|
|
Musical memorial to Clonmany
fiddle player
22.02.11
A UNIQUE CD of music by
a legendary Clonmany fiddle player will be launched
later this week.
The album of music by the late Seamus Grant was
compiled and produced seven years ago by the
Inishowen Traditional Music Project. It is the only
collection of his music to have become commercially
available.
At the age of 70, in November 2004, Seamus Grant
recorded 17 tunes with Ryan MacNeil, a piano
accompanist from Canada. At the time of recording it
was intended that along with these solo tunes from
Seamus’s repertoire that the two-hand dance tunes
and the music of the Clonmany Ceilí Band would also
be recorded. Sadly, Seamus became ill and passed
away in November 2005.
This Friday night, February 25, the new CD will be
launched in McGrory's, Culdaff. It "allows a real
glimpse into the technical mastery and the diverse
musical tastes of Seamus".
It is a collection of the music that Seamus played
through his lifetime and includes local dance tunes,
ceili dance tunes, airs and melodies popular in
Irish music at the time and other pieces made
popular by the great fiddle masters.
He performs compositions of Scott Skinner, James
Hill and Neil Gow and from further afield, the music
of the great Canadian fiddlers such as Rudy Meeks
and Graham Townsend. Seamus had a great affinity
with the music of both Scotland and Canada. Already,
an admirer of the music of the MacNeil family of
Cape Breton, he was very pleased at the prospect of
recording with piano accompanist Ryan MacNeil. |
 |
Seamus Grant was born
in 1935 in the town land of Gortnahinson 1935
overlooking Clonmany village. Seamus had a natural
gift for the music passed down to him by his
parents, both musicians. He learned also, from the
playing of his uncle, Willie Joe Grant and
neighbour, (White) Dan Doherty who was later to
become his father in law. White Dan was a fiddler,
singer and dancer and a great source of tunes, many
learned during harvest time in Scotland.
From the age of about fifteen, Seamus was in big
demand to play at house dances. These 'Big Nights'
were central to the musical culture of Inishowen |
|
A photo of the late Seamus Grant as
it appears on the cover of the new CD. |
and marked occasions in
the community such as weddings, christenings and
emigration.
By 1956, the Clonmany Ceilí Band was formed by local
curate Fr. Desmond Mullan to promote ceilí dancing
and to represent the parish at feiseanna. The early
members, along with Seamus were Ned and Jimmy
Doherty (drums and double bass), his lifelong friend
Maeliosa Doherty (button accordion), John McCarron
(button accordion), Neil Mc Gonigle (fiddle) and
Desmond Kavanagh (piano) and in later years Pat
Hughes (piano). Dinny McLaughlin (fiddle) also
joined them regularly for ceilí dances and Feiseanna
in the early days. The band was hugely popular and
played regularly at ceilí dances throughout Donegal,
Derry and Tyrone up to the early 1970s. Seamus was
also a source of knowledge for many music students
at college. Those who knew him say he also loved the
quiet nights of music and many people have fond
memories of being welcomed by Seamus, his wife
Brigid and family. The CD will be available at the
launch and local venues thereafter. For more
information contact Roisin McGrory on 087 752 8639. |
|
