70
LIFE
Tue 31 May 16
Fleadh
People
70
LIFE
Tue 31 May 16
FleadhMarsh:
People‘We’re bringing the Fleadh back home’
Josephine
Josephine Marsh: ‘We’re bringing the Fleadh back home’
Composer, musician and teacher Josephine Marsh lives for traditional Irish music, a trait which she is now passing on to the
next generation. Elaine Tubridy spoke with her about the Fleadh homecoming this summer.
musiciannow.
and teacher
Josephine
livesfor
forthetraditional
Irishwith
music,
a traitofwhich
nowwill
passing
onthis
toyear’s
the Fleadh in
“IT’S kind Composer,
of the next generation
making new
friends andMarsh
they’re going
She competed
the guidance
her mu-she is
Randall
travel to
They’re giving
our
generation
the
excuse
to
fun
of
it,
they’re
not
that
bothered
I’d
say
if
sic
teacher
Deirdre
O’Brien
Vaughan
from
Ennis
with
his
son,
who
has
qualified
for the
next generation. Elaine Tubridy spoke with her about the Fleadh homecoming this summer.
go to the Fleadhs. We mightn’t have both- they win or lose or draw but they were lucky Newmarket on Fergus until she reached the All-Ireland finals.
ered the last few years but now we’re back on last year. They put in a lot of practise and age of 18.
“Sometimes we forget that there would be
the road with them, because of their involve- they did a good job. It’s more for the friend“The Fleadh for me would have meant the a lot of musicians abroad that would be in“IT’S
kind ofinvolved
the nextagain.”
generationships
now.really,”
making
the
She
withand
the express
guidancemyself
of her mu-volved
Randall
travel toand
thisthat
year’s
in
ment in it we’re
all getting
she new
says.friends and they’re going forfreedom
to competed
play music
in the will
Comhaltas
theFleadh
Fleadhs
giving player
our generation
the excuse
fun of it,
they’re to
notthe
that
bothered
I’d say
if sicmusic
teacherand
Deirdre
O’Brien
Vaughan
his son,
qualified
for for
the
East ClareThey’re
accordion
Josephine
Shetois looking
forward
Fleadh
comthrough
to meet
up with
friendsfromtakeEnnis
placewith
abroad
as who
well.has
They
qualify
go toattending
the Fleadhs.
mightn’t
bothwin and
or lose
or draw
but they
were lucky
on Fergus
untilthe
shebig
reached
Marsh has been
the We
regional
andhaveing
home they
to Clare
hopes
the whole
counfor theNewmarket
fun of it really,
that was
thing thethe All-Ireland
All-Irelandfinals.
from abroad.
the lastallfewher
years
but but
now we’re
on feel
last
They put in a lot of practise for
and us age
of 18.
“Sometimes
weIforget
thatSligo,
there Iwould
be
All Ireland ered
Fleadhs
life,
it’s back
ty will
theyear.
benefits.
down
through
the
years,
just
having
“Last
year
when
was in
met up
the road with them, because of their involve- they did a good job. It’s more for the friend“The Fleadh for me would have meant the a lot of musicians abroad that would be inthanks to herment
children
that she
a renewed
“It’s going
to really,”
be great
Clare, the whole fun and
not to to
focus
much
the comsomeinmusicians
thatand
I haven’t
met in
in it we’re
all has
getting
involved again.”
ships
shefor
says.
freedom
playtoo
music
andonexpress
myselfwithvolved
the Comhaltas
that the Fleadhs
interest in the East
biggest
traditional
musicplayer
event Josephine
of Co Clare,
just Ennis
and to
thetheatmospetitions
and winning
much,”
and
theyabroad
were as
travelling
withqualify
a bunch
Clare
accordion
Shenot
is looking
forward
Fleadh comthrough
music andortolosing
meet too
up with
friendsyears
take
place
well. They
for
of the year. Marsh has been attending the regional
phere
behome
fantastic,”
sheand
says.
she says.
fromfrom
Boston
who had qualified
andwilling
to Clare
hopes the whole counfor the fun of it really, that was the big thingof musicians
the All-Ireland
abroad.
“I’ve heardAll
of Ireland
a few people
know
to Irish
parents, her mother
Evenfor
though
Josephine
taken just
a step
Fleadh
it wasI absolutely
brilliant
Fleadhsthat
all Iher
life, butBorn
it’s in London
ty will feel
the benefits.
us down
through has
the years,
havingin the“Last
yearsowhen
was in Sligo,
I met to
up
coming fromthanks
America
different
places
and father met
the Galtymore
hallthe
in whole
back from
performing
full
them.some musicians that I haven’t met in
to herand
children
that she
has a renewed
“It’satgoing
to be great dance
for Clare,
fun and
not to focus
tootime
muchsince
on thethe
com-see with
where their interest
children
would
have
qualifiedmusicCricklewood.
birth of
her children,
she still
thatthey
might
emigrated
in the
biggest
traditional
event of Co Clare, not just Ennis and the atmospetitions
and winning
or plays
losing the
too odd
much,” “People
years and
werehave
travelling
with a could
bunch
for the Fleadh
it’s giving them a chance
Josephine’s
played
in the
she
teaches music in West Clare.
be involved
in different
Comhaltas
of and
the year.
phereuncle
will be
fantastic,”
sheband
says. and gig andshe
says.
of musicians
from Boston
who hadbranches
qualified
“I’vetake
heard
of ina it,
fewwhere
people
that Iboth
knowof herBorn
in London
Irish parents,
to come over and
part
they
Josephine
a steparound
parents
had atogreat
interesther
inmother
in thethe
Fleadh
it was
to
“In myEven
20s though
and 30s
I would has
havetaken
played
worldsoas
well,absolutely
so it’s a brilliant
great opcoming
and different
places and father met at the Galtymore dance halla in
fromhave
performing
see them.
might not have
beenfrom
backAmerica
to Ireland
for a music.
lot, Iback
would
had my full
owntime
bandsince
and theportunity
to get home for an event like this,”
where
theirthat,”
children
would have qualified
Cricklewood.
her children,
she still plays
the oddJosephine
“People
that might have emigrated could
good few years
before
she says.
Josephine
and her three siblings were all would birth
haveofdone
a lot of travelling
around
says.
for the son
Fleadh
andwho
it’s giving
chancein London
Josephine’s
in the
band the
and world.
gig and
shechildren
teaches you
music
in West
Clare.
be involved
in different
Comhaltas
branches
Her 13 year-old
Jack,
plays them
the a born
beforeuncle
they played
returned
to her
With
don’t
get an
opHaving
released
a solo album
in the
1990s
to come
part inAnit, where
they home
both of
her of
parents
had aingreat
in
“Intomy
30s I but
would
playedandaround
as well,
it’s aJosephine
great opUilleann pipes,
and over
her and
ninetake
year-old
mother’s
town
Broadford
1971.interestportunity
do 20s
that and
as much,
I dohave
teach,”
a CD the
withworld
her band
in so
2001,
mightthe
notbanjo,
have been
back to
to the
Ireland Josephine
for a music.
a lot, I would have had my own band andis now
portunity
to get
an event
likehopes
this,”
drew, who plays
will take
grew up competing at Fleadhs she says.
working
on home
some for
tunes
that she
good
few
years
before
that,”
she
says.
and her
three siblings
would has
havebeen
doneinvited
a lot oftotravelling
aroundto release
Josephine
says.
Fleadh stage in Ennis this August, but Jo- around theJosephine
country with
musicians
such aswere all
Josephine
play at the
next
year. She is also an accomHer 13 year-old son Jack, who plays the born in London before they returned to her the world. With children you don’t get an opHaving released a solo album in the 1990s
sephine believes
winning a medal is not as Eithne
Siobhan Moloney, Norma Ceol Cascadia
Festival in Seattle, Washingcomposer and she dreams of publishUilleann pipes, and her nine year-old
An- Donnelly,
mother’s home town of Broadford in 1971.
portunity to do that as much, but I do teach,”plished
and a CD with her band in 2001, Josephine
important asdrew,
enjoying
the
music.
Moloney,
John
Moloney
and
Francis
Custy.
ton
with
Cormac
Begley,
Patsy
Hanley,
Aning
a
book
of her tunes
someday.
who plays the banjo, will take to the
Josephine grew up competing at Fleadhs she says.
is now working
on some
tunes that she hopes
Jack won anFleadh
All-Ireland
at last
She
howtheshe
and her
fellow
musi-suchgelina
Carberry
otherinvited
Irish household
been thinking
it for
while,
so
stage medal
in Ennis
this year’s
August, but
Jo-recalls
around
country
with
musicians
as
Josephine and
has been
to play at the “I’ve
to release
next year.about
She is
alsoa an
accomFleadh in Sligo
and believes
while Josephine
very iscians
go Donnelly,
to the All-Ireland
Fleadhs Norma
namesCeol
this July.
long overdue
now
thisdreams
stage.ofSome
of
sephine
winning ais medal
not aswould
Eithne
Siobhan Moloney,
Cascadia Festival in Seattle, Washing-it’s plished
composer
andatshe
publishproud of him,important
she is just
to see
son’s to soak up
the atmosphere
andand
meet
theirCusty.Organised
Randall
Bays,Patsy
the Hanley,
festivalAn-my ing
tunes
haveofbeen
recorded
by some artists
as glad
enjoying
theher
music.
Moloney,
John Moloney
Francis
ton withbyCormac
Begley,
a book
her tunes
someday.
making friends
andwon
having
a good time.
of how
whether
or her
not fellow
they musicentresgelina
around
concerts
workshops
at over “I’ve
the years
it’s niceabout
to see
they’re
interJack
an All-Ireland
medal at lastfriends,
year’s regardless
She recalls
she and
Carberry
andand
other
Irish household
beenso
thinking
it for
a while,
so
“The nice thing
it isand
I can
seeJosephine
them made
the finals.
the Evergreen
State
ested
my overdue
own tunes,”
shethis
says.
Fleadhabout
in Sligo
while
is veryit tocians
would go to the All-Ireland Fleadhs
names this
July.College.
it’sinlong
now at
stage. Some of
proud of him, she is just glad to see her son’s
making friends and having a good time.
“The nice thing about it is I can see them
to soak up the atmosphere and meet their
friends, regardless of whether or not they
made it to the finals.
Organised by Randall Bays, the festival
centres around concerts and workshops at
the Evergreen State College.
my tunes have been recorded by some artists
over the years so it’s nice to see they’re interested in my own tunes,” she says.
AugustAugust
14 to 22,
14 2016
to 22, 2016
Ciara
CiaraMalone
Malone