from Compositions by Christy McNamara
This reel is one I composed for my father Joe. He played the accordion and was a fine singer dancer and storyteller and was the main influence on my journey into the world of music. Like his brother Paddy he was also a member of the Tulla Ceili Band in the 1950’s and 60’s. Our home growing up was a house of music too.
By profession he was a Psychiatric Nurse and was the night Superintendent at Our Lady’s Hospital in Ennis. When I was in secondary school at St Flannan’s College in the town, I remember meeting an older man who asked me if I was the Captain’s son? Not knowing who he was talking about, he then asked me if Joe was my father and I answered yes. He then explained to me that Joe was his boss and that he was sometimes referred to as the Captain in the Hospital, a title that went back to his hurling days. He went on to tell me that if they (the staff) wanted to gain some favour from him they would often steer the discussion around to music and if that didn’t work then they’d move on to hurling and dogs, his other passions.
He left telling me that the Captain was a good man and a fair boss to have. I got a lovely insight into my father’s life outside of home from that meeting back in my early teenage years. ‘ One for the Captain’!
