Browse Items (13 total)

LISTEN to the interviewDanny Meehan (b.1940) reflects on his life from his childhood in Drimalost, Co. Donegal, to his migration to England at age sixteen, and his return fifty years later. He speaks about his musical influences, the musicians he…

LISTEN to the interviewDes O'Halloran speaks briefly about his youth in Inishbofin, his 22 years in London, his return to Ireland, and his varied musical career. He sings - both sean-nós and more popular fare - and plays the fiddle. He has toured the…

LISTEN to the interview Jerry Lynch starts by telling his story in his own words. He reflects on how he learned music, his interest in different musical genres, and his time with the Kilfenora Céilí Band. He migrated to New York in October 1959 with…

LISTEN to the interviewSinger Jimmy O'Brien talks about his childhood in the Sliabh Luachra area of Co. Kerry. He recalls a vibrant social environment, with lots of music and dancing. Jimmy trained as a mechanic and, with his wife Mary, emigrated to…

LISTEN to the interviewJimmy O'Brien talks at greater length about some of the traditional customs he remembers from his youth: the musical instruments, fattening a pig for Christmas and making puddings, the meitheal, thrashings, American wakes, and…

LISTEN to the interview Kevin Burke was born in London to parents from Sligo. He began learning to play fiddle from around the age of seven and absorbed the music he heard played around him by migrant musicians. As a teenager he played regularly in…

LISTEN to the interviewKevin Henry embarks on a wide-ranging discussion of his youth in Ireland, years spent in England, and migration to Canada and then the United States. He eventually settled in Chicago, where he established a career as an iron…

LISTEN to the interview Kevin McDermott describes his childhood in Cavan town, joining the RAF, and eventual migration to London to join his family in 1956. Along the way he had an active musical life playing different musical styles on the…

LISTEN to the interview Unlike many post-war Irish migrants, Mick Treacy from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork was more active on the English folk and jazz scenes than in the Irish music scene, though he did sing Irish songs with a group called the Munstermen.…

LISTEN to the interview Reg Hall discusses his diverse musical background, introduction to Irish music, and involvement in the Irish music scene in post-war London. He was one of the few English people who participated and also one of the few to…