The Patrick McGahon Collection Contents The Collection See A Hidden Ulster pp. 435-67 with references and extended information. Patrick McGahon’s music manuscript dated 1817 was published for the first time in A Hidden Ulster with detailed background information (AHU 435-67). It was a rare and treasured find. Since that publication his music is sourced from the manuscript…
Read More
‘An area very rich in folkmusic …‘ ‘The old people of Dromintee will tell you of the number and the skill of musicians who used to come to Forkhill fair. I was told that there used to be as many as thirty playing at it’. They display an extensive knowledge of the names of song…
Read More
Music manuscript collections of Luke Donnellan and Patrick McGahon which were published in facsimile in the appendices of A Hidden Ulster (pp. 435-507. 2003), have become a key source for Oriel musicians to replenish repertoire of older versions of tunes. As well as ORIEL ARTS musicians, Darren Mag Aoidh, Dónal O’Connor and Gerry O’Connor, the tunes are also sourced…
Read More
‘… an ceol ba bhinne ar bith do tharraingt ón gcláirsigh’‘ … the sweetest music ever drawn from a harp’ See: A Hidden Ulster pp. 228-46; 348-50 for full references and further information. Peadar Ó Doirnín Contents Background Peadar Ó Doirnín was a poet, a teacher, a scribe and most likely played the harp to…
Read More
‘a distinguised harper… generally thought superior to all others…’ Also known as Pádraig Dall Ó Beirn, Young Byrne. See: A Hidden Ulster, pp. 393-97 for full references and further information. Patrick Byrne Contents Background The memory of harper Patrick Byrne has been reawakened in the Oriel region in recent years, especially in the Carrickmacross area…
Read More
‘… still remembered with delight…’ Also known as Pádraig Ó Coinne, Quinn. See A Hidden Ulster pp.351-3 with detailed references and further information. Patrick Quin Contents Background Patrick Quin was born in County Armagh around 1746. He was blind and was taught to play the harp by Pádraig Óg Mac Giolla Fhiondáin (Patrick Linden) of the…
Read More
‘Linden, a harper… very poor… Edward Bunting, 1803 Also known as Patrick Linden/Lyndon/ Paddy Linden, Patrick McAlindon. See: A Hidden Ulster, pp.346-8 for full references and further information. Pádraig (óg) Mac Giolla Fhiondáin, known as Linden in Arthur O’Neill’s Memoirs, was the son of the celebrated harper poet and composer, Pádraig Mac Giolla Fhiondáin who was…
Read More
“She was a ‘righ-chláirseoir’ – a superior harper…” Also known as Mailigh Nic a’ Liondáin, Mary, Molly Linden, Molly Lyndon, Molly McAlindon(See A Hidden Ulster pp.346-8; pp. 224-7 for full references and further information) Molaí Nic Giolla Fhiondáin’s name is seldom mentioned in discourses on the Irish harp and deserves a higher profile as one…
Read More
‘He was unrivalled in poetry and music, on which account he was commonly called Pádraig na cclairseach i.e. Patrick of the Harps.’ Also known as Patrick Lindon, Linden, Pádraig na gCláirseach, Padruic Mac a’ Liondáin, Patrick of the Harps, Patrick McAlindon, Patraicc na Clársighe.(See A Hidden Ulster pp. 343-6 with full references and further information)…
Read More
‘Dall Mhac Cuart ro chan’‘blind Courtney sang it’ Also known as An Dall Mhac Chuarta, Blind McCourt, James Courtney.(See A Hidden Ulster pp.217-23; 337-43 for full references and further information) Séamus Dall Mac Cuarta Contents Background Séamus Dall Mac Cuarta (c.1650-1733) is known as a poet rather than as a harper, but he had close…
Read More