“Influenced by a Photograph” Handed Down Series Launch
8:15pm – 10:00pm, Sliabh Luachra Cultural and Heritage Centre Scartaglin
A special talk on the return of the Handed Down Series which guest speaker Dr Matt Cranitch will outline the what to expect this Autumn/Winter and Spring in this popular Sliabh Luachra Talk Series.
On Sunday 14th of August there will be a launch for The Dancing Kiln – a very special CD of new recordings – by Paudy, Karoline, Ben and Christine Scully. The launch is at an Culturlann, in Newmarket Co. Cork. The album takes it’s name from an old outdoor dancing stage at Commons, Newmarket. The stage is long gone but most of the music that the Newmarket is known for came from the musicians who played there for the dancing.
The concert will also feature appearances from: Tim Browne Ceili Allstars Leah Murphy Timmy Connors & Raymond O’Sullivan Siobhan & Lisa Cronin and more
From the early seventies Paudy Scully has been a pillar in the Sliabh Luachra music scene. He is name checked by Jackie Daly on his landmark 1977 recording Music from Sliabh Luachra. He is a founder of the Scully’s Monday Night Session. In the nineties he was a driving force behind the legendary group the Monks of the Screw.
In 2000 Paudy moved to Germany with his wife Christine. They had two children Ben and Karoline. The annual family holidays were spent in Ireland and at the music session in Scully’s Bar. In 2005 Paudy released an album of solo flute music. And in recent years both Paudy and Karoline have appeared on several of the Scullys Fest CD series.
The Dancing Kiln album began during the lockdowns. After watching some YouTube concerts from Sliabh Luachra they decided to get some recording equipment. Karoline took on the role engineer. The result is sixteen great tracks with lots of new tunes composed by Paudie and Karoline. There are also rare tunes and classics from Sliabh Luachra and well beyond.
Find tickets for the launch concert at acoustianity.com or local outlets.
Ben, Karoline, Christine & Paudy Scully
Some Background from Paudy…
During the Corona Lockdown we and a lot of other people in Germany got great satisfaction watching the YouTube videos of various Sliabh Luachra festivals and CD releases produced by Eoin O’Sullivan .
We were watching one of those videos when my daughter Karoline suggested that we make our own recording. “No way” I said. “I’m finished with recordings”. I explained all the hard work and complications of doing such a thing. She said “Ok”. Later when I went to bed I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about all the new music we composed and the unusual tunes we practiced during our “Hibernation”.
When I was coming down stairs the next morning Karoline was sitting on the bottom step putting on her shoes. I said “Let’s do that recording so”. She smiled and said “Ok”.
We invested in a microphone and an app for the computer and began work.
We only intended to make a few copies but after we finished it our friends persuaded us to release it to the public.
We’ve made another free A3 calendar for 2020. It lists all the Sliabh Luachra music festivals. It will be available in public libraries in county Limerick, Kerry and Cork and will be given out to school children around Sliabh Luachra.
The musician in this years calendar is the enigmatic Daniel Hartnett aka “Saucepan” from Toornafolla Co Limerick. Daniel played and taught fiddle and wrote music too. The photo was taken by one of his students Denis O’Callaghan. Denis has many interesting stories about his old teacher.
The Conifers are returning to play in Sliabh Luachra in the village of Ballydesmond on Friday June 28th. Young local talent will provide support on the night. It’s sure to be a great one!
The Bruach Na Carraige Cultural and Heritage Centre at Rockchapel Co Cork will be twenty years in operation in June 2019. To mark the occasion there will be a mass in the centre on Friday 14th of June at 8pm followed by a rambling house and session all welcome. On Saturday the 15th of June there will be a concert featuring Bryan O Leary and friends, Nicky and Ann McAuliffe Ceoltoiri Sliabh Luachra and other musicians and performers
We’ve just come across a brilliant new website about the Gneeveguilla born fiddler Julia Clifford. The site is full of tunes collected from Julia herself by Julia’s friends Michael and Caroline Kilbane. Guy Roelofs of the Netherlands digitised the recordings and created the website. Well done to all involved!!
We’re running a music workshop for students from secondary schools around Sliabh Luachra in Boherbue Co Cork on Friday May 17th 2019. The guest tutors are two very exciting Sliabh Luachra musicians Bryan O’Leary & Niamh Ní Charra.
The day will consist of some chat and tunes from Bryan & Niamh followed by some teaching and the day will be finished off with a short performance by the students and tutors for some invited guests. This is the first time something like this has been tried and we have to thank the music department at Boherbue Comprehensive for suggesting it and making the school available. We hope to run more of these type of events – if you want information don’t hesitate to contact Eoin on 0879100087.