I composed this reel in memory of my maternal grandfather Hugh Murray. Born in 1890 in Rosslea Co. Fermanagh, Hugh played the fiddle mainly at dances at the crossroads and at local sessions in the Scotstown/ Rosslea area. He also taught young children the fiddle and was one of the founding members of Rosslea Comhaltas branch along with the noted piper from Rosslea, Seán McAloon. On hearing a new tune at a seisiún Hugh would play it repeatedly until he got it into his head before going to bed no matter what the time!
It means a lot to me that I am playing my Grandad’s fiddle.
Living in An Spidéal we have a great view overlooking Cuan na Gaillimhe. This bay was historically called Loch Lurgan. Lurgan is also the name of the town I grew up beside and is where I went to school. I love playing in the key of F! Barndances are also my favourite tunes to play.
This is the very first traditional composition I wrote as part of my GCSE music exams. It is named for a local musician who I played with growing up in Armagh. Patsy McQuillan was equally accomplished on the fiddle and the piccolo and loved to entertain us all with his take on the Centenary March. Patsy, Marty Lennon, Marty Molloy and Mickey Breen were so welcoming to my siblings and I every Saturday night in Derrytrasna Hall and we will always be grateful for their generosity.
This is a tribute to my mother-in-law Nancy who announces her arrival with this phrase when she calls to the back door! Of course we love to see her coming especially when she brings her homemade cáca donn.
I like the idea of moving from major to minor within a tune and this was my starting point for this tune. Like many others I discovered a love for gardening during lockdown which my daughter shares with me. She loves picking the flowers off the ‘juice plant’ and sucking the nectar and this inspired the name.
I named this jig for Máire Ní Neachtain as she was the first person to hear it! She took her first trip to the north of Ireland recently where my parents, my sister Eimear and brother Dáire had a great welcome for her. I’m sure it will be her first trip of many. Máire is the heart and soul of any social gathering and she is also a fantastic singer.
Erin McGeown is a primary school teacher who hails from Craigavon, County Armagh.. She started learning classical violin aged 7. Shortly after she took up traditional Irish music and is equally accomplished in both. She completed Grades 1-8 in school and continued studying violin throughout her BEd Mus where she studied under Michael D’Arcy. Erin has a 1st class Masters Degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance from UL and is a former member of the Clare Memory Orchestra, The National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and the Triogue ceili band.
She has toured extensively with Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann on the tours of Ireland, Britain, North America, Canada and Newfoundland. She regularly teaches at Scoil Éigse and adjudicates at provincial and All-Ireland fleadhanna. Erin began composing in secondary school as part of her G.C.S.E. exams. She is now based in An Spidéal with her husband Seosamh Ó Neachtain and their two children.
