaherty Centre (Pres) under 18s
Workshop under 18s 4pm Session Sharon Whelton, Clare O’Leary, Chris Maguire London Irish Free
11am-1pm Fiddle Workshop Mick Conneely London Irish Centre £10/ £6 Centre (Hub)
under 18s 5pm Singing Session Hosted by Pat Connolly and Annie Power London Irish Free
11am-1pm Flute Workshop Dave Sheridan London Irish Centre £10/£6 Centre (Chapel)
under 18s 5pm Session Elaine Conwell, Bryony Lemon, Nigel Stevens Howl at the Moon Free
11am-1pm Tin Whistle Mary Bergin London Irish Centre £10/ £6 6pm Session Mick O’Connor, Eugene Teevan, Mick Bailey The Crown Free
Workshop under 18s 7.30pm Evening Concert Garadice/ Mary Bergin and Mick Conneely London Irish £12/ £6
11am-1pm Uilleann Pipes Padraig McGovern London Irish Centre £10/ £6 Centre (Mac) under 18s
Workshop under 18s 7.30pm Session Elaine Finn Davies, Enda McGonigle, Chris O'Malley London Irish Free
11am-1pm Guitar Workshop John McCartin London Irish Centre £10/ £6 Centre (Hub)
under 18s 7.30pm Session Nick Goode, Paul Draper, Liam O’Barr Hole in the Wall Free
1pm Session Brogan McAuliffe, Jonas Fromseier, London Irish Free 8pm Session Daren Banarse, Bryony Lemon, Nigel Stevens The Harrison Free
Elma McElligott Centre (Hub) 8.30pm Session Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan, Joe O’Donnell The Colin Campbell Free
2-4pm Singing Workshop Acapella Singing/ Repertoire and Arranging – with London Irish Centre £10/ £6 From 11pm Festival Club Musicians welcome The Golden Lion Free
‘Landless’ under 18s MONDAY 29 OCTOBER 2018
2pm Afternoon Concert Kelly and Colm Gannon with Padraig London Irish £10/ £6 2pm Concert in Eleanor Shanley and John McCartin/ Mick London Irish £10/ £5 conc.
O Dubhghaill/ Theresa O’Grady/ John Centre (Mac) under 18s Association O’Connor, Tom O’Connell and Mick Bailey Centre (Mac)
Carty, Bryan Rooney and Friends with Irish Elderly
Advice Network

20 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 21
LISTINGS
SESSIONS AFTERNOON CONCERT
1pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Brogan McAuliffe, Jonas Fromseier, Elma McElligott • KELLY AND COLM GANNON WITH PADRAIG O DUBHGHAILL
4pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Laurence and Mick Linane, Sinéad Munroe, Reg Hall • THERESA O’GRADY
4pm • Howl at the Moon • Free • Paula Hanely, Rita Farrell, Nigel Stevens
• JOHN CARTY, BRYAN ROONEY AND FRANCIS GAFFNEY
4pm • The Cobden • Free • Alex Kelly, Deirdre Glynn, Eoin Toher
5pm • The Golden Lion • Free • Sam Proctor, Colman Connolly, George Staines 2pm • London Irish Centre (McNamara Hall) • £10/£6 under 18s
7pm • London Irish Centre Chapel • Free • Singing session with Peta Webb and Landless
7pm • The Colin Campbell • Free • Ronan Heenan, Marie McCormack,
Caroline Kunzler
8pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Conor Whelton, Kevin O'Connor and friends
Musicians are welcome at all sessions KELLY AND COLM
GANNON
Kelly and Colm Gannon have been
playing and teaching Irish music
for most of their lives. Colm hails
from Boston whilst Kelly is from
Ballindine, Co. Mayo and the music
in both of their families stretches
back generations. Kelly learnt
the concertina from her mother
Bernie Geraghty, whilst Colm
learnt button accordion from his
father John and his brother, Seán.
John Carty Bryan Rooney
JOHN CARTY, BRYAN
ROONEY AND
FRANCIS GAFFNEY
Two old friends of Return to
Camden Town, renowned multi-
instrumentalist John Carty and
fiddle maestro Bryan Rooney,
perform together this afternoon
(and there’s every chance that
some surprise special guests
will appear with them).
Both need little introduction. John
Ardmore, 6 Wharf Studios, 28 Wharf Road, London N1 7GR
is a member of Patrick Street, leader
of At the Racket and the John
22 RtCT2018
Both are All Ireland champions on
their instrument who have played,
toured and taught extensively all
over Ireland, the US and Europe.
The pair have appeared together
on TG4’s Geantraí, RTÉ’s Céilihouse
and Colm’s most recent album,
The Rights of Man. When they
are not touring or performing,
they run a school of music in
Inverin, Co. Galway and have
hosted five years of ‘Seachtain
Ceoil Chois Fharraige’ (Week of
Music by the Sea) in Spiddal.
They are accompanied this
afternoon by guitarist Padraig
O Dubhghaill from Inverin,
Co. Galway.
Carty Festival Band and was TG4
Traditional Musician of the Year in
2003. He is a multi-instrumentalist
and has 15 albums to his credit
featuring his music on banjo, fiddle,
tenor guitar and flute. Bryan is
recognised as one of the master
fiddlers of his generation. He was
TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year
in the 2012. Originally from Leitrim,
he has lived in London since the
late 1960s. His now classic album,
The Godfather, was released in 1999
and was followed in 2002 by Leitrim
to London. He and John are long-
time friends and musical colleagues.
They released At Complete Ease,
an album of fiddle duets in 2011.
Today the duet will be accompanied
by the Roscommon guitarist and
singer, Francis Gaffney.
www.returntocamden.org 23
THERESA O’GRADY
Originally from Luton and now
living in Aclare, Co. Sligo, banjo
player Theresa O’Grady is widely
respected for her crisp, subtle
and understated playing style.
She is much in demand as both
performer and teacher and has
taught at the Willie Clancy and
South Sligo Summer Schools
for a number of years.
Theresa along with her two
brothers James (fiddle and pipes)
and Ciaran (concertina) would
have many All Ireland titles to their
names. 'The O’Gradys', as they
more commonly known in their
early music careers were privileged
to have learned their music from,
and played with great Musicians
such as Annette Caulfield, Tommy
Keane, Paddy Hayes and Brian
Rooney to name but a few.
She released her debut solo
album, BANJO'ista, in April this year
to enthusiastic reviews. She and
her husband, accordion player
Declan Payne, were founding
members of the band The Border
Collies and she is a member of
the Knocknashee Céili Band.
 LISTINGS
ALBUM LAUNCH
• PAT CONNOLLY
• NEANSAÍ NÍ CHOISDEALBHA AND TOMMY MELLETT
5pm • London Irish Centre (Presidential Suite) • Free
PAT CONNOLLY
All Ireland singing champion Pat
Connolly is well known on the
EVENING CONCERT AND
SET DANCING CÉILÍ
• MAIRTÍN O’CONNOR, CATHAL HAYDEN AND SÉAMIE O’DOWD
• ÓRLAITH MCAULIFFE, DAITHÍ GORMLEY, DYLAN CARLOS AND
CATHERINE MCHUGH
• LONDON IRISH PENSIONERS CHOIR
7.30pm • London Irish Centre (McNamara Hall) • £15/£6 U18s
(Under 18s free at dance events, but must be accompanied by a paying adult)
MAIRTÍN O’CONNOR,
CATHAL HAYDEN AND
SÉAMIE O’DOWD
Mairtín O’Connor, Cathal
Hayden and Séamie O’Dowd
have played together as a trio
and as members of the Mairtín
O’Connor band since 2008.
One of the greats of the Irish
accordion, Máirtín has been
playing since he was nine. His
24 RtCT2018
London traditional music scene.
Originally from Connemara, Pat
has lived in London for many years
and is highly regarded as a singer
of ballads in both English and Irish.
Pat features at the Festival every
year and hosts a monthly singing
session at the London Irish Centre.
His son Gary is an accomplished
accordion player and a fellow
regular on the London scene.
first solo album, A Connachtman's
Rambles (1979) established his
reputation as a master of the
instrument. In addition to his solo
work, Máirtín has been a member
of a number of famous bands,
including Skylark, Midnight Well, De
Dannan and The Boys of the Lough.
Cathal Hayden was born into a
noted musical family from Rock,
Co Tyrone. He first learned the
tenor banjo before progressing
to fiddle. He was founder of 'Four
Men and a Dog', which went on
to become one of the best loved
Irish traditional groups of the late
twentieth century. The band’s
first album, Barking Mad, numbers
This year is a special appearance
at Return to Camden Town for Pat,
as he is launching his eponymous
debut album Pádraic Ó Confhaola.
NEANSAÍ NÍ
CHOISDEALBHA AND
TOMMY MELLETT
Please see page 32 for
biog information.
among the most successful Irish
traditional albums ever released.
Multi-instrumentalist and singer
Séamie O’Dowd is from South
Sligo. He started out as a fiddle
player at the age of eight and
won a number of awards on the
instrument. During his teens,
he became accomplished on
the guitar, mandolin, bouzouki,
banjo and bodhran and gained
a reputation as a singer. In 1998,
he joined legendary Irish band,
Dervish. He released his first
solo album, Headful of Echoes,
in 2006, and is a member of
‘The Unwanted’ alongside
Cathy Jordan and Rik Epping.
Órlaith McAuliffe Daithi Gormley
ÓRLAITH MCAULIFFE,
DAITHÍ GORMLEY,
DYLAN CARLOS AND
CATHERINE MCHUGH
Flute and whistle virtuoso and
composer Órlaith McAuliffe,
winner of no less than 19 All-Ireland
titles, is a long-standing guest
performer at Return to Camden
Town. Her family hails from Kerry
and she grew up in North London.
She is a member of the dynamic
young band, Crossharbour and was
TG4 Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional
Musician of the Year in 2016.
Daithí Gormley is widely
regarded as one of the finest
accordion players of his generation.
LONDON IRISH
PENSIONERS CHOIR
The Irish Elderly Advice Network
(IEAN), a registered charity, runs
the London Irish Pensioners Choir
Dylan Carlos
From Ballintogher, Co Sligo, he is
described by legendary accordion
player Joe Burke as a 'master
musician'. He was All-Ireland senior
button accordion champion in 2015
and his remarkably accomplished,
debut album, Fiddling without a Bow
– Irish Traditional Music on Button
Accordion, was released this year.
Fiddler Dylan Carlos comes
from a very musical family in Co
Roscommon. His father John
Carlos, is a very highly regarded
flute and banjo player. Dylan
has been making quite a name
for himself on the music scene
in recent years, he has recently
recorded a much anticipated duet
and a theatre group performing
Irish plays. IEAN works to combat
poverty, isolation and distress
amongst the older Irish population
in London and the South East. It
www.returntocamden.org 25
Catherine McHugh
album with Cavan flute maestro
Cein Sweeney which is due for
release in the coming months.
From Annaghdown, County Galway,
Catherine McHugh grew up in
an area steeped in music, listening
to and playing with many of the
legendary East Galway musicians,
including Joe Burke, Conor Tully,
John Joe Forde, Eddie Moloney,
Paddy Carty and the legendary
Keane Family of Caherlistrane.
Catherine is in high demand as a
piano accompanist, performing
widely and recently appearing on
the debut solo albums of Theresa
O’Grady and Daithí Gormley.
supports Irish pensioners’ clubs
throughout London, enabling
older Irish people to remain
active and enjoy a full social life.
IEAN operates a Good Neighbour
Scheme, visiting isolated or lonely
older Irish people in their homes,
together with busy drop-in and
outreach services in East and
North London, providing welfare
rights advice. If you would like
further information about the
work of IEAN, please call 020 7428
0471 or email Nora Mulready,
nora@irishelders.org.uk
 LISTINGS

SET DANCING CÉILÍ FLASHBACK: IRISH NIGHT AT CADOGAN HALL, 12 JUNE 2018 FEATURING DAVE
FLYNN'S IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA AND FAIR PLÉ LADIES OF LONDON
• THE TULLA CÉILÍ BAND Photos by Sue Banks

8pm • Camden School for Girls • £12

(under 18s free at dance events, but must be accompanied by a paying adult)
is the most famous and certainly including fiddler P J Hayes and
the longest continually established legendary accordionist Joe
céilí band in the world. The band Cooley in its line-up, enjoyed
celebrated their 70th anniversary success almost immediately. That
in 2016 (when they also appeared success continues to this day.
at Return to Camden Town). During its long history, the
Legend has it that several members membership of the band has
of the Ballinahinch Céilí Band, included many iconic and
THE TULLA CÉILÍ BAND from East Clare, met in Minogues legendary musicians. After 72
There was really only one céilí band Bar, in Tulla, Co. Clare in 1946 to years, the Tulla is still going strong
that we wanted for our twentieth discuss forming a band. Originally and continues to delight dancers
anniversary year and we are titled St Patrick’s Amateur Band, and listeners around the globe.
delighted that they were able to Tulla, the band, which featured
fit us into their schedule. The Tulla a number of notable musicians,

FESTIVAL CLUB
From 11pm • The Golden Lion • Free • Musicians welcome
Our traditional late-night Festival Club carries on into the small hours for those who want the music to
continue for a little longer.

The Official Return to Camden Town 2018

FESTIVAL CLUB at
THE GOLDEN LION
88 Royal College Street, Camden Town NW1 0TH
Festival session at 5pm on Saturday 27th October

Open late during the Festival on Friday 28th,

Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October

Session musicians welcome • Come and join us after the concerts

26 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 27
LISTINGS

SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER

WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AFTERNOON
CONCERT, MATINÉE SET DANCING
CÉILÍ AND ALBUM LAUNCH
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive 30 minutes before start time to allow for
registration. Tickets may be purchased on the door, but advance booking is recommended as workshops are
very popular and places are limited.

WORKSHOPS
SEAN NÓS DANCING WORKSHOP WITH MAIRÉAD CASEY
10am–12pm • London Irish Centre • £8/£6 U18s
BUTTON ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH COLM GANNON
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH KELLY GANNON
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH JOHN CARTY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH ÓRLAITH MCAULIFFE
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
BANJO WORKSHOP WITH THERESA O’GRADY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
PIANO ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH COLLETTE O’LEARY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
HARP WORKSHOP WITH STEPH WEST
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
BOUZOUKI/ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH MICK CONNEELY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s
SINGING WORKSHOP WITH ELEANOR SHANLEY
2–4pm • London Irish Centre • £10/£6 U18s

28 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 29
 LISTINGS

SESSIONS
1pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Mick Mulvey, Teresa Connolly, Paula Hanley
4pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Sharon Whelton,Clare O’Leary, Chris Maguire
5pm • London Irish Centre Chapel • Free • singing session with Pat Connolly and
Annie Power
5pm • Howl at the Moon • Free • Elaine Conwell, Bryony Lemon, Nigel Stevens
6pm • The Crown • Free • Mick O’Connor, Eugene Teevan, Mick Bailey
7.30pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Elaine Finn Davies, Enda McGonigle,
Chris O'Malley
7.30pm • Hole in the Wall • Free • Nick Goode, Paul Draper, Liam O’Barr
8pm • The Harrison • Free • Daren Banarse, Bryony Lemon, Nigel Stevens
8.30pm • The Colin Campbell • Free • Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan, Joe O’Donnell
Musicians are welcome at all sessions

MATINÉE SET DANCING CÉILÍ

• THE TULLA CÉILÍ BAND

Sponsored by:
1–4pm • London Irish Centre (McNamara Hall) • £12
(under 18s free at dance events, but must be accompanied by a paying adult)

Please see page 26 for information about the Tulla Céilí Band.

EVERY FRIDAY – SESSION IN CAMDEN TOWN

at THE GOLDEN LION
From 9pm
The finest in Traditional Irish music

Featuring rota of hosts including:

Gary Connolly (accordion), James Carty (fiddle),
James Carty (flute), Peter McAlinden (keys), Sinéad Munroe (fiddle),
Maureen Hankins (accordion) and more great musicians...

Come down for a great welcome to this weekly session.

88 Royal College Street, Camden Town, NW1 0TH

30 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 31
 LISTINGS
AFTERNOON CONCERT
• THE DUBLIN LASSES
• NEANSAÍ NÍ CHOISDEALBHA AND TOMMY MELLETT
• TERENCE O’FLAHERTY
2pm • London Irish Centre (Presidential Suite) • £10/£6 U18s
THE DUBLIN LASSES
Aoife O’Connor (concertina),
Mary Corcoran (piano) and
Majella O’Beirne (flute) first
performed together in a tribute
concert at the Willie Clancy
Summer School, where all teach
every year, to honour the great
NEANSAÍ NÍ
CHOISDEALBHA AND
TOMMY MELLETT
TERENCE O’FLAHERTY
32 RtCT2018
Dublin flute player, Mick Hand. The
performance was a great success
and they were invited to appear at
the monthly sessions for Na Píobairí
Uileann ('The Uilleann Pipers' – an
organisation dedicated to the
promotion of the uilleann pipes) in
Dublin’s famous Cobblestone Bar.
As all three are from the city, they
adopted the name The Dublin
Lasses (the title of a well-known
reel). Aoife and Majella inherited
a love of traditional music from
their fathers, musicians with the
Dublin Castle Céilí Band and
Roscommon’s Kilina Céilí Band.
Flautist Neansaí Ní
Choisdealbha, is from Cor na
Rón in Indreabhán, In addition to
her busy playing schedule, she
is Head of Music at RTÉ Raidió na
Gaeltachta, where she presents
a two-hour live programme
every Sunday and her ‘Ceol Binn
ó na Beanna’ twice weekly. She
launched her debut CD, Draíocht
na Feadóige, in 2014 at the Fleadh
Cheoil in Sligo and at Return
to Camden Town Festival.
Terence O’Flaherty, from Ennistymon,
Co. Clare, is from a family of singers.
He learned his earliest songs from
local musicians and travelling
storytellers and singers. In the early
1970s, he emigrated to London
and joined the thriving Irish music
scene in the capital as part of the
ALBUM LAUNCH
• DAITHÍ GORMLEY
• THERESA O’GRADY
5pm • London Irish Centre
(Kennedy Hall) • Free
The London launch of two fine new albums of lnnisfree's mission is to
Mary Corcoran was born in Dublin Irish music by accordionist Daithí Gormley (see
and started playing the piano page 25 for biog) ‘Fiddling without a Bow’ and
provide housing for people
aged six. Mary has been a member banjo player Theresa O’Grady ‘Banjoista’ (see and support them so that
of a number of prestigious céilí page 23 for biog). they can play an active part
bands including the Piper’s Club
Céilí Band, Templehouse Céilí in their community
Band and appeared at last year’s We speak up for the people we
TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards with ALL THE BEST TO THE serve, including those new to their
the Castle Céilí Band. She has
recorded with numerous traditional RETURN TO CAMDEN neighbourhood, drawing on the
experiences of and celebrating our
TOWN FESTIVAL
musicians including John Regan,
Harry Bradley, Macalla, Mick Hand, Irish roots.
Tommy Guihan and the Chieftains.
The legendary Dublin flute player,
2018
190 Iverson Road
Mick O’Connor will be officially HARINGEY IRISH CULTURAL London NW6 2HL
launching The Dublin Lasses’ debut
album at this afternoon’s concert. AND COMMUNITY CENTRE Telephone
Pretoria Rd, Tottenham, N17 8DX 020 7625 1818
Accordionist Tommy Mellett
from Camus in South Connemara, Tel: 020 8885 3490 E-mail
is a great player with a prodigious Fax: 020 8801 4839 info@innisfree.org.uk
repertoire of interesting tunes. Email: info@haringey-irish.com Website
This is very much in evidence on
the duet album An Tower which
www.innisfree.org.uk
he is currently launching with
Neansaí on the Chló Iar-Chonnacht
label. The recording almost
runs the gamut of traditional
tunes, often straying from reels,
jigs, and hornpipes, to include
barndances, waltzes and marches.
popular band Crusheen, with Kevin
Shanahan, Chris Hayes and Joe
Searson. He has played with musicians
from many different backgrounds,
including classical, jazz and funk and
has performed widely in the UK,
Europe and the USA. His debut album,
Crosscurrents, was released in 2009.
www.returntocamden.org 33
LISTINGS

SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER

Planning an Event? EVENING CONCERT IN MEMORY
OF JIMMY PHILBIN Sponsored by:
Choose Camden's
Choose Camden's • GARADICE

London
London Irish
Irish Centre
• MARY BERGIN AND MICK CONNEELY

Centre 7.30pm • London Irish Centre • £12/£6 U18s

albums, A Jacket of Batteries and Half
Set in Harlem. She has performed
with The Dubliners – she and the
late Ronnie Drew were great friends
and musical colleagues – Sharon
No event is too big or too small, the team at
No event is too big or too small, the team Shannon, Donal Lunny and U2.
Sliced Events are here to help. She last visited us in 2015, with The
at Sliced Events are here to help. Leitrim Equation, a unique project,
GARADICE supported by Leitrim County
Weddings,  One of best-loved Irish singers,
Eleanor Shanley, appears tonight
Council and the Arts Council of
Ireland, that combined music,
accordion and piano) and Padraig
McGovern (uileann pipes and
whistle) – decided at the end of
the project to perform and record
together. Dave has recorded two
highly acclaimed solo albums
Sheridan’s Guesthouse and Driving
Timber and Padraig recorded a
very highly regarded duet album
Forgotten Gems with Longford
accordion player, Peter Carberry.

Weddings,  with her new band, Garadice. poetry and dance to celebrate The band appeared at the All-
Birthdays, Eleanor has worked with many the traditional music of Leitrim. Ireland Fleadh in Drogheda and
live on Fleadh TV in August this
Birthdays, great musicians down the years. Eleanor and the musicians she
year and are currently releasing
Meetings,  She was a member of De Dannan,
with who she recorded two classic
worked with on the Leitrim
Equation – John McCartin their eponymous debut album.

Meetings, 
Conferences,
(guitar), Dave Sheridan (flute,

(1993), have been described as Mary appears tonight with another

Conferences,
Dining events,
'outstanding and unequalled'.
After moving to Spiddal, Co Galway
alumnus of De Dannan, fiddle
and bouzouki virtuoso Mick
in the 1970s, Mary played with Conneely. Bedford born Mick

Dining events,
Live shows or De Dannan and Ceoltóri Laighin.
She was a founding member
played fiddle for De Dannan from
2009 to 2013. His debut solo album,
MARY BERGIN AND of the trio Dordán, which fuses Selkie, was released in 2001. He also
Live shows
Training or
days MICK CONNEELY
Considered by many to be
Irish traditional and baroque
music. They have released four
recorded a duet album Tis what
it is with Mayo accordionist David
Munnelly, both albums on the Chló
Training days
the greatest tin whistle player, CDs together. Mary was the
Mary Bergin, from Shankill, recipient of the TG4 Gradam Iar-Chonnacht label. He is much
Co. Dublin, won the All Ireland Ceoil Musician of the Year Award on demand as a performer and
title on the instrument in 1970. in 2000. She teaches extensively teacher and is regarded as a leading
Contact us for more details Her two solo albums, Feadόga at home in Galway and giving exponent of the 6-string Greek
Stáin (1979) and Feadόga Stáin 2 workshops at Festivals overseas. bouzouki in Irish traditional music.
0207 428 2080
FESTIVAL CLUB
enquiries@slicedevents.com
From 11pm • The Golden Lion • Free • Musicians welcome
www.slicedevents.com Our traditional late-night Festival Club carries on into the small hours for those who want the music to
continue for a little longer.

34 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 35
LISTINGS

MONDAY 29TH OCTOBER

AFTERNOON CONCERT
In association with Irish Elderly Advice Network

• ELEANOR SHANLEY AND JOHN MCCARTIN

• MICK O’CONNOR, TOM O’CONNELL AND MICK BAILEY
2pm • London Irish Centre (McNamara Hall) • £10/£5 concessions

Mick O'Connor and Tom O'Connell Eleanor Shanley

Please see page 35 For
information about Eleanor
Shanley and John McCartin.
MICK O’CONNOR,
TOM O’CONNELL
AND MICK BAILEY
London’s own Mick O’Connor, All
Ireland winner on the tenor banjo
in 1971, has been playing since 1967
and is a veteran of the great days of
the London Irish music scene of the
1960s, 70s and 80s. In 2013, he was
honoured by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Éireann, which bestowed its Bardic
Award on him for his “exceptional
contribution to the promotion
of Ireland’s cultural traditions”.
Tom O’Connell, from Athea,
West Limerick, began playing the
accordion at the age of 12. He
was influenced by several of the
masters of the accordion during
the 1950s, particularly George
Ross of the Tulla Céilí band and the
great Paddy O’Brien. He attended
his first Fleadh Cheoil in 1962 and
emigrated to London 1964, where
he quickly became part of the
thriving Irish music scene in the
city. He admired and learned from
some of the great accordionists who
lived in the capital, including Martin
MacMahon, Paddy Malynn, John
Bowe and Raymond Roland. Tom
won the senior All Ireland button
accordion title in 1981 and has been
a stalwart of Irish music sessions
in London for almost 50 years.
Mick Bailey (guitar and vocals)
has led Irish band Wraggle Taggle
since 1988. Originally from Yorkshire,
Mick trained as a classical pianist
and was turned on to Irish music in
the 1970s by bands such Planxty,
The Bothy Band, and The Chieftains.
He studied at Goldsmith's College,
London and has worked in a
variety of musical areas, composing
and arranging for theatre as well
as jazz, rock and folk groups.

FLASHBACK: RtCT 2017, Photo by Geoff Holland

Caoimhín O Fearghaill, Mick O'Brien and Aoife
Ní Bhríain in concert, London Irish Centre.

36 RtCT2018 www.returntocamden.org 37
LISTINGS
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