Spotlight on
- McCarthy: The Book Of Irish Ballads
Irish Traditional Music | Dublin City Public Libraries
- O'Neill: O'Neill's Irish Music
Arts & Literature | Cork County Library
- Turlough O'Carolan
Meath County Library
- Irish Traditional Music Feature
- Turlough O'Carolan
Irish Traditional Music | Meath County Library
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Ireland’s biodiversity is rich and varied
Read More »
Discover the colour and diversity of Irish Traditional Music in this feature article by Terry Moylan.
Featured Media
Images
The Flowers of Irish Melody
Title page of Henderson's The Flowers of Irish Melody.
Carolan, The Celebrated Irish Bard
Carolan, The Celebrated Irish Bard, taken from the first volume of Hardiman's Irish Minstrelsy, 1831.
The Story of the Harp
Te Story of the Harp by W.H. Grattan Flood was published in London in 1905. It traces the history of the harp from early Egyptian times to the end of the nineteenth century. It contains much history on the Irish harp and includes a chapter dedicated to Turlough O'Carolan.
The National Music of Ireland
The National Music of Ireland containing the History of the Irish Bards, the National Melodies, the Harp and Other Musical Instruments of Erin by Michael Conran was published in Dublin in 1846 by James Duffy. It is an early account of Carolan and his place in Irish music.
O Carolan Pageant
An O'Carolan festival was held in Kilmainhamwood in 1970 to celebrate the tricentenary of the birth of O'Carolan. Members of the pageant included Carolan as a boy and as an adult, Bridget Cruise, Mrs MacDermottroe and her husband and some of the patrons for whom Carolan composed music.
Skull of Carolan the Bard
What is reputed to be Carolan's skull is kept in the National Museum in Dublin. These photographs of it were taken by the Rev. L. Donnellan in the early twentieth century.
article no longer in copyright
O Carolan in Foundry
There was great anticipation among Festival organisers and committee members in 2003 when the unveiling of the O'Carolan monument was being planned. Here O'Carolan looks out of the foundry where final casting was done in preparation for the installation in Nobber village.
permission courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee
O Carolan Harp Festival 1992
The 1992 festival programme celebrated the Year of the Harp. It included the festival listings and events, the chairman Tony Finnegan's welcome address and an articel on Peadar O Gealacáin or Peter Gallegan the Meath scribe and poet who lived near nobber from 1792-1860.
Courtesy of Nobber Harp Festival Committee
Audio/Video
- Fanny Power
Fanny Power
Fanny (Frances) Power was the daughter of David and Elizabeth Power from Loughrea in county Galway. She married Richard Trent in 1732. This tune was composed before their marriage because in the second verse Carolan hopes to dance at their wedding.
Courtesy of Dearbhail Finnegan
780.1K
Meath County Library
- Carolan's Farewell to Music
Carolan's Farewell to Music
When Carolan felt his death was near he returned to the house of his patron Mrs MacDermott Roe at Alderford. He composed and played his final piece of music there called Carolan's Farewell to Music. Carolan died in March 1738.
Courtesy of Dearbhail Finnegan
Meath County Library
- Carolan's Concerto
Carolan's Concerto
Carolan is said to have composed this piece of music during a duel of musical mastery with Italian composer Geminiani whom he met in one of the big houses where both performers were staying.
Courtesy of Dearbhail Finnegan
Libraries | Meath County Library
- 'The Ship in Full Sail'
'The Ship in Full Sail'
Elizabeth Crotty (concertina) plays 'The Ship in Full Sail'
© RTÉ
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- The Morning Thrush
The Morning Thrush
Conor Byrne (flute) and Christy Moore (bodhrán) play a reel from the recording 'Wind Dancer'.
Newberry Recording Ltd, CB 0001
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- Slip jigs
Slip jigs
The Four Star Trio perform a set of slip jigs from their CD, The Square Triangle. Barney Brallaghan's / Ride A Mile / The Sport of the Chase
Craft Recordings, CRCD002
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- Slides
Slides
Johnny O'Leary (accordion) plays two slides from his CD, Johnny O'Leary of Sliabh Luachra. The Hair Fell Off My Coconut / Thadelo's
Craft Recordings
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- Reels
Reels
Elizabeth Crotty performs a set of reels on her concertina. The Wind that Shakes the Barley / The Reel with the Beryl
© RTÉ
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
Documents
- O'Neill, Francis, O'Neill's Irish Music, Dublin: M.H. Gill And Son
O'Neill, Francis, O'Neill's Irish Music, Dublin: M.H. Gill And Son
Frances O'Neill (1848-1936) was born near Bantry, Co. Cork at the height of the Great Irish Potato Famine in which over a million died and over a million fled in the 'coffin' ships for the New World. Despite their misery Irish people had a vibrant musical culture in which O'Neill was immersed from childhood. From the 1840s generations of Irish people emigrated to the United States. Irish Americans proudly retained many of the traditions of the 'Emerald Isle' especially traditional music for whom collectors such as O'Neill published sheet music
183.4M
Cork County Library
- 100 Memoirs of Irish Bards
100 Memoirs of Irish Bards
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- Irish Minstrelsy, Vol. II
Irish Minstrelsy, Vol. II
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- Irish Minstrelsy, Vol. I
Irish Minstrelsy, Vol. I
Irish Minstrelsy, or Bardic Remains of Ireland; with English poetical translations. Collected and edited, with notes and illustrations, by James Hardiman, M.R.I.A. Vol. I. London: Joseph Robins, Bride Court, Bridge Street. 1831.
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
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