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The Irish Riviera
Sons of Irish immigrants, Jesse and his brother Terence founded the original Celtic Thunder Band in 1977 and have continued to be leaders of Irish-American cultural life throughout the Washington Metropolitan area, Terence as both musician and writer. Some of his poetry and other writing takes its subject matter from their upbringing in a Bronx immigrant neighborhood, including "When New York Was Irish" and the album's title song, "The Irish Riviera," a love-letter to Rockaway Beach, NY. Former cathaoirleach (chairman) of the O'Neill Malcom Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoir Éireann, Jesse was elected to the Mid-Atlantic Region Hall of Fame in 2012.
Taking up the torch, Michael released This Day Too with Jesse and Terence, and most recently a solo fiddle album, Sleep Waltz. Fiona started taking Irish dance lessons with Sean Culkin at age six and began learning Irish songs as a teenager. With a background in piano and guitar, Patrick's love for Irish music led him to the tenor banjo, the instrument played by his namesake and grandfather. Cover photo shows Patrick & Bridie (Flynn) Winch at the beach ca. 1938 with Eileen, Kevin, and Patricia, Jesse and Terence's older siblings. The music on this album is a celebration of family and community.
Thanks to the great musicians who lent their talents to this project, and also thanks to Francesca Winch, Susan Campbell, friends of The Irish Inn, and the Washington DC Irish music community for supporting our music. With special thanks to Zan McLeod for his patience, engineering expertise, & guitar virtuosity.
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
Zan McLeod: Guitar, Bass
John Whelan: Button Accordion
Brendan Callahan: Fiddle
Mitch Fanning: Fiddle
Tina Eck: Flute
Eileen Estes: Harmony Vocals
Jessica Zito: Fiddle
Alice Bradley: Fiddle
Track Notes
1. Joe Bane's Schottische/The Gypsy Princess
Two tunes we play as barn dances- the first is also known as "Mickey Malley's," and "The Gypsy Princess" Patrick learned from banjo maestro Brendan Coyne.
Patrick, banjo; Jesse, piano and ceili drums; Michael, fiddle; Terence, button accordion.
2. The Irish Riviera
A composition by Terence Winch commemorating the Irish community in Rockaway Beach in Queens, which was a vacation destination for the Irish immigrant population in New York City for decades. 103rd Street was a major focus of Irish entertainment where you could hear and even meet acts like The McNulty Family, which featured Ma McNulty (who kept several accordions on hand so she could switch keys easily if the song so required), Pete McNulty singing and dancing ("Pete on the feet, his mother on the box..."), and Eileen McNulty.
Fiona, lead vocal; Eileen Estes, harmony vocal; Jesse, guitar; Michael, fiddle; Zan, bass.
3. The Banks of Lough Gowna/The Boys of Lough Gowna/Jesse and Francesca's Miracle
"The Banks of Lough Gowna" is a session staple; "The Boys of Lough Gowna" is a composition of Paddy O'Brien's (Tipperary); and "Jesse and Francesca's Miracle" was written by button-accordion virtuoso John Whelan on the birth of Fiona. We are fortunate to have John join us on this medley.
John, button accordion; Patrick, banjo; Alice Bradley; fiddle; Jessica Zito, fiddle; Zan, guitar; Jesse, bodhrán.
4. The Lake Isle of Innisfree
This song is the William Butler Yeats poem set to music & made popular by New York-based singer Mary Courtney. Fiona learned this from Mary's singing after hearing a version from Linda Hickman.
Fiona, vocal; Jesse, guitar; Patrick, lead guitar.
5. Paddy on the Turnpike
"Paddy on the Turnpike" is a tune heard both in Ireland and Appalachia. The Irish version has three parts, the Appalachian version, played here, has two. Tony DeMarco plays the Irish version on his acclaimed Sligo Indians album, a tune he learned from Paddy Reynolds.
Jesse, 5-string banjo; Brendan, fiddle; Zan, guitar.
6. An Raibh Tú ar an gCarraig? (Were You at the Rock?)
The poem and air "An raith tü ar an §Carraig?" is attributed to Dominic ó Mongain, or Dominic Mungan, an Irish harper and poet, born around 1715 in County Tyrone. This is sometimes known as the "Mass Rock Song," dating back to penal times in Ireland when it was against the English-imposed law to attend Mass. The faithful would meet secretly at a designated spot to hear Mass and to exchange news and information. The song asks, "were you at the rock and did you see my love?" The singer would vary the answer depending on whether it was safe to attend Mass. Fiona learned this song and "Mo Ghile Mear" from County Cork native Jennifer O'Riordan, Irish speaker and singer, and former Assistant Director of the Irish Studies Program at Catholic University in Washington, DC.
Fiona, unaccompanied vocal.
7. Fiona's Reel/Porthole of the Kelp/Flagstone of Memories
"Fiona's Reel" is a composition of fiddle ace Brendan Callahan, who wrote the tune in 1995 in celebration of Fiona's birth and recorded it on his solo CD, Where I Am!
"Porthole of the Kelp" is a traditional tune, and "Flagstone of Memories" was composed by the great Loughrea, Galway, flute-player, Vincent Broderick.
Brendan, fiddle; Patrick, banjo; Zan, guitar; Jesse, bodhrán; Terence, button accordion.
8. The Foggy Dew
A traditional song Fiona learned from the singing of Ye Vagabonds, a wonderful duet featuring two brothers, Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn, from Co. Carlow, now living on the island of Arranmore, Donegal, their ancestral home ground.
Fiona, vocal; Jesse, guitar; Patrick, low octave mandolin.
9. The Banks of the Roses
Another traditional song found in many collections, including Colm O'Loughlain's Irish Street Ballads. Fiona learned this version from Robbie O'Connell while attending his singing class during Musical Arts and Dance (MAD) Week summer camp in Maryland (sponsored by the O'Neill Malcom Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann).
Fiona, lead vocal; Eileen, harmony vocal; Jesse, mandola and harmonica; Zan, guitar.
10. The Maid in the Cherry Tree/Cronin's/Paddy Fahey's
Cousins Michael and Patrick take charge of these three great reels. Patrick learned them from Michael, and Michael learned "The Maid in the Cherry Tree" from Mick O'Brien and Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh's album The Deadly Buzz; "Cronin's" from Jack Talty and Cormac Begley's album, Na Fir Bolg; and "Paddy Fahey's" from Liz Kane in 2006 at the first MAD Week.
Michael, fiddle; Patrick, banjo; Zan, guitar.
11. Bold Reilly
Fiona learned this sea-chanty/lullaby from the beautiful singing of Kate Rusby from South Yorkshire, England.
Fiona, vocal; Jesse, guitar and harmonica.
12. The Galway Belle
A popular Irish polka which here lends itself to an Appalachian interpretation.
Jesse, 5-string banjo and harmonica; Brendan, fiddle; Tina, flute; Terence, button accordion; Zan, guitar.
13. Mo Ghile Mear (My Gallant Darling)
Fiona learned this rousing Irish language march from Jennifer O'Riordan, as mentioned. The contemporary version of this song was composed in the early 1970s by Dónaló Liathain (1934-2008), using a traditional air collected in Cuil Aodha, County Cork, and lyrics selected from Irish-language poems by Seán "Clárach" Mac Domhnaill (1691-1754).
Fiona, vocal; Jesse, bodhrán.
14. Ballyea/Hangin' at the Crossroads
"Ballyea" was written by Quentin Cooper and "Hangin' at the Crossroads" by Eoin O'Neill. The source of both tunes is the album Hangin' at the Crossroads by The Ceili Bandits, which also features Yvonne Casey and Kevin Griffin. These two great tunes have become a staple for the Irish Inn Mates.
Patrick, banjo; Jesse, bodhran and mandola; Mitch Fanning, fiddle; Zan, guitar.
15. When New York Was Irish
Another Terence Winch composition, originally recorded on Celtic Thunder's 1988 Indie Award-winning Green Linnet album, The Light of Other Days. Covered by a multitude of recording artists around the world, it has become an Irish music classic. This is the first family version.
Fiona, lead vocal; Eileen, harmony vocal; Jesse, guitar; Michael, fiddle; Terence, button accordion; Zan, bass.