Kerry duo’s tunes with some locals
RENOWNED West Kerry traditional musicians, father and son Breanndán and Cormac Ó Beaglaoich traveled up the West coast of Ireland from Kerry to Donegal in their 40-year-old camper van, Beauty, on a journey of musical discovery called Slí na mBeaglaoich, stopping off in Sligo to meet local musicians.
In the six-part TG4 traditional music series, they meet with friends old and new, traditional musicians and artists as they embark on a trip of a lifetime.
In what is eye-opening journey, they unearth some of the most exciting musicians, singers and dancers of the Wild Atlantic Way.
After a rest, Beauty is back on the road with the lads.
Breandan and Cormac travelled to Sligo and celebrates the county’s music, meeting with friends, artists and local musicians. Road weary, they treat themselves to a seaweed bath in Strandhill and they cannot help themselves and played a tune in the bath.
They explored Coleman country with fiddler Óisín Mac Diarmada and met with local concertina player, Mairead Hurley with her sister Deirdre on flute and husband John Blake on guitar.
In Sligo they met with legendary flute player Séamus Tansey who enlightens them with his views on traditional music.
Seámus is joined by Brian McGrath on keyboards for a tune in Shoot the Crows on Grattan Street.
The pub is famous for music and later the due was joined by Cathy Jordan and Shane Mitchell of Dervish.
They spoke about their years on the road and how it is always nice to come home for a tune.
Breanndán celebrates Sligo’s literary importance and explains how the county is surrounded in folklore.
Friend and writer Brian Leyden took them for a stroll on Streedagh beach and tells them of Sligo’s Blowing Sands.
In Grange, they find concertina player Rick Epping in an Antiques Shop known for hosting gigs. They were later joined by father and daughter Siobhán and Colm O’Donnell for a song. To finish their trip Breanndán played a tune with accordion player, PJ Hernon.
The programme aired on 24 th May 9.30pm on TG4 but is now accessible on the TG4 TV Player.