Return to
17th
2015
Camden Town
www.returntocamden.org
Magazine
FREE
LEITRIM COMES TO
BLOOMSBURY –
RADA SUN 25 OCT
SLIABH LUACHRA
TAKES OVER
KINGS PLACE FRI 23 OCT
TRIBUTES:
ROGER SHERLOCK
MICHAEL FLAHERTY
PLUS: FULL FESTIVAL
PROGRAMME
Venues include: Kings Place, RADA, London Irish Centre, Green Note,
Fiddler’s Elbow and more...
FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE
TUESDAY 20TH – MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2015
CONCERTS, SESSIONS, ALBUM LAUNCHES,
SET DANCING CÉILÍS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
FESTIVAL VENUES
WELCOME
CLAYTON CROWN HOTEL
03DIRECTOR'S
WELCOME
04MAIN FESTIVAL
VENUES
FEATURES
06LEITRIM COMES
TO BLOOMSBURY
09MICHAEL
FLAHERTY
TRIBUTE
10ROGER
SHERLOCK –
A TRIBUTE
LISTINGS
11FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
18FULL EVENT
PROGRAMME
21FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
For venue maps see pages 4 and 5.
152 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3ED
KINGS PLACE
90 York Way, King’s Cross, London N1 9AG
LONDON IRISH CENTRE
50-52 Camden Square, Camden, London NW1 9XB
THE AULD TRIANGLE
52 St Thomas’s Road, London N4 2QW
THE CANONBURY TAVERN
21 Canonbury Pl, London N1 2NS
THE COBDEN
28-30 Camden High Street, London NW1 0JH
THE FIDDLER’S ELBOW
1 Malden Rd, London NW5 3HS
THE GOLDEN LION
88 Royal College Street, London NW1 0TH
THE GREEN NOTE
106 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN
THE HARRISON
28 Harrison Street (off Gray’s Inn Road), London WC1H 8JF
THE KING AND QUEEN
1 Foley Street, Goodge Street, London W1W 6DL
THE LAMB TAVERN
54 Holloway Road, London N7 8JL
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC
ART (RADA) STUDIO THEATRE
16 Chenies St, London WC1E 7EX
TICKETS
Tickets to all Festival events can be purchased through
links on our website at: www.returntocamden.org
DIRECTOR: KAREN RYAN
EDITOR: LAURIE HARPER
DESIGN: ANTONIA BAILEY
PRINTED BY: STUDIO DESIGN AND
PRINT LTD [+44 (0)20 8361 2233]
2 RtCT2015
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED:
Would you like to be involved in helping to organise events for Return to
Camden Town? Not only do we organisers need hands-on help during
this year’s event, but we’ll be needing assistance with future events we
are planning under the Return to Camden Town banner, including help
with administration, organisation, PR and event management. If you
would like to get involved in any way, please email us at:
[email protected]
WELCOME TO THE 17TH RETURN
TO CAMDEN TOWN FESTIVAL
L
ondon’s new umbrella organisation, IMDL,
enjoyed a grand launch in the beautiful
surroundings of the Bloomsbury Theatre earlier
this year. The night featured four great bands rooted
in the London Irish tradition, with individual members
being key figures of the scene. It is these musicians,
alongside more great players, singers and dancers
in the capital city who have ownership of the long
running Return to Camden Town Festival – participating
in festival events, using these key dates as a time to
reunite with other practitioners from all corners of this
sprawling metropolis, delighting in the opportunity to
extend a huge welcome to the many visiting exponents
from Ireland and newcomers to the tradition.
Each one of the four bands will feature at concerts
during this year’s Festival. CrossHarbour and Artisan
Row will play on Thursday 22 October at the legendary
Irish music venue, The Fiddler’s Elbow in Kentish Town.
Both The London Lasses and Le Chéile will appear
in afternoon concerts at the London Irish Centre;
The London Lasses on Saturday afternoon alongside
Conamara father and son duo: Johnny and Johnny Óg
Connolly. The Le Chéile lads will be welcoming back to
London, fiddler, TG4 Hall of Fame award recipient and
founder member, Danny Meehan to join them as they
play on Sunday afternoon alongside concertina/fiddle
duo, Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.
The Festival kicks off on Tuesday 20th with a
Birmingham Irish night featuring Noreen Cullen,
Tommy Diegnan, Conor Healy and friends at Time
Out’s London venue of the year, The Green Note.
Friday 23rd sees RtCT back for the second year at
the prestigious concert hall, Kings Place in King’s
Cross, with fine Sliabh Luachra music and more
from young Killarney band, Seven Glens opening for
Breaking Trad (hot on the heels of the release of their
debut album). They will be joined by special guest,
frontman Gino Lupari on bodhrán and vocals. On the
same night, Donegal’s revered traditional singer, Rita
Gallagher, will appear at the Musical Traditions Club.
fiddler Claire Egan will launch her much anticipated
solo CD ‘Turning Tides’ on Saturday at 5pm, followed
by the headline evening concert featuring Donegal
supergroup Altan. They will be joined on the bill by
versatile instrumental and vocal trio, Cran who will
also be playing a Monday afternoon concert at the
centre. Further album launches on the Sunday include
Limerick/ Birmingham flute player, Patsy Moloney,
Caitlín and Ciarán, as well as Eamon Rodgers.
Set dancing over the weekend will be to the music
of the popular Abbey Céilí Band from Cork. Sunday
night brings the Festival to ‘tread the boards’ for the
very first time at the Studio Theatre of the world
renowned RADA in Bloomsbury, starting with a
screening of ‘The Godfather’ film about Leitrim fiddler
and recipient of the TG4 Musician of the Year award,
Bryan Rooney. This great event will be followed by
an impressive multimedia show led by the Leitrim
Equation team (including Eleanor Shanley, Dave
Sheridan, Padraig McGovern, John McCartin, Dónal
Lunny, Edwina Guckian and Vincent Woods).
Then our Monday afternoon concert at the
London Irish Centre returns for the second year
running, this time featuring Bryan Rooney and
Pete Quinn, Cran and Comhaltas in Britain.
I would like to express our huge gratitude to this
year’s funders, sponsors and partners without
whom it would be impossible to stage the Festival:
Culture Ireland, Emigrant Support Programme,
John Griffin, Ardmore Group, London Irish Centre,
Kings Place, The Irish World and the Irish Post.
I would like to give unending thanks to my fantastic
colleagues on the Festival Organising Group for all their
hard work, support and advice year round: Margaret
Reilly, Sue Banks, Laurie Harper, Geoff Walker and
Bernadette Babayigit, as well as all of our RtCT volunteers
who play a huge part in making this all happen.
Have a great Festival!
There will be music, song and dance sessions and
workshops, concerts, album launches and céilís at
different venues over the 7 days of this year’s Festival –
with a particularly high concentration of events at the
multi-space venue, the London Irish Centre throughout
the day and night on Saturday and Sunday. London
www.returntocamden.org 3
VENUES
MAIN FESTIVAL VENUES
THE FIDDLER'S ELBOW
1 Malden Rd
London
NW5 3HS
1
2
KINGS PLACE
90 York Way
London N1 9AG
Tel: 020 7520 1490
3
1. LONDON IRISH CENTRE
50-52 Camden Square, London
NW1 9XB Tel: 020 7916 7272
2. THE GOLDEN LION
88 Royal College Street, London
NW1 0TH Tel: 020 7387 2035
3. THE COBDEN
28-30 Camden High Street, London
NW1 0JH Tel: 020 7209 2472
CAMDEN ROAD STATION
(London Overground)
CAMDEN TOWN STATION
(Northern Line)
MORNINGTON CRESCENT STATION
(Northern Line)
RADA STUDIOS
16 Chenies St
London WC1E 7EX
Tel: 020 7307 5061
THE GREEN NOTE
106 Parkway
London NW1 7AN
Tel: 020 7485 9899
Please see page 2 for complete list of Festival venues.
4 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 5
FEATURE
LEITRIM COMES T O BLOOMSBURY
By Laurie Harper
I
n recent years, the Return
to Camden Town Festival has
made a conscious decision to
collaborate with concert venues
outside our traditional home at
the London Irish Centre. One of
our initial partner venues was (and
still is) the famous Kings Place,
where we hosted two extremely
successful concerts during our
16th Festival. This year, Kings
Place is hosting our Friday night
concert, which focusses on the
exciting music of Sliabh Luachra
and features Dónal Murphy’s
Breaking Trad and the dynamic
young group, Seven Glens.
6 RtCT2015
Earlier this year, we held a concert
in the iconic Bloomsbury Theatre,
featuring four bands, all rooted in
the London Irish musical tradition,
to launch London’s new umbrella
organisation for Irish traditional
music, dance and song, Irish
Music and Dance in London.
For this year’s Festival, we
are delighted to be working
with another noted London
concert venue, the Studio
Theatre at the Royal Academy
of Dramatic Art (RADA).
On Sunday night, the Studio
Theatre will host, in association
with Leitrim County Council
and with the support of the Arts
Council of Ireland, an exciting
multi-media event, devoted to
the traditional music of Leitrim.
It will commence with a screening
of the documentary film The
Godfather, about the life and music
of the legendary Leitrim fiddle
player, Bryan Rooney. Actor and
fiddle player Brendan Gleeson
charts the story of Bryan’s life, from
the late 1960s, when, at the age
of 16, he emigrated to London
to find work in construction, to
his achieving global recognition
within the world of Irish music. The
documentary was originally aired
"The concept of the
Leitrim Equation first
saw the light of day in
2006, when Leitrim
County Council Arts
Office, with the support
of the Arts Council
of Ireland, devised a
programme entitled
The Leitrim Equation."
on the national Irish TV channel:
TG4 – Return to Camden Town
Festival is proud to present the
English language version of the
documentary with some additional,
previously unseen footage.
The screening will be followed by
the London debut of The Leitrim
Equation 4, a unique production,
combining music, dance and poetry
in one carefully crafted show.
The concept of the Leitrim Equation
first saw the light of day in 2006,
when Leitrim County Council Arts
Office, with the support of the
Arts Council of Ireland, devised a
programme entitled The Leitrim
Equation. The far-sighted central
premise was to invite noted
traditional Irish musicians to
spend time in Leitrim. Over the
course of a year and a half, they
would visit the county for three
days every couple of months,
meeting and playing with local
musicians and performing in
community settings as well as
in more conventional venues.
At the end of the residency, a CD
would be recorded to document
the time spent in the county. The
entire process would celebrate
music in Leitrim and of Leitrim,
contribute to the professional
development of musicians
and act as a focal point for the
development of music in the area.
Lúnasa became the first band
in residence. They visited and
played at musicians’ sessions in
Leitrim, performed for school and
www.returntocamden.org 7
FEATURE
community groups, worked with
musicians and recorded The Leitrim
Equation 1. The CD contained many
newly composed tunes, which
came out of the regular ‘new tunes’
workshops with Lúnasa members
Kevin Crawford and Paul Meehan.
The project proved a resounding
success and in 2009, Dervish took
up the baton. The emphasis of this
second residency was very much
on the songs of Leitrim. This grew
out of a desire by Cathy Jordan to
meet and sing with Leitrim singers,
with the aim of identifying songs
native to the county and bringing
them to a new, wider audience.
For The Leitrim Equation 3, three
legends of Irish music, Dónal
Lunny, John Carty and Séamus
Begley were invited to come
together, to discover and interpret
Leitrim tunes and songs, to play
with musicians they met and
to share their vast knowledge
and experience with the next
generation of Leitrim musicians.
During their time in the county,
they would develop a new sound
for themselves, born in Leitrim.
This fourth Leitrim Equation group
features Leitrim musicians Eleanor
Shanley, Padraig McGovern, Dave
Sheridan and John McCartin,
who have been joined for this
production by musical director
Dónal Lunny, poet and playwright
Vincent Woods and Sean Nós
dancer Edwina Guckian.
In addition to visiting and
performing in Leitrim, meeting
local musicians and linking up
with community and school
groups, the group has taken part
in a performance programme
based on the music of Leitrim,
with and for musicians from all
over the county. In tandem with
this, industry specialists Leading
8 RtCT2015
"The show is the
culmination of the group’s
residency in Leitrim
over the last eighteen
months. Together with
Musical Director Dónal
Lunny, they will present
beautiful arrangements
of the music, some of
which has not been played
for over 100 years. "
Edge have run a wide ranging
professional development and
mentoring programme.
As a result, a number of younger
Leitrim musicians have become
members of Brí, an exciting new
group drawn from across the
county, which has been brought
together under the guidance
of Dave Sheridan and Padraig
McGovern. Working closely with
Dave and Padraig, Brí have been
honing their music and stage skills,
uncovering some hidden gems
of Leitrim music and venturing
into composing new works to
add to Leitrim’s rich heritage.
The show is the culmination of
the group’s residency in Leitrim
over the last eighteen months.
Together with Musical Director
Dónal Lunny, they will present
beautiful arrangements of the
music, some of which has not
been played for over 100 years.
The cast is completed by Leitrim
poet, playwright and broadcaster,
Vincent Woods and Sean Nós
dancer, Edwina Guckian. The show
also incorporates film produced
by Johnny Gogan of Bandit Films.
A marvellous evening is
guaranteed and we strongly
advise booking in advance.
The artists are:
Eleanor Shanley – Vocals. One
of Ireland’s foremost singers. She
has seven solo albums to her
credit and has been a member of
seminal group De Danann. She
was awarded the 2015 Danish Folk
Award at the Skagen Festival.
Padraig McGovern – Uilleann
Pipes, Tin Whistle. Padraig’s
recent multidisciplinary project
The Pipes, enjoyed critical acclaim
internationally. He was taught
uilleann pipes by master piper
P.J. Flood and developed his
music as a member of the
Ceolas Céili Band. He teaches
and performs extensively and
recently released a new CD,
Forgotten Gems, with accordion
and banjo player Peter Carberry.
Dave Sheridan – Flute, Keyboards.
A multi-instrumentalist, Dave
has recorded two acclaimed
albums, Sheridan’s Guesthouse
and Drivin' Leitrim Timber and has
recorded with many bands of note,
including De Danann and Téada.
John McCartin – Guitar. A
guitar and fiddle player, in 2008,
John received a MA in Traditional
Music Performance from the
Irish World Academy of Music
and Dance at the University of
Limerick. John’s proficiency with
guitar accompaniment has seen
him play with many noted bands,
including Lúnasa and Dervish.
Vincent Woods – Playwright.
Vincent’s plays include At the Black
Pig’s Dyke (Druid Theatre Company,
1992); Song of the Yellow Bittern
(Druid Theatre Company, 1994); and
A Cry from Heaven (Abbey Theatre,
2005); and for radio, The Leitrim
Hotel, The Gospels of Aughamore and
Broken Moon. His poetry is collected
as The Colour of Language (The
Dedalus Press, 1994): and Lives and
Miracles (Arlen House, 2006). Awards
include The Stewart Parker Award
for Drama and The Ted McNulty
award for poetry. He currently
presents ‘Arts Tonight’ on RTÉ Radio
1. He is a member of Aosdána.
Edwina Guckian – Sean Nós
dancer. From Drumsna, Edwina
learned her dancing from her
mother and the local dancers of
Leitrim and Roscommon. A fine
musician, she plays the fiddle and
tin whistle and has performed
with De Danann, Dervish, Cherish
the Ladies, Beoga, Téada, Martin
Hayes, Séamus Begley and Mairtín
O Connor. She is a noted teacher of
dance and was choreographer for
Ken Loach’s 2014 film, Jimmy’s Hall.
They are supported by:
Dónal Lunny – Musical Director.
A guitar and bouzouki player,
composer and producer who
has been a leading light in the
evolution of Irish Traditional Music
for more than 35 years. Since
the 1970s, Dónal has founded
legendary Irish bands Planxty, The
Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin
and recently Mozaik. He is a sought
after producer and has produced
albums for Kate Bush, Baaba Maal,
Paul Brady, Elvis Costello, Mark
Knopfler, Rod Stewart, Fairground
Attraction, Indigo Girls and Clannad.
Paul Keogan – Designer. Paul’s
credits for lighting design include
over 30 productions at the Abbey
Theatre including Heartbreak
House, Julius Caesar and The
Cherry Orchard. Other design
credits include; Afterplay (Crucible
Theatre, Sheffield); Harvest (Royal
Court Theatre, London) and Blue/
Orange (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
and UK Tour). Paul devised and
directed Man of Aran, Re-imagined
with Liam O Maonlaí and Mel
Mercier in 2010 and co-wrote the
libretto for Quicksilver the Opera.
Johnny Gogan – Film Production.
Writer-director of fifteen short
films, documentaries and fictions,
including the award-winning
feature films The Last Bus Home and
Mapmaker. His third feature film,
Black Ice, with Jane McGrath and
Killian Scott, was released in 2013.
‘An Godfather’ screening:
Sun 25 Oct, 5pm (£5)
‘Leitrim Equation 4’ concert:
Sun 25 Oct, 7.30pm (£15/ £13 saver)
Both events will be held at the
Studio Theatre, Royal Academy
of Dramatic Art (RADA), 16
Chenies St, London WC1E 7PA
RADA Box Office:
+44(0)207 908 4800
MICHAEL FLAHERTY TRIBUTE
S
adly, Michael Flaherty a
great friend and supporter
of The Festival passed away on
8th August 2015. His daughter
Jacqui Burdis wrote this lovely
tribute for the Magazine.
Michael was a true Irishman, who
was deeply proud of his culture and
heritage. He was born in Galway of
Connemara parents and brought
up speaking Gaelic. He had a deep
love of traditional Irish music and
was a self-taught accordionist.
Along with his love of music, he had
a deep passion for the traditional
style of Set Dancing. This originated
from the house dances held in
homes in Ireland and along with
his wife Bridie, this style of Set
Dancing became a true passion
and a major part of their lives.
They shared their dancing skills
through holding their own
classes and gained many pupils
who not only became dancing
enthusiasts and followers of this
traditional dancing style but also
became good friends. Anyone
who met Michael will remember
he was a kind and gentle man
with great patience and he
took every opportunity to give
encouragement to anyone who
showed an interest in Set Dancing.
Michael and his wife Bridie were
totally committed to help keep this
style of traditional dancing alive and
this was especially evident when
you watched them dance together.
Throughout the music and
dancing circles, Michael will be
deeply missed but through his
teaching, his legacy will live on.
www.returntocamden.org 9
FEATURE
ROGER SHERLOCK – A TRIBUTE
By Laurie Harper
school as fiddler and composer
Brendan Tonra, who emigrated to
Boston, whilst flute player Kevin
Henry, who moved to Chicago,
grew up only two miles away.
Although all these musicians were
born on the Mayo side of the
border, the region’s close proximity
to south Sligo and its famous
fiddle tradition meant they learned
from and became associated
with that style of playing.
18
th June 2015 was a sad
day for the Irish music
world. The great flute player,
teacher and gentleman, Roger
Sherlock, passed away at the
nursing home in Bettystown,
Co. Meath, where he had lived
for the final months of his life.
Roger was a true giant of Irish
music. He is rightly credited with
having transformed Irish flute
playing, developing it from the style
of the 1930s and 40s and laying the
foundations for the great players of
the modern era. Musicians such as
Matt Molloy, Séamus Tansey, Josie
McDermott and Catherine McEvoy
and those who have followed after
all owe him an enormous debt.
Roger was born in 1932 in
Cloonfeightrin, Co. Mayo. He
grew up surrounded by music:
his grandfather played flute
and whistle, his father sang and
his mother played melodeon.
The region where he spent his
childhood, on the borders of Mayo
and Sligo, was noted for traditional
music. Roger attended the same
10 RtCT2015
Roger himself emigrated in 1952.
He settled in London, where the
first musician he encountered was
West Limerick flute player Paddy
Taylor. During the mid-1950s, he
shared a flat and played music
with the great Clare piper, Willie
Clancy. London in the 1950s, 60s
and 70s played host to some of the
great Irish musicians of the day and
Roger played with and numbered
among his friends many whose
names are now legendary; players
of the stature of Michael Gorman,
Margaret Barry, Bobby Casey, Jimmy
Power, Willie Clancy, Lucy Farr, Julia
Clifford, Paddy Taylor, Raymond
Roland, John Bowe, Danny Meehan,
Vincent Griffin, Séan McGuire, Liam
Farrell and Brendan McGlinchey.
Roger was recorded for Raidió
Éireannn's Job of Journeywork
and played with céilí bands in
London’s Irish dance
halls, including the
Dunloe, the Hibernian
and, most famous of
all, the mighty Thatch
Céilí Band, which won
consecutive All-Ireland
titles in 1986 and 1987.
He was also a stalwart
of many of the famous
pub sessions of the
time, including the legendary White
Hart session at Fulham Broadway.
RETURN TO CAMDEN TOWN
PROGRAMME LISTINGS
His classic recording, Memories
Of Sligo, was released in 1978. He
also recorded with Kit O’Connor,
Séan McGuire and Josephine
Keegan and was featured,
playing with Bobby Casey and
John Bowe, in the five part BBC
documentary series, Bringing It All
Back Home, which aired in 1991.
Bringing It All Back Home, which
traced the Irish cultural and
population migrations across
the world and their influence on
popular and traditional music,
was originally accompanied by a
double CD. In 1999, Donal Lunny
took the material, added some
newly recorded and previously
unissued performances and
reissued it as a three CD set.
Sadly, it is now out of print.
Roger was also the subject
of one of TG4’s Sé mo Laoch
documentaries about Irish
musicians of note. He and his wife
Mona returned to Ireland in 1996 to
live in Bettystown, Co. Meath and
in 2009, he was made a member of
the prestigious TG4 Hall of Fame.
Rest in peace, Roger and thank you.
Above: Roger Sherlock on flute;
below: Thatch Céilí Band.
Photos courtesy of John Bowe.
www.returntocamden.org 11
LISTINGS
TUESDAY 20TH OCTOBER
THURSDAY 22ND OCTOBER
OPENING CONCERT –
A TASTE OF BIRMINGHAM IRISH
EVENING 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.
• CROSSHARBOUR
• ARTISAN ROW
7.30pm • The Fiddlers Elbow • £10 in advance
• NOREEN CULLEN, TOMMY DIEGNAN AND ADRIAN BURNS
• CONOR HEALY, COLM MCGONIGLE AND HANNAH DONELON
7.30 pm • The Green Note • £10 in advance
(booking strongly advised – a compact venue) Tickets available through links at www.returntocamden.org
CROSSHARBOUR
CrossHarbour is a dynamic
young band from London’s
thriving Irish music scene.
Fusing well-loved traditional
tunes and songs with original
compositions and innovative
Noreen Cullen and Adrian Burns
Some of our friends from the
vibrant Birmingham Irish music
scene kick off the 2015 Return to
Camden Town Festival in fine style.
Fiddler Noreen Cullen genuinely
sounds like nobody else. Her Irish
playing is obviously influenced
by the great Séan McGuire, but
her repertoire also encompasses
jazz and swing, gypsy, country
music and blues. She has played
since the age of eight, learning the
fiddle from the many traditional
musicians in Birmingham, including
her father, Jack Cullen. She won
several all-Ireland titles whilst still
at school and moved to London
in the early 1980s to join LondonIrish band Stirabout. She has since
performed in both Riverdance and
Lord of the Dance and is regularly in
demand as a session player for both
recordings and live performance.
12 RtCT2015
Tommy Diegnan
Conor Healy
Her partner, Adrian Burns, a
singer/guitarist and songwriter,
grew up playing traditional Irish
music on flute, bouzouki and guitar.
He and Noreen met in 1985 and
have worked together ever since,
performing on BBC1, Channel 4,
RTE, BBC London Radio, at Sydney
Opera House with the Australian
Philharmonic Orchestra, with the
Royal Shakespeare Company and
the Irish Folk-Ballet Company.
They have recently teamed
up with the fine Birminghambased accordion player Tommy
Diegnan, who has played button
accordion since he was a boy.
Originally from Birmingham, flute
player Conor Healy is now based
in London. He is co-founder and
director of the Trip to Birmingham
Tradfest, the great annual Midlands
Irish music festival, which takes
Colm McGonigle
arrangements, CrossHarbour
are gaining recognition for their
highly virtuosic, energetic and
polished performances. The band
features the remarkable abilities
of winner of no less than 19
All-Ireland titles, flute and whistle
virtuoso and composer Órlaith
McAuliffe, fiddler Sam Proctor,
whose 2008 debut solo album,
Natural Progression, was chosen
by the Irish Times as one of the
traditional albums of the year, multiinstrumentalist Philippe Barnes,
London session musician and
teacher Tad Sargent on bodhrán
and bouzouki and singer Rosie
Hodgson, who was a finalist in
the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk
Awards. For further information,
see: crossharbourmusic.com/
about/meet-the-band
Hannah Donelon
five albums and performed
throughout the UK, Ireland and
the US. She is also Director of the
Return to Camden Town festival.
place in late November. Conor
met Belfast-born concertina and
harp player Colm McGonigle
whilst living in Cambridge. They
have since performed together
at concerts and festivals in
the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Singer Hannah Donelon has
performed extensively throughout
the UK and Ireland, both as a
solo artist and in bands. She
is a member of Manchester
band, Shake The Barley and
London-based Southfleet.
SESSION
9pm • The Lamb
Tavern – Free
• Mick O’Connor, Goretti
Anglim and Mick Bailey
ARTISAN ROW
Artisan Row, London’s newest
Irish band, brings together four
well-known figures from London's
traditional Irish and folk music scene
– Elma McElligott, Karen Ryan,
Conor Doherty and Pete Quinn. The
quartet explores a wide range of
traditional tunes and songs – from
effervescent reels and Bulgarian
horos to quietly dramatic hornpipes
and haunting ballads – setting the
music in striking and original ways.
Elma McElligott, saxophone and
flute, is from Listowel, Co. Kerry.
A graduate of University College,
Cork, where she studied music
under Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and
Mel Mercier, she has performed
with The London Lasses for the
past six years. Karen Ryan, banjo,
mandola, fiddle and whistle, is a
founder member of The London
Lasses, with whom she has recorded
Guitarist and singer Conor
Doherty, from Derry City, plays
traditional and contemporary
songs from England, Ireland,
Scotland and America. He has
performed extensively throughout
the UK and Ireland. Liverpool-born
pianist Pete Quinn's performing
experience extends from John
Cage at the Barbican through
jazz fusion at Ronnie Scott’s to
traditional Irish music at the BBC
Proms. Formerly with The London
Lasses, he has performed with
some of the greats of traditional
Irish music and has appeared
on numerous recordings.
www.returntocamden.org 13
LISTINGS
SESSION
9pm • Ben Gunnery, Liam O’Barr, Brian Kelly, Chris O’Malley • The Canonbury Tavern
FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER
EVENING CONCERT
Sponsored by:
Please note that all advertised times are door opening times. Performances will start 30 minutes after doors open.
• BREAKING TRAD
• SEVEN GLENS
7.30pm • Kings Place ¤ £15.50/£9.50 advance, £13.50 savers
(booking strongly advised) Tickets available through links at www.returntocamden.org
melodeon, Niall Murphy (fiddle)
from Camlough, South Armagh, a
winner of multiple awards including
the All-Ireland Senior Fiddle
competition, Fiddler of Dooney
and Fiddler of Oriel, together
with multi-instrumentalist Mike
Galvin, who has vast experience
working in a wide range of musical
styles from rock to traditional.
If you love the wonderful, high
energy traditional music of
Sliabh Luachra, on the borders
of Cork, Kerry and Limerick,
this concert is for you.
BREAKING TRAD
Breaking Trad is made up of
Dónal Murphy (accordion) from
Abbeyfeale, West Limerick, a winner
of numerous All-Ireland titles
on both button accordion and
Between them, they have toured
extensively, performing at major
festivals and music venues and
touring with some of the biggest
names in several different musical
genres, including Four Men and
a Dog, Cara Dillon, De Dannan,
Dance star Michael Flatley,
Bluegrass guitarist/singer Dan
Tyminski (Alison Krauss and Union
Station), Country legend Randy
Travis and many more. Their music
SEVEN GLENS
Seven Glens, an impressive and
versatile band of young musicians
from Sliabh Luachra, are guitarist
Cathal Flood, vocalist and musician
Bríd O’Shea, dancer, musician
and vocalist Ciara O’Shea, along
with Niamh Dalton on concertina
and whistle, Michael Kelliher
14 RtCT2015
has been described as 'dazzling',
'unorthodox and unique', and
'high octane'. This powerhouse
band is reviving traditional
music with a fresh and modern
twist and has recently released
its eponymous debut CD.
Special guest with the band
tonight is Gino Lupari, aka 'king of
the bodhrán' and frontman with
the much loved 1980s band, Four
Men and a Dog. As a percussionist
and vocalist he has recorded and
performed with Sinéad Ó’Connor,
Shane McGowan and the Popes
and has appeared in the BBC
drama The Passion. Gino is a
man of enormous charisma; if he
wasn’t such a fine musician, he’d
undoubtedly be a comedian.
on melodeon, accordion and
harmonica and Seán Kelliher on
mandolin, banjo and harmonica.
The band brings many influences
to its music, especially from
the Sliabh Luachra tradition,
combining them with a wide
and varied repertoire to create a
modern, lively and unique sound.
www.returntocamden.org 15
LISTINGS
SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER
CONCERT AT MUSICAL
TRADITIONS CLUB
• RITA GALLAGHER
8pm • The King & Queen • Advanced booking with reserved seat £10*/ On the door
£8/concessions £6 (Members £7/concessions £5) – see: www.mustradclub.co.uk
RITA GALLAGHER
Rita Gallagher, from Ballymacahill,
Frosses in Co. Donegal, is regarded
as one of the finest female
traditional Irish singers. A three-time
winner of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Éireann All-Ireland title for female
singing in English she regularly
participates in festivals, workshops
and singing events throughout the
country. Rita comes from a family
of traditional singers. She credits
the great Paddy Tunney as one of
her most significant influences.
Her beautifully rich voice, eloquent
ornamentation, restrained delivery
and evident love of the songs
make her a compelling and much
admired performer. Her double
CD, The May Morning Dew, will
be available on the night.
For advance tickets, send cheque
with SAE, made out to E.P. Webb,
to 52 Cecile Park London N8 9AS.
SESSIONS
• 8.30pm • The Auld Triangle – Free
• Gary Connolly, James (flute) Carty,
James (fiddle) Carty, Maggie Carty
• 9pm • The Clayton Crown
Hotel – Free • Mick O’Connor,
Eugene Teevan and Mick Bailey
FESTIVAL CLUB AT THE COBDEN
› 12am until late
• Session musicians welcome
• Free
Beckett Homes wishes all
the best to the
17th Return to Camden
Town Festival – here's to
another successful year
WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS,
MATINÉE SET DANCING CÉILÍ
AND AFTERNOON CONCERT
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners may
purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive 30 minutes before start time to allow for registration.
OUR WORKSHOP LEADERS
Most of those who are leading and teaching our instrumental workshops are performing
at this year’s Festival. Information about them can be found under entries for their
performances. Those who are not featured elsewhere in this magazine are:
PÁDRAIG MCGOVERN
Uilleann pipes master Padraig
McGovern, from Ballymagovern,
in the Cavan-Leitrim border area,
was taught the great P.J. Flood from
Belturbet, Co. Cavan and heavily
influenced by accordionist Vincent
Tighe. His family were all involved
with the Cornafean Céilí group
and Padraig developed his music
as a member of the Ceolas Céili
Band and played with many fine
Leitrim musicians. He is a widely
respected teacher and performer
and has taught for many years at
the Joe Mooney Summer School,
SEÁNA DAVEY
Scoil Éigse, Ag Seinm and more
recently at the Irish Music School
of Chicago and the DublinOhio festival in Jackson, MS.
TERRY O’DONNELL
A long time stalwart of the Festival
and of the London Irish set dancing
scene, Terry is a very experienced
teacher and dancer. His relaxed
style and extensive knowledge
make him the ideal person to
present our workshop for set
dancers of all levels and experience.
Seána plays the Irish and Concert
Harp. She studied with the Royal
Irish Academy of Music and
graduated in Music and Irish from
the National University of Ireland.
From a musical family, she is also
an accomplished Irish dancer.
Now based in London, she plays
the harp professionally and has
performed throughout Europe,
Asia, North America and Australia.
She has recorded two albums to
date, the second of which will be
released at the end of this year.
WORKSHOPS
SEAN NÓS DANCING WORKSHOP WITH EDWINA GUCKIAN
10.00am–12pm • London Irish Centre • £8
UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH PÁDRAIG MCGOVERN
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH DESI WILKINSON
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
BANJO WORKSHOP WITH JONAS FROMSEIER
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH JOHNNY ÓG CONNOLLY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
SINGING WORKSHOP WITH ELEANOR SHANLEY
2–4pm • London Irish Centre • £10
16 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 17
LISTINGS
FULL EVENT PROGRAMME
4pm
Session
John Bowe, Padraig McGovern, Noel Whelton
London Irish
Centre (Hub)
Free
ALL MUSIC AND SONG EVENTS FOR UNDER 18S: £6
All children free at dance events when accompanied by a paying adult
Festival tickets available from: www.returntocamden.org
Please arrive at 10.30am for instrumental and singing workshops to allow time for registration
Advertised concert times are doors open time, onstage time is half an hour later.
Album launch on stage times are approximately the same as door open times.
4pm
Session
Conal Cuttle, Alex Kelly, Anthony McGrath
The Cobden
Free
5pm
Album and
DVD Launch
Claire Egan/ Edwina Guckian
London Irish Centre
(Kennedy)
Free
5pm
Singing Session
Hosted by Pat Connolly and Rita Gallagher
London Irish
Centre (Chapel)
Free
7.30pm
Evening Concert
Altan/ Cran
London Irish Centre (Mac) £15 adv. / £17
on door/ £6
under 18s
KEY: London Irish Centre
• Mac: McNamara Hall • Pres: Presidential Suite • Hub: Bar/Chapel is upstairs • Kennedy: Kennedy Hall is on
the ground floor on the other side of the building from the main entrance – please access via Murray Mews
8pm
Session
Patsy Moloney, Johnny Óg
Connolly, James (fiddle) Carty
London Irish
Centre (Hub)
Free
12am
Festival Club
Session musicians welcome
The Cobden
Free
Terry O’Donnell
London Irish Centre (Mac) £8
11am-1pm Whistle Workshop
Ronan Browne
London Irish Centre
£10
11am-1pm Fiddle Workshop
Ciarán Ó Maonaigh
London Irish Centre
£10
11am-1pm Harp Workshop
Seána Davey
London Irish Centre
£10
12-2pm
Concertina
Workshop
Caitlín Nic Gabhann
London Irish Centre
£10
1pm
Session
Mick Mulvey, Johnny Connolly, Pete Quinn
London Irish
Centre (Hub)
Free
1-4pm
Matinée Set
Dancing Céilí
Abbey Céilí Band
London Irish Centre (Mac) £10
2pm
Afternoon Concert
Danny Meehan and Le Chéile/ Caitlín
Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh
London Irish Centre (Pres) £10
4pm
Session
Tom O’Connell, Sinéad Munroe,
Peter McAlinden
London Irish
Centre (Hub)
Free
5pm
Documentary
Screening
‘The Godfather’ – Bryan Rooney
The Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art (RADA)
– Studio Theatre
£5
5pm
Album Launch
Patsy Moloney/ Caitlín Nic Gabhann
and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh
London Irish Centre
(Kennedy)
Free
SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2015
TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2015
7.30pm
9pm
Evening Concert
Session
A Taste of Birmingham Irish – Noreen Cullen,
Tommy Diegnan and Adrian Burns/ Conor
Healy, Colm McGonigle and Hannah Donelon
Green Note
Mick O’Connor, Goretti Anglim, Mick Bailey
The Lamb Tavern
£10 adv.
Free
THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2015
7.30pm
Evening Concert
CrossHarbour/ Artisan Row
Fiddler’s Elbow
£10 adv.
8.30pm
Session
Ben Gunnery, Liam O’Barr, Brian
Kelly, Chris O’Malley
The Canonbury Tavern
Free
FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 2015
7.30pm
Evening Concert
Breaking Trad/ Seven Glens
Kings Place
£15.50/£9.50£13.50 savers
8pm
Evening Concert
Rita Gallagher
Musical Traditions Club
– King and Queen
£8, concs. £6
(Members £7,
concs £5)
10am–
12pm
Steps for Set
Dancing Workshop
8.30pm
Session
Gary Connolly, James (flute) Carty,
James (fiddle) Carty, Maggie Carty
The Auld Triangle
Free
9pm
Session
Mick O’Connor, Eugene Teevan, Mick Bailey
Clayton Crown Hotel
Free
12am
Festival Club
Session musicians welcome
The Cobden
Free
Edwina Guckian
London Irish Centre (Mac) £8
5pm
Singing Session
Hosted by Pat Connolly and Seán Corcoran
London Irish
Centre (Chapel)
Free
11am-1pm Accordion
Workshop
Johnny Óg Connolly
London Irish Centre
5pm
Session
Sam Proctor, Philippe Barnes, Tad Sargent
The Golden Lion
Free
7pm
Album Launch
Eamon Rodgers
London Irish Centre (Mac) Free
11am-1pm Banjo Workshop
Jonas Fromseier
London Irish Centre
£10
7.30pm
11am-1pm Uilleann Pipes
Workshop
Pádraig McGovern
London Irish Centre
£10
Evening
Performance
The Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art (RADA)
– Studio Theatre
11am-1pm Flute Workshop
Desi Wilkinson
London Irish Centre
£10
Leitrim Equation 4 (featuring Eleanor
Shanley, Padraig McGovern, Dave
Sheridan, John McCartin, Dónal Lunny,
Edwina Guckian and Vincent Woods)
1pm
Session
Alan O’Leary, Maggie Carty, Martin Fahy
London Irish
Centre (Hub)
Free
7.30pm
Session
Desi Wilksinson, Ronan Browne, Seán Corcoran London Irish
Centre (Hub)
Free
1-4pm
Matinee Set
Dancing Céilí
Abbey Céilí Band
London Irish Centre (Mac) £10
8pm
Session
Bryony Lemon, Colm McGonigle, Nigel Stevens The Harrison
Free
12am
Festival Club
Session musicians welcome
The Cobden
Free
2-4pm
Singing Workshop
Eleanor Shanley
London Irish Centre
2pm
Afternoon Concert
Johnny and Johnny Óg Connolly/ The
London Lasses and Chris O’Malley
London Irish Centre (Pres) £10
Cran/ Bryan Rooney and Pete
Quinn/Comhaltas in Britain
London Irish Centre (Pres) £5
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2015
10am –
12pm
Sean Nós Dancing
Workshop
18 RtCT2015
£10
£10
£15/ £13 saver
MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2015
2pm
Concert in
Association
with Irish Elderly
Advice Network
www.returntocamden.org 19
LISTINGS
SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER
SESSIONS
1pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Alan O’Leary, Maggie Carty, Martin Fahy
4pm • The Cobden • Free • Conal Cuttle, Alex Kelly, Anthony McGrath
4pm • London Irish Centre • Free • John Bowe, Padraig McGovern, Noel Whelton
5pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Singing Session with Pat Connolly
and Rita Gallagher
8pm • London Irish Centre • Free • Patsy Moloney, Johnny Óg Connolly,
James (fiddle) Carty
Kerryman of the Year 2014
MATINÉE SET DANCING CÉILĺ
• THE ABBEY CÉILĺ BAND
1pm • London Irish Centre • £10 (children free at dance events, but must be accompanied by an adult)
nights for a weekly set dancing
session in the Abbey Hotel, in
Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, which was
(and is) owned by Micheál’s family.
ABBEY CÉILĺ BAND
Making a welcome return to the
Festival is Cork’s dynamic Abbey
Ceili Band. Founded in 1995, the
band started out with just two
musicians, accordionist Ger Murphy
and keyboard player Micheál
Creedon. They played on Thursday
After a few months, Liam Forde sat
in on banjo, impressing Ger and
Micheál so much that they invited
him to join the band. Andrew
O'Connell visited the session with
his fiddle a short while later and was
asked to complete the foursome.
Multi-instrumentalist John Coakley,
from Bantry in County Cork is
now the permanent pianist in
the band – we are delighted to
welcome John back to Camden
Town after he spent so many years
living and playing in London.
They quickly established a
reputation in the area for their solid
playing and strong arrangements.
Travelling further afield, they
cemented their reputation with
the set dancing world when they
played at the Dan Furey weekend
in Labasheeda and the summer
schools in Miltown Malbay.
Nowadays, they play all over Ireland
and Europe and have appeared
several times on RTÉ's Céilí House.
THE IRISH FILM FESTIVAL LONDON, screening the latest and greatest Irish Films
and Animations, runs 18–22 November at Tricycle, Regent Street and Rio Cinemas.
We are opening with a screening of ‘WB Yeats: No Country For Old Men’
at Regent Street Cinema on Weds 18 November at 7.30pm. Accompanied
by a Q&A with special guests hosted by Ambassador Dan Mulhall.
Tickets available through their website: www.regentstreetcinema.com
Our website is: www.irishfilmlondon.com
20 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 21
LISTINGS
AFTERNOON CONCERT
by ARC Music in February 2014.
• JOHNNY CONNOLLY AND JOHNNY ÓG CONNOLLY
• THE LONDON LASSES AND CHRIS O’MALLEY
2.00pm • London Irish Centre • £10. All music events for under-18s: £6
JOHNNY CONNOLLY
AND JOHNNY ÓG
CONNOLLY
We present a rare treat for lovers
of fine accordion and melodeon
playing, as father and son,
Johnny Connolly and Johnny Óg
Connolly, from Conamara, pay
their first visit to the Festival.
Johnny Connolly is an
acknowledged master and
arguably the greatest ever player
of the Irish melodeon. From Inis
Bearacháin, he began playing
when his parents left the children
at home to watch currach racing
and his sister Nain showed him
where they kept their melodeon
locked up. He emigrated to England
at the age of 17, and did not play
whilst he lived here. On his return to
Connemara in 1976, he took up the
two-row accordion, a much more
popular instrument at the time,
but always hankered after the old
style of playing on the one-row. He
felt that he could achieve a better
rhythm on the instrument, despite
its limitations and began playing it
again after an injury at work in 1990
left him with time on his hands.
He travels relatively infrequently
outside Ireland, so this is a rare
opportunity to see him perform.
His son, Johnny Óg, began playing
the accordion at the age of nine,
learning from Johnny and from
Micheál Ó Coistealbha, winning
his first All-Ireland title just two
years later. A prodigy, he joined Na
h-Ancairí, fronted by the legendary
Conamara singer, John Beag Ó
Flatharta, at the age of fourteen,
spending eight years with the
band and touring in England and
America. In 1990, he made the first
traditional album released by Cló
Iar-Chonnacht, The Bees' Wing. In
1994, he joined the Sean Keane
Band and performed widely with
them in Europe and North America.
In 1998 he recorded the acclaimed
Dreaming up the Tunes, an album
of banjo and accordion duets with
Brian McGrath and in the same
year toured with Michael Flatley's
Lord of the Dance in Europe and
the Middle and Far East. In 2003 he
settled permanently in Conamara,
and recorded a second duet album
with Charlie Lennon, Dusk Till Dawn,
in 2005. He is a prolific composer;
his most recent recording, Aisling
Yoshua (Joshua's Dream), featuring
five new compositions, was
released in April 2011 and was
voted Best Traditional Album in the
2011 Irish Times Ticket Awards.
andybanjo ltd.
UK's largest specialist banjo dealerTel: 01795 590374 Email: [email protected]
Producing & selling good quality banjos at
competitive prices for beginners through to
experienced players
Website: www.andybanjo.com
22 RtCT2015
The Banjo Works
Unit 18 Faversham Industrial Estate
Graveney Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8UJ
THE LONDON LASSES
AND CHRIS O’MALLEY
Over the past fifteen years The
London Lasses have taken their
music to some of the world’s most
prestigious festivals and concert
halls, including Cambridge Folk
Festival, the Concertgebouw
(Amsterdam), Glastonbury,
Dublin City Hall, Philadelphia Irish
Festival and the Royal Albert Hall,
where they performed the first
ever BBC Proms céilí as part of
the 2008 season and supported
The Chieftains on their 50th
Anniversary tour. They were
featured on the Ultimate Guide
to Irish Folk double CD, released
This internationally renowned band
delivers a wealth of traditional
material from all over Ireland,
including songs in Irish and English,
plus the full gamut of Irish dance
tunes, from the ancient to the
newly composed. The London
Lasses celebrated their tenth
anniversary in 2010 with the release
of their fourth album By Night
and By Day and earlier this year,
they released their 5th album, The
One I Loved the Best, with Leeds
pianist/guitarist, Chris O’Malley.
“One of the best bands on the
scene today.” Irish Music Magazine
ALBUM AND DVD LAUNCH
• EDWINA GUCKIAN
• CLAIRE EGAN
5.00pm • London Irish Centre • Free
EDWINA GUCKIAN
Sean Nós dancer Edwina Guckian,
from Drumsna in Co. Leitrim,
learned her dancing from her
mother and the local dancers
of Leitrim and Roscommon. Her
style is greatly influenced by
the music she grew up listening
to. A fine musician, she plays
the fiddle and tin whistle and
graduated from St. Patrick’s College,
Drumcondra, with a degree in
Music, English and Education.
Edwina, who is performing with
the Leitrim Equation at our Sunday
evening concert at the RADA
Studio Theatre, launches her DVD
of Sean Nós Dance tutorials and
performances. The DVD features
12 of Edwina’s Leitrim Sean Nós
reel steps, broken down and
explained simply and clearly to
suit dancers of all levels and skills.
It also features performances
from across Leitrim, with guest
appearances from Sean Nós ar an
tSionann and live music from some
of the finest Leitrim musicians.
traditional music and is recognised
for her unique interpretation of the
tunes and fine musicianship. She
has an impeccable technique and
an innate understanding of the
expressive quality within the music.
She is accompanied on the album
by her sister Sinead on guitar (who
will perform with her today), Jack
Talty on piano and De Danann’s
Mick Conneely on bouzouki.
"Her sweet tone, assured pace
and skilful ingenuity allows Claire
to delve into nooks, crannies
and corners of tunes, effortlessly
making them her own." John Carty
CLAIRE EGAN
London-born fiddle player Claire
Egan launches her debut album,
Turning Tides. From a musical
family, Claire grew up immersed in
www.returntocamden.org 23
LISTINGS
SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER
EVENING CONCERT
• ALTAN
• CRAN
7.30pm • London Irish Centre • £15 advance, £17 on door, £6 under 18s
CRAN
ALTAN
One of the truly seminal bands
in Irish music today, Altan started
out in the early 1980s as a duo
of Belfast flute-player, Frankie
Kennedy and Gaoth Dobhair
singer and fiddler, Mairéad Ní
Mhaonaigh. They specialized in
performing old Donegal fiddle
music (then little known outside
Donegal) and unusual Northern
flute tunes and rapidly became
known for the style, power and
inventiveness of their playing.
The band has evolved over the
years, in particular developing
its trademark twin fiddle sound.
Presently playing fiddle opposite
Mairéad is the great Donegal
fiddler, Ciaran Tourish. The
band has recently been joined
by Ciaran’s cousin, Martin, on
piano accordion. Martin is also a
composer of note and was the
recipient of the 2008 TG4 ‘Young
Musician of the Year’ award.
Altan was signed to Virgin Records
in 1996, the first Irish band of its
kind to sign with a major label.
They have since gone on to gain
gold and platinum albums and
have appeared throughout the
world. Their latest album, The
Widening Gyre, was recorded in
Nashville and is a collaboration
with friends and guests to explore
the influence of Appalachian
music on Irish music. It features,
among others, Alison Brown, Sam
Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bruce Molsky,
Todd Phillips, Bryan Sutton, Darol
Anger, Tim O’Brien, Eddi Reader
and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Cran are Ronan Browne, uilleann
pipes, flute and vocals, Desi
Wilkinson, flute and vocals and
Séan Corcoran, bouzouki and
vocals. The band's performances
combine musical virtuosity with
songs, humour, banter and stories.
They combine dance music,
haunting slow airs on flute and
pipes and songs, ranging from
the highly-ornamented sean-nós
of Conamara to the port a'bhéil
or mouth music of Donegal. Their
repertoire includes songs in Irish
and English, covering the entire
gamut from the old story-telling
"long ballads" to lively comic songs
of "pure divilment and rascality".
This concert is virtually certain
to sell out and we strongly
advise booking in advance.
FESTIVAL CLUB AT THE COBDEN
› 12am until late • Session musicians welcome • Free
24 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 25
LISTINGS
SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER
WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AFTERNOON
CONCERT, MATINÉE SET DANCING
CÉILÍ AND ALBUM LAUNCHES
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners may
purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive 30 minutes before start time to allow for registration.
WORKSHOPS
STEPS FOR SET DANCING WORKSHOP WITH TERRY O’DONNELL
10am–12pm • London Irish Centre • £8
MATINÉE SET DANCING CÉILÍ
• THE ABBEY CÉILĺ BAND
1–4pm • London Irish Centre • £10
(children free at dance events, but must be accompanied by an adult)
AFTERNOON CONCERT
•DANNY MEEHAN AND LE CHÉILE
•CAITLÍN NIC GABHANN AND CIARÁN Ó MAONAIGH
2pm • London Irish Centre • £10
and ‘70s were golden years for
traditional Irish music in London,
when musicians played to packed
houses and sparked the revival
which went on to spread back
home and around the globe.
WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH RONAN BROWNE
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH CIARÁN Ó MAONAIGH
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
HARP WORKSHOP WITH SEÁNA DAVEY
11am–1pm • London Irish Centre • £10
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH CAITLÍN NIC GABHANN
12pm–2pm • London Irish Centre • £10
LE CHÉILE
Le Chéile was formed in the
early 1970s by musicians who
played regularly in the famous
sessions at The White Hart, on
Fulham Broadway. The 1960s
SESSIONS
1pm • London Irish Centre – Free • Mick Mulvey, Johnny Connolly, Pete Quinn
4pm • London Irish Centre – Free • Tom O’Connell, Sinéad Munroe, Peter McAlinden
5pm • London Irish Centre – Free • Singing session with Pat Connolly and
Seán Corcoran
7.30pm • London Irish Centre – Free • Desi Wilksinson, Ronan Browne, Seán Corcoran
8pm • The Harrison – Free • Bryony Lemon, Colm McGonigle, Nigel Stevens
FESTIVAL CLUB AT THE COBDEN
› 12am until late • Session musicians welcome • Free
26 RtCT2015
Sponsored by:
CAITLÍN NIC
GABHANN AND
CIARÁN Ó MAONAIGH
Highly regarded musicians in their
own right, Caitlín Nic Gabhann and
Ciarán Ó Maonaigh have joined
forces to create an exciting duo.
A three times All-Ireland winner
on concertina, Caitlín is a regular
performer at festivals and in concert
halls from North America all the
way to Asia. Her compositions have
been performed in the Cork Opera
Le Chéile was the cult Irish band
of 1970s London, producing
some of the most memorable
recordings of the time. The 1970s
album, Lord Mayo, was reissued
on CD in 2006. To coincide with
that release, the surviving original
band members – master fiddler
House and The National Concert
Hall, Dublin and recorded in Ireland
and abroad. She teaches concertina
annually at summer and winter
schools in Ireland, Europe and USA
and has performed with the RTÉ,
Vanbrugh Quartet, Paddy Keenan,
Liam Ó Maonlaí and for Presidents
and Royalty around the world.
She is also an accomplished dancer
and has toured the world with
Riverdance. Her debut solo CD,
Caitlín was voted the 2012 ‘CD
of the Year’ by tradconnect.com
and ‘top Irish traditional album of
2012' by The Wall Street Journal.
A former recipient of the TG4
Young Musician of the Year
award, fiddle player Ciarán Ó
Maonaigh hails from the Gaoth
Danny Meehan, Liam Farrell (banjo),
John Roe (piano) and Kevin Boyle
(guitar) – reformed alongside new
recruits, flautist Paul Gallagher
and accordionist Andy Martyn.
Now they’re back, adding powerful
momentum to the revivalist
movement within Irish music today
with their exciting new big band
mix of back to basics traditional Irish
music from Donegal and Galway.
Their long awaited third album,
Out of the West, is now available.
Dobhair gaeltacht in Co. Donegal.
His playing is influenced by his
grandfather and teacher Francie
Mooney, Altan members Mairéad Ní
Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy,
Derry fiddle player Dermot
McLaughlin and the Donegal
fiddle legend, John Doherty.
His first album, Ceol a’Ghleanna (The
Music of the Glen) was released
in 2004. Fidil, released in June
2008, was described by Irish Music
Magazine as “One of the most
challenging and beautifully austere
albums of the last fifty years”. 3
was released in 2009 and was
awarded a 5 star review and made
CD of the week in The Irish Times.
He released his fourth album, The
Old Wheel of Fortune, in 2011.
www.returntocamden.org 27
LISTINGS
ALBUM LAUNCH
ALBUM LAUNCH
• PATSY MOLONEY
• CAITLÍN NIC GABHANN AND CIARÁN Ó MAONAIGH
•EAMONN RODGERS
7pm • London Irish Centre • Free
5pm • London Irish Centre • Free
EAMON RODGERS
Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh launch their CD, Caitlín & Ciarán
PATSY MOLONEY
Limerick born flute player Patsy
Moloney, who has lived in
Birmingham for many years and
is an influential member of the
thriving Irish music scene in the
City, makes a welcome return
to the Festival. He visited us last
year with accordion player John
Regan, to launch their album of
duets. Since then, Patsy, Senior All
Ireland winner in 1977, has recorded
his debut solo flute album, The
Temple in the Glen and we are
delighted that he will be launching
it at Return to Camden Town.
From Rannafast, Co, Donegal,
singer, whistle and bodhrán
player Eamon Rodgers has lived
in North London for thirty years.
He launches his debut album, Too
Many Tunes, Too Little Time and
will be accompanied by many
of those who accompanied him
on the recording, with a guest
appearance by accordionist
Andy Martyn of Le Cheile.
LONDON
IRISH
CENTRE
LIC RTC 128x92 advert.indd 1
28 RtCT2015
21/09/2012 17:05:45
www.returntocamden.org 29
LISTINGS
SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER
DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING
• ‘THE GODFATHER’ – BRYAN ROONEY
Director: James Clenaghan. Presented by Sonta Films.
Supported by:
5pm • The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) Studio Theatre • £5
documentary film The Godfather,
about legendary Leitrim fiddle
player and great friend of all of us
at the Festival, Bryan Rooney.
The first part of an exciting multimedia event at our new venue for
2015, the RADA Studio Theatre,
will feature a screening of the
Actor and fiddler Brendan Gleeson,
who cites Bryan as one of his
musical heroes, uncovers the
extraordinary story of Bryan’s
life and music, from the late
1960s, when, at the age of 16,
he emigrated to London to
find work in construction, to his
achieving global recognition
within the Irish music world.
With wonderful music providing
the underlying soundtrack to
Bryan’s life, the film charts how
he came to be recognised as
one of the master fiddlers of his
generation, who brought the
heart of the tradition with him
to London, took good care of it
and handed it on to subsequent
generations. Not to be missed.
EVENING CONCERT
This concert is brought to you in association with Leitrim County Council.
•LEITRIM EQUATION 4 (FEATURING ELEANOR SHANLEY,
PADRAIG MCGOVERN, DAVE SHERIDAN, JOHN MCCARTIN,
DÓNAL LUNNY, EDWINA GUCKIAN AND VINCENT WOODS)
5.30pm • The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) Studio Theatre
• £15/£13 saver
THE LEITRIM
EQUATION
Combining music, dance and
poetry in one mesmerizing
and beautifully crafted show,
The Leitrim Equation concert
performance looks to the long
tradition of music in a small county
in the northwest of Ireland, to
trace a history full of colour, full
of love and loss and of leaving
and coming back. From the
mythical hills of Sí Bheag and Sí
Mhór to the miners’ strikes of the
1960s, the show describes how
landscape shapes us, how we
live and learn and how we find
beauty in the smallest of things.
The music of singer Eleanor
Shanley, uilleann piper Padraig
McGovern, flute and keyboard
player Dave Sheridan and guitarist
John McCartin is combined with
the words of poet, playwright
and broadcaster Vincent Woods
and the captivating footwork
of Seán Nós dancer Edwina
Guckian into a two-hour show,
designed by Paul Keogan, with
film by Johnny Gogan and musical
direction by Dónal Lunny.
The Leitrim Equation is a
production of Leitrim County
Council Arts Office and has been
made possible through the support
of the Arts Council of Ireland.
FESTIVAL CLUB AT THE COBDEN
› 12am until late • Session musicians welcome • Free
30 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 31
LISTINGS
MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER
AFTERNOON CONCERT
In association with Irish Elderly Advice Network
• CRAN
•BRYAN ROONEY AND PETE QUINN
• COMHALTAS IN BRITAIN
2pm • London Irish Centre • £5
For Cran biography
please see page 24.
Bryan Rooney
BRYAN ROONEY
AND PETE QUINN
We are delighted to feature the
great Leitrim fiddle player, Bryan
COMHALTAS
Featuring many of the finest
Comhaltas musicians based in
London, the performers come
from across the generations
and include winners of several
Rooney, in concert. Bryan was
named Musician of the Year in the
2012 TG4 Gradam Ceoil awards.
brother, Mickey and John's son,
James together with Alec Finn,
Brian McGrath and Arty McGlynn.
He has lived in London since the
late 1960s and is recognised as
one of the master fiddlers of his
generation. His now classic album,
The Godfather, was released in
1999 and was followed in 2002
by Leitrim to London. After a gap
of almost a decade, Bryan’s most
recent recording, At Complete
Ease, an album of duets with the
great John Carty, was released in
2011. The album, which has already
become a classic, features Bryan’s
Bryan is accompanied today by
Pete Quinn on piano. From
Liverpool, Pete's performing
experience extends from John Cage
at the Barbican through jazz fusion
at Ronnie Scott’s to traditional Irish
music at the BBC Proms. Formerly
with The London Lasses, he has
performed with some of the greats
of traditional Irish music and has
appeared on numerous recordings.
All-Ireland titles. Following the
success of its nationwide tour in
2014, Comhaltas UK is on the road
again. Proceeds from this concert
will go to the Comhaltas provincial
council of Britain and will be used
to help the staging of its national
events. For further information
about the work of Comhaltas,
please contact its development
worker for London, John Devine –
[email protected]
ALL THE BEST TO THE
RETURN TO CAMDEN TOWN
FESTIVAL 2015
HARINGEY IRISH CULTURAL
AND COMMUNITY CENTRE
Pretoria Rd, Tottenham, N17 8DX
Tel: 020 8885 3490
Fax: 020 8801 4839
Email: [email protected]
32 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 33
LISTINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS:
SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015
DOUBLE BILL CONCERT:
• Séan and James Cannon
• The London Lasses
and Chris O'Malley
South London Irish Association Centre
138-140 Hartfield Rd, Wimbledon,
London SW19 3TG
www.southlondonirishclub.co.uk
SATURDAY 23 JAN 2016
SET DANCING CÉILÍ
• McNamara Céilí Band
Kennedy Hall, London Irish Centre
50-52 Camden Square,
London NW1 9XB
Time: 8pm
More info: www.returntocamden.org
The Official Return to Camden Town 2015
FESTIVAL CLUB at
THE COBDEN
Festival session at 4pm on Saturday 24 October
Open late during the Festival on Fri 23, Sat 24 and
Sun 25 October... Session musicians welcome... food available.
Come and join us after the concerts.
28-30 CAMDEN HIGH ST, LONDON NW1 0JH
Lunch menu daily 12–3pm
34 RtCT2015
www.returntocamden.org 35
COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY NO. 9031004
FOUNDED 2014
www.returntocamden.org
facebook.com/returntocamdentown
@ReturntoCamden
irishmusicdanceinlondon
E: [email protected]
presents the 17th Return to Camden Town Festival and would
like to thank its 2015 partners, funders and sponsors: