Comhaltas show is homage to trad great ‘Lad’ O’Beirne
A PROGRAMME on the music of fiddle player James ‘Lad’ O’Beirne has been produced by Comhaltas.
The programme, titled ‘The Sligo Tunesmith’ will be broadcast tonight, Thursday, at 9pm on the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Facebook page.
‘The Sligo Tunesmith’ features musicians from both sides of the Atlantic playing many of the tunes composed and made famous by Lad O’Beirne.
O’Beirne was born in Sligo in 1911 and lived his adult life in New York. Because his arrival Stateside in 1928 coincided with the start of the Great Depression, the recording industry soon ground to a halt. Thus, unlike his fellow Sligomen Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran, O’Beirne’s solo performances were not recorded professionally and so, he has remained something of a musical mystery with his work only being recorded on basic domestic recording equipment. Despite this, he is still revered by contemporary musicians and followers of traditional music.
“The Fred Finn Branch of Comhaltas are delighted to have initiated this production. “O’Beirne made an enormous contribution to traditional music.
“The programme shines a bright light on his life and his genius.” said Peter Farrell, chairman of the Fred Finn branch of Comhaltas.
Sligo County Council’s Dorothy Clarke, director of services with responsiblity for the Creative Ireland programme, said: “It is so important particularly at this very difficult time to reach out to the Sligo Diaspora and all music lovers world wide with an uplifting positive event.
“The programme will conncect people across the world through creativity, heritage and community memory making.”
‘The Sligo Tunesmith’ is presented by Sligo fiddle player Oisín Mac Diarmada and features a host of great fiddle players and other performers and contributors in Sligo, New York, Miami, and elsewhere. The programme is directed by Micheál Ó Domhnaill of Sligo-based production company Omedia.
Other performers involved in the programme include John Carty, Mary Bergin, John Blake, Brina Conway, Rose Flanagan, James Kelly, Manus McGuire, Séamus McGuire, Liam O’Connor, Seamie O’Dowd, Séamus Tansey, Philip Duffy, Niamh Farrell, Seán Farrell, Declan Folan, Leonard Barry, Shane McGowan, Daithi Gormley, Erin Loughran, June McCormack, Michael Rooney, Sean Quinn, Tom Gavin and Kate Gavin.