Jay The Fiddler
For the Love of Fiddle.

Articles by Jay Kuchinsky

Saving the best for the last!

I know Wednesday in Tig Coili features Declan Corey, one of mu favourite musicians, at both e=the early and the late sessions.At the first session it was lovely and quiet with jus the melody instruments, which I prefer. Joseph O’Faherty (sp?)  on box and Declan on mandolin.

The second session featured Declan again, Simon on guitar, Ger Clancey on fiddle and Mick Clancey (no relation) on bouzouki.The tunes were mighty and fast, including a good variety of hornpipes, barn dances & slip jigs. And reels, reels reels. They invited me to lead several sets. Fair play to ye lads! Next year in Galway!

Killoran’s Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo

Jay and I called into Killoran’s Pub in the town of Tubbercurry. Now your man could not say exactly he was related to the great Sligo fiddler, Paddy Killoran who recorded in New york in the 20’s and 30’s he did say “We’re all branches on the same tree”. He opened up the dance hall and it was spectacular. There on the wall featured a lrge painting the incuded Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran and James Morrison standing and playing their fiddles by a lake.

Their was a wind up gramophone there. The next thing you know we are listing to 78’s of Coleman and Morrison on the gramophone! Surreal.

Listen to “Sligo Masters

https://www.itma.ie/features/playlists/holy-trinity-of-sligo-masters

The O’Connors of Barna

I met up with Billy O’Connor for the session at the Crane. Also there was Anthony O’Connor. “John was the stable one in the family,. Anthony the wild one.” Billy, Lisa and the 2 daughters spent most of the summer in Canada this year and apparently it’s all they talk about. “When can we go back to Canada?” Billy & Lisa had thought perhaps in the future it would be nice to retire in Italy. Then they came to the beautiful mountain town of Nelson,B.C. “We’ll just stay here”.

Anthony told me a story. “It was 26 years ago. John & I were in the same pub but separately. I was at one end getting into a fight, I was aching to bring it on. Then in ten seconds I was rolling on the floor throwing punches and taking puches and bleeding profusely. Now john is not a fighter but he would always defend his brother. He came flying in from across the room, landed a few blows and pulled me outside into the car. I didn’t want to go to the hospital but he insistd and 20 stitches later I was done.”

The session was not as exciting as that but lovely music with George on pipes , Kevin Whelan on banjo, And a dozen others including Cathal Johnson (harmonica), Glen Watkins (flute) and Marta from Spain (flute).

Back in Brosna

My favourite Monday night session in the village of Brosna Co. Kerry. Terrance McQuinn was there with sisters Nan & Maida who is from Chicago. Maida had actually been a student of Patrick O’Keeffe’s when she was a girl . She’s a fine fiddler now.

Dave Dooley on whistles, Katherine on piano and Mikie O’Connor on guitar and singing. And loads of singers standing at the bar with their eyes closed.

Noreen was behind the bar and Timmy O’Connor in front of it. Tom Brouder was there too singing ” Sunday Morning Coming Down”. The slides and polkas were flying!

Maida McQuinn, Chicago
“The Baron” Timmy O’Sullivan
Dave dooley

The tunes were nearly as good as the jokes

Of course the tunes were superb when I finally had the session with Jackie Daly, Paul de Grae & Suzie Cox. Jackie has a groaner after every set.

 

Jackie Daly received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” Saturday at the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival. And no better man. A legend on the C#/D box.

Missing Jackie Dan Jerry

I knew my return to Castleisland would be fraught with sadness. And it is. Jackie and I played music like we were together in the womb. His memory is in every seat of every pub in this town. And especially  in Flanagan’s in Brosna. Now we remember him in stories and anecdotes: and there are many! I visited  Annie O’Connor (his widow) and she is still, 2 years on, one thought away fro a teardrop. “I still expect to see him coming in from the field”. “I haven’t been back in the fields since he passed.” “I ploughed over his garden.” “He was an intelligent and generous man.” “That’s life.”

He once started playing the French waltz Bourasque and i joined in. “I’ve played that one for 50 years and you’re the first man who ever knew it.” I learned it form John Malone.

Be well Jackie. I’ll see you in my dreams.

 

Patrick O’Keeffe Festival 2019 – October 25-28

Great to be in Castleisland for the POK. All the familiar and friendly faces. This is my 18th attendance at the festival and 19th trip to Ireland. That adds up to 82 weeks of my life spent in Eire. Staying with good friend Tony Halsall 3 km above the town. I’m enjoying the walk into town and back as my recent hip replacement is fine and strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft5tPEy7nlg Castleisland as seen from the Limerick Road

Georgia and I decide to have our first session in Kearney’s Bar with Con Moynihan and Dennis O’Connor: old friends and gracious musicians. Check out their album transcribed on The Session.The jigs and reels never stop and the slides and polkas are mighty.

Local legend Paddy Jones stops in after playing his own 2 hour gig. He plays some beautiful slow airs. We chat afterwards “I’ve beaten cancer twice”. Good man Paddy and many more years to you! Watch him on YouTube: “The Fiddle Bends the Note”.

Paddy Jones & myself

 

Carrowkeel: 6000 year old passage tombs.

Jay took me to the Carrowkeel passage tombs Co. Sligo. What can I say? Where can I start? The were built 4000 years before Christ. We hiked up the mountain and even that view was spectacular. One tomb is accessible and neither is there an interpretive centre nor an admission fee.

Jay says the faeries will dance to your music. I pull out the fiddle and play “The Kid on the Mountain”. Very magical indeed.

Happy Reunion! Meeting Georgia & Shawn

Wednesday I awoke and had the fry with the Kerins then on the road to Galway (yes I missed the turn at Charlesville and added an hour to the trip! ). Still I arrived in time for dinner with the Fullers and G&S. Fun to hear the stories. They were 3 days in Dublin and 2 days on Inishbofin.

We walk into town to meet Declan Corey (mandolin) Ger Clancey (fiddle) & Mick Clancy (bouzouki). I love playing with Georgia: it’s one of the true joys of my life! The synchronicity and “know where we’re going next-ness” can’t be described.

A week in Co. Sligo (including Mayo, Roscommon & Leitrim)

Just finished a week of heavy session work with good friend Jay Kerins. He know all the sessions around and we hit 9 n 7 days. Some hights were playing with grand-niece of Peter Horan: Grainne Horan in Hargadon Bro.s Sligo town. Grainne plays the fiddle and does a fine job of it. 

A Sunday session in Cran’s in Carrick-on-Shannon with Sean Ward was totally lovely. I met Sean first in 1996 and we share a Canadian friend, Dave Papazian (Papper) of Cape Breton Island.

Friday found us in Murray’s Bar Charlestown Co. Mayo playing with another long time friend Joe Grady (fiddle).

But Monday in Matt Molloy’s Pub Westport Co. Mayo was one lively session. Brothers John Kilkenny (fiddle) and Noel Kilkenny (banjo!!!) gave a “take no prisoners” session with loads of mighty tunes.

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