“Here’s one for you now”
Transatlantic sharing of Irish music recordings & the custom of musical ‘bon voyage’ parties
During my Irish music research over the past number of years, I came across two traditions that were hitherto unknown to me, yet both contributed significantly to the transatlantic sharing and perpetuation of Ireland’s traditional music heritage.
The first was the practice of making tape-recordings of greetings, music and song to send or bring across the Atlantic to share with relatives and musical acquaintances. Such recordings travelled in both directions. I am now pleased to introduce you to a remarkable collection of twelve such home recordings made in the period 1956-1971, seven in Ireland or England and five in Chicago or New York. They feature a galaxy of famous musicians including Padraig O’Keeffe, Eleanor Kane Neary, Seamus Connolly, Paddy Killoran, Aggie Whyte, Mrs Crotty, Denis Murphy, Leo Rowsome, Michael Tubridy, Willie Clancy, Joe Cooley and Sean Ryan.
An even earlier tradition, at least for the Irish community in Chicago and New York, was the “send-off” or bon voyage party given for immigrants prior to making a return visit (usually their first) back to their homeplace in Ireland, often after an absence of years or even decades. Michael Kelly of Mayo & Dublin, who has been researching aspects of Irish music in New York in the interwar years, elaborates on this custom here.
The transatlantic sharing of Irish music and greetings
It wasn’t until I read Paddy O’Brien’s wonderful memoir The Road from Castlebarnagh that I realized how difficult it was in the early days, for Irish traditional musicians to pick up new tunes. Before the availability of tape recorders and radio programs dedicated to Irish music, such as Ciarán Mac Mathúna’s “Job of Journeywork” which was first broadcast in 1955, the main way musicians had to learn new tunes was from local musicians or travelling musicians, if they were lucky enough to have access to either. The only other potential source, which was again not readily available to all, was listening to the recorded Irish music on 78s, of musicians such as Coleman, Killoran and Morrison, coming into Ireland from New York. In one of my early interviews with Malachy Towey from Cloontia, Co Mayo, who lived and played Irish music in Chicago from 1957 until his passing during his 100th year in 2019, he relayed a wonderful story he first heard from his grandfather on the subject of learning new tunes. Two or three musicians from the village would walk south from Cloontia to a pre-planned location, such as Gort, Co. Galway, a journey which took a few days walking, during which they slept in barns or other farm outhouses at night. At the same time, musicians from Clare, Limerick and even North Kerry would make the same journey north to convene at Gort where they all spent a few days sharing and learning new tunes from each other, which they then brought back to their local communities. The availability of cheap reel to reel tape recorders from the early 1950s and the invention of the compact cassette by Phillips in the early 1960s finally made it easy to record and share music.
The practice of recording greetings, music and song and sharing these tapes with family and friends abroad was common among Irish traditional musicians, particularly between 1950-1970s. Quite often for example, musicians who emigrated from Ireland to America and were returning on vacation to their homeplace many years later, would often get together prior to departure, with a group of friends to make a recording of their music which they brought back to share with family and friends in Ireland. Such recordings helped to share with those in Ireland the tunes and song typically played at a session in foreign parts. These recordings also served, in a more intimate way than writing letters, as a method of delivering greetings from friends or family members to those left at home. It must have been amazing, for example, for parents to hear the voices of their children who may have left Ireland potentially many years before. This, of course, worked both ways, as often the holidaymaker returned with a recording of music, song and personal greetings from friends and family members in Ireland to those now living in America or England.
Over the years of my research documenting Irish immigrants in Chicago, I have collected many of these recordings and I wish to share the following selection for your enjoyment.
The first was the practice of making tape-recordings of greetings, music and song to send or bring across the Atlantic to share with relatives and musical acquaintances. Such recordings travelled in both directions. I am now pleased to introduce you to a remarkable collection of twelve such home recordings made in the period 1956-1971, seven in Ireland or England and five in Chicago or New York. They feature a galaxy of famous musicians including Padraig O’Keeffe, Eleanor Kane Neary, Seamus Connolly, Paddy Killoran, Aggie Whyte, Mrs Crotty, Denis Murphy, Leo Rowsome, Michael Tubridy, Willie Clancy, Joe Cooley and Sean Ryan.
An even earlier tradition, at least for the Irish community in Chicago and New York, was the “send-off” or bon voyage party given for immigrants prior to making a return visit (usually their first) back to their homeplace in Ireland, often after an absence of years or even decades. Michael Kelly of Mayo & Dublin, who has been researching aspects of Irish music in New York in the interwar years, elaborates on this custom here.
The transatlantic sharing of Irish music and greetings
It wasn’t until I read Paddy O’Brien’s wonderful memoir The Road from Castlebarnagh that I realized how difficult it was in the early days, for Irish traditional musicians to pick up new tunes. Before the availability of tape recorders and radio programs dedicated to Irish music, such as Ciarán Mac Mathúna’s “Job of Journeywork” which was first broadcast in 1955, the main way musicians had to learn new tunes was from local musicians or travelling musicians, if they were lucky enough to have access to either. The only other potential source, which was again not readily available to all, was listening to the recorded Irish music on 78s, of musicians such as Coleman, Killoran and Morrison, coming into Ireland from New York. In one of my early interviews with Malachy Towey from Cloontia, Co Mayo, who lived and played Irish music in Chicago from 1957 until his passing during his 100th year in 2019, he relayed a wonderful story he first heard from his grandfather on the subject of learning new tunes. Two or three musicians from the village would walk south from Cloontia to a pre-planned location, such as Gort, Co. Galway, a journey which took a few days walking, during which they slept in barns or other farm outhouses at night. At the same time, musicians from Clare, Limerick and even North Kerry would make the same journey north to convene at Gort where they all spent a few days sharing and learning new tunes from each other, which they then brought back to their local communities. The availability of cheap reel to reel tape recorders from the early 1950s and the invention of the compact cassette by Phillips in the early 1960s finally made it easy to record and share music.
The practice of recording greetings, music and song and sharing these tapes with family and friends abroad was common among Irish traditional musicians, particularly between 1950-1970s. Quite often for example, musicians who emigrated from Ireland to America and were returning on vacation to their homeplace many years later, would often get together prior to departure, with a group of friends to make a recording of their music which they brought back to share with family and friends in Ireland. Such recordings helped to share with those in Ireland the tunes and song typically played at a session in foreign parts. These recordings also served, in a more intimate way than writing letters, as a method of delivering greetings from friends or family members to those left at home. It must have been amazing, for example, for parents to hear the voices of their children who may have left Ireland potentially many years before. This, of course, worked both ways, as often the holidaymaker returned with a recording of music, song and personal greetings from friends and family members in Ireland to those now living in America or England.
Over the years of my research documenting Irish immigrants in Chicago, I have collected many of these recordings and I wish to share the following selection for your enjoyment.
1. Terence “Cuz” Teahan | Castleisland, Co. Kerry, 1956
A recording made by Terence “Cuz” Teahan at the home of his brother Paddy in Tubbermaing, Castleisland Co. Kerry. This was on the occasion of Cuz’s first journey back to his homeplace since his immigration to Chicago in 1933. Featured musicians include Padraig O’Keeffe, Jerry McCarthy, Timmy Spillane, Mike O’Callaghan, Ger Sullivan and Cuz Teahan
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3. Padraig & Nora O’Keeffe | Glountane, near Castleisland, Co. Kerry, 1958A recording made at the home of Nora Carmody (nee O’Keeffe) in Glountane, Co. Kerry for her son, Sonny (Thomas) Carmody in Chicago. Featured musicians include Padraig O’Keeffe, Nora Carmody (née O’Keeffe) and songs from various family members.
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