Dermot McLaughlin, fiddle, playing 4 tunes collected by Séamus Ennis in Donegal from Frank Cassidy (3) and Niallaí Ó Baoill (1)

Frank Cassidy

An Charraig (1900–71). He is remembered as being particularly clever and handy. There were three brothers, Frank, Johnnie and Páidí, who were very musically gifted. John died in 1924 and he was reputed to have been the best fiddle player among the three brothers.  Frank and his brothers acquired their music from brass bands who travelled around recruiting during the First World War. He owned a bicycle shop in An Charraig. After Páidí’s death he retained the dance hall business. He was recorded by An tAthair Liam Mac an tSagairt and much of this has been broadcast on Raidió na Gaeltachta – ‘Teileann Inné agus Inniu 1980’ (Teileann Yesterday and Today 1980). Frank was especially sad after his brothers’ deaths. He played at the Oireachtas in the Mansion House in Dublin. When Ennis came to Teileann, Frank was quite distressed over the death of Páidí. It took a long time for the collector to entice him to play. Ennis explained matters in the following manner: ‘In Teileann, south of Carraig at the mouth of Gleann Cholm Cille in southwest Donegal, there was a great bunch of fiddlers in the old days. When I got here, there were only about four extant and of these a man named Frank Cassidy was by far the best. I was told that he had a repertoire of rare old tunes if he could be persuaded to touch a fiddle. All his people had died save one brother and his latest bereavement was a brother – another top-notch fiddle player. .. I finally persuaded Frank to handle his fiddle and out of practice though he was – his performance was a revelation. I wrote some precious music from him and though playing marvellously he’d stop and say “níl gar ann” – it’s no use – I can’t play it. But I’d persevere and he’d continue.’ RTE Radio Series 1988.

Folklore collector Seán Ó hEochaidh first introduced Séamus Ennis to Frank Cassidy on the 15^th September 1943. The collector’s diary entry for that day reads:

‘I have yet to hear a better fiddle player. He played old tunes that would stir a dead person’s heart and old airs that only the fairies know, if the tradition is true.’

In all, Ennis spent a fortnight during which he visited Frank Cassidy on a number of occasions. Following his 1943 visit, Ennis called on the fiddle player a year later, in September 1944.