LONDON'S 22ND ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE

MAGAZINE
www.returntolondontown.org • www.irishmusicinlondon.org

FRIDAY 23RD – SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2020

SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
‘TRAD CINEMA’ SCREENING, CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS
Covid Secure Venues: BFI IMAX Waterloo, Cadogan Hall, Ashford Place
Virtual: www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown

FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME INSIDE FREE

CONTENTS

CONTENTS FESTIVAL VENUES

BFI IMAX WATERLOO
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, South Bank, Waterloo SE1 8XR
WELCOME
CADOGAN HALL
03 DIRECTOR'S 5 Sloane Terrace, Belgravia, London SW1X 9DQ

WELCOME ASHFORD PLACE

60 Ashford Rd, Cricklewood, London NW2 6TU
LISTINGS Online: www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown

06 FESTIVAL Safety is of utmost importance to us and to those who are

LISTINGS hosting at our Covid Secure venues (BFI IMAX, Cadogan
Hall and Ashford Place) – All tickets for our 'Trad Cinema'
Concert Screening on Friday 23 October and Live Concert on
Saturday 24 October should be booked in your 'bubbles'.

Please arrive at venues wearing a face covering (unless exempt)

and continue to wear unless eating or drinking in your allocated
seat – capacity monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one
way system measures will be in place for everyone's safety.

DIRECTOR: KAREN RYAN TICKETS

CO-EDITORS: KAREN RYAN,
JAMES CARTY, SAMANTHA SCREENE
DESIGN: ANTONIA BAILEY
All tickets for festival events can be purchased from the
following websites:
www.returntolondontown.org
www.irishmusicinlondon.org
www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown

2 RtLT2020
WELCOME
L
ondon's 22nd Annual Festival of Traditional
Irish Music 'Return to London Town' has been
in planning stages for months, remaining
flexible at every turn in these unusual times – we
are absolutely delighted to announce what we
have organised for the weekend of Friday 23 to
Sunday 25 October 2020. A blended offering of
socially distanced concerts (one in a 'Trad Cinema'
style screening of our headliners from Ireland and
another – a live performance with some favourite
acts from the London Irish music scene) plus socially
distanced music workshops, held in the beautiful
Covid safe spaces of BFI IMAX (Waterloo), Cadogan
Hall (Chelsea) and Ashford Place (Cricklewood).
Our concerts will be streamed for those who
wish to purchase online tickets to enjoy at home
(making them available worldwide for the first
time), we will also be presenting a day of virtual
music workshops with our tutors from Ireland.
Friday’s ‘Trad Cinema’ concert features: Dervish/ Noreen
O’Sullivan, Seán and Frankie Gavin/ Gatehouse. This
concert was filmed on location at The Dock Arts Centre,
Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. I would like to extend a
huge thanks to Sarah Searson, Keith Conroy, Ray Duffy
and all at the venue – in addition to James Clenaghan
and James Ryan for their brilliant work in producing
such a beautiful looking and sounding film for us to
enjoy on Britain’s largest cinema screen at the BFI IMAX
(as well as at home for those who choose to stream).
Saturday’s Live Performance Concert features: John
and James Carty (album launch), The London Lasses
and Pete Quinn with special guest: Terence O’Flaherty,
Le Chéile. Our socially distanced audience can attend
the concert at the beautiful Cadogan Hall. I would
like to thank all of the venue team and a special thank
you to our technical (and now stage/ equipment
sanitising) guru: Gerry Logue for all the work to make
this happen. We are delighted that this concert will
also be live streamed and available to rent for a time.
We are hugely grateful to the Emigrant Support
Programme, Culture Ireland and Flannery Plant
Hire – whose support has made it possible to stage
all our events, socially distanced and virtual.
My personal heartfelt thanks go to Margaret Reilly and
James (fiddle) Carty, along with the rest of the IMDL
Organising Group for their belief and teamwork in
realising this year’s Festival in difficult circumstances.
We have made all of our plans in the knowledge
that if Government guidelines change once more,
we will respond accordingly – reschedulding or
cancelling and refunding if necessary. At time of
going to print, we are pleased to announce that we
are in a position to present all our socially distanced
events while London enters Tier 2. We are determined
to provide a shared experience to enable us to
enjoy the music we love in a safe way this year.
www.returntolondontown.org 3
 An exciting development for Return to London Town Festival – we have
merchandise for sale! Good quality T-shirts, hoodies, long sleeved tops in
a variety of colours and styles – with this year's Festival logo featured.
All available online through our websites:
www.returntolondontown.org • www.irishmusicinlondon.org
or directly from: https://www.mudchutney.co.uk/collections/return-to-
london-town-festival-2020-clothing

ABOUT MUDCHUTNEY:
All our clothing is printed on demand so there's no waste, no boxes of odd
colours and sizes hanging around collecting dust. It does mean our shipping
times are longer than Amazon, but we think it's worth it for the quality
products we produce.
Profits are shared with 'Return to London Town Festival'

4 RtLT2020
 RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2019 – CRICKLEWOOD

RETURN TO LONDON TOWN

PROGRAMME LISTINGS

www.returntolondontown.org 5
 LISTINGS

FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER

‘TRAD CINEMA’ CONCERT SCREENING
AT BFI IMAX WATERLOO
(and streamed online)
• DERVISH
• NOREEN O’SULLIVAN, SEÁN AND FRANKIE GAVIN,
WITH GEORGE GRASSO
• GATEHOUSE
MC: JOHN CARTY
7pm Doors open • 8pm Film starts
Tickets for socially distanced screening at BFI IMAX: £20/£6 under 18s
Tickets for streamed concert: £12.50 (www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown)
Filmed on location at The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. This film features performances of
a triple bill concert with some short artist interviews. It will be screened at Britain’s largest cinema screen and
streamed online
Please note: Tickets for BFI IMAX should be booked in your 'bubbles'. Please arrive at venues wearing a face
covering (unless exempt) and continue to wear unless eating or drinking in your allocated seat – capacity
monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one-way system measures in place for everyone's safety.

DERVISH
At the end of 2019 Dervish received
a prestigious lifetime achievement
award from the BBC, a fitting tribute
to the band after over 30 years of
recording and performing all over
the world. Described by the BBC
as ‘an icon of Irish music’, the band
have played at festivals from Rio
de Janeiro to Glastonbury. They
accompanied the Irish President on
state visits to Latvia and Lithuania
and Prime Minister of Ireland on a
trade mission to China as Cultural
Ambassadors taking time out to
play an impromptu session on the
Great Wall of China. In 2004 Dervish
were given their home town’s
highest honour when they were
given the freedom of Sligo City in
a civic reception, an accolade they
share with Yeats himself, Michael
Flatley and Countess Markievicz.

6 RtLT2020
The Guardian newspaper
commented: ‘Dervish are simply
brilliant…they carry Irish history
with them.’ They are regular
visitors to the US, performing sell
out shows from coast to coast.
However, their fan base stretches
across several continents, including
Europe, Asia and South America.
The band signed to renowned
American roots label, Rounder
records in 2018 and launched
‘The Great Irish Song Book’ to
great critical acclaim in 2019.
NOREEN O’SULLIVAN,
SEÁN AND FRANKIE
GAVIN WITH
GEORGE GRASSO
Noreen, Seán and Frankie were
born in Corrandulla in County
Galway, where their father, J.J.
Gavin, ran a small thatched pub. As
children, they remember spending
many a night listening from the top
of the stair to visiting musicians,
such as Eddie Maloney, Tommy
Mulhaire, John Conneely, Jimmy
Hill and Paddy Farrell, playing in
the kitchen after a céilí in the local
parish hall. Music is in their blood.
They launched the album with a
spectacular show at the London
Palladium in September 2019
with special guests: Imelda May,
Kate Rusby, Brendan Gleeson,
David Gray and more. A second
‘Great Irish Song Book’ album
is currently in planning stages.
We are delighted to welcome
Dervish back to our annual Festival
for the first time since 2010.
Dervish are: Cathy Jordan
(vocal/bodhrán), Shane Mitchell
Seán Gavin, the eldest of the
family, is a senior All Ireland
champion on the button accordion
and has toured extensively. He has
performed on TV and radio and
has recorded the screen music
for the hit TV series ‘The Irish RM’.
In 2011 he received a Gradam an
Chomhaltas medallion. He teaches
accordion, gives workshops and
master classes and has recently
recorded his debut solo album.
Noreen Gavin O’Sullivan is one
of the finest tin whistle players in
the world of traditional music. She
has been playing since she was
5 and has been teaching music
in the Connemara Gaeltacht for
over 30 years, she has also taught
the tin whistle at the Festival
Interceltique de Lorient, France.
Noreen released a CD ‘The Quiet
House’ of rare traditional tunes plus
three of her own compositions.
Frankie Gavin, is the youngest
member of the family. Frankie
began playing Irish Traditional
music from a very young age
and is largely self-taught. At the
age of six, Frankie played for
President Kennedy when he visited
Ireland in 1963. In 1973 at the
age of seventeen, he won the All
www.returntolondontown.org 7
(accordion), Liam Kelly (flute/
whistles), Tom Morrow (fiddle), Brian
McDonagh (mandola/mandolin)
and Michael Holmes (bouzouki).
www.dervish.ie
Ireland Under 18 fiddle and flute
competition on the same day.
Frankie founded and performed
with De Dannan, eventually
recording 16 albums. He has
also played with Keith Richards
from the Rolling Stones as well
as Elvis Costello, Earl Scruggs and
Yehudi Menhin before returning
to his traditional Irish music
roots. In 2010 Frankie officially
became the fastest fiddle player
in the world finding a place in the
Guinness book of world records.
This renowned musical family have
been playing together for most
of their lives and have an equal
understanding of the music, which
comes very naturally. They are
joined in concert by the multi-
instrumentalist, George Grasso from
Santa Cruz, California. Now resident
in Galway, George’s bouzouki
playing was heavily influenced
by the great Alec Finn (RIP).
 LISTINGS
GATEHOUSE
Roscommon based traditional
band, Gatehouse celebrate the
history and beauty of Lough Key
Forest Park, through their name,
taken from the ‘Tiara’ gate lodge,
situated at the entrance to the
Rockingham Estate near Boyle in
the west of Ireland. The two Johns
go back a long way and after
initially focusing on the music of
North Connaught, they broadened
their focus to explore the story
telling potential of song and tunes
from other parts of Ireland – and
so Gatehouse was born. With the
addition of Rachel’s captivating
8 RtLT2020
singing and Jacinta’s delicate Gatehouse are: John McEvoy
accompaniment, for the band it’s (fiddle/mandolin), John
all about sensitive and tasteful Wynne (flute/whistles), Rachel
innovation – though there’s also Garvey (vocal) and Jacinta
grit and substance when needed. McEvoy (guitar/concertina)
Following the release of their www.gatehousetrad.ie
highly acclaimed debut album,
Tús Nua, Gatehouse decided to
take a more intricate approach
to the arrangement on Heather
Down the Moor with the help of
John Joe Kelly (bodhrán), Alan
Kelly (piano accordion), Mike
McCague (bouzouki), Conor and
Paddy McEvoy (fiddle and piano).
Heather Down the Moor was co-
produced with Dónal O’Connor.
 CLAYTON CROWN HOTEL
142-152 Cricklewood Broadway,
London NW2 3ED

Best wishes to:

'RETURN TO LONDON TOWN'
for this year's Festival and we look forward to hosting back at
the Hotel next year' (in accordance with Government guidelines at the time).
FRIDAY 22ND – MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2021

If you would like to stay with us, we are happy to offer

special reduced rate B&B accommodation for Festival goers
Festival B&B rates per person at the Clayton Crown Hotel:
£100 (single), £110 (double/twin), £120 (triple), £130 (quad).
All rates are per room, per night, to include accommodation, full
English breakfast, WIFI Connections all around the hotel, 20% VAT
and service.
Should there be any change in VAT or the introduction of any new
tax by the UK government the agreed rate will be adjusted to reflect
the change.

Please contact the hotel for bookings: www.claytoncrownhotel.com

Tel. 020 8452 4175

www.returntolondontown.org 9
LISTINGS

FLASHBACK:
MUSIC NETWORK TOUR CONCERT - JIM MURRAY, DÓNAL O'CONNOR, JACK TALTY
AND ANXO LORENXO – KINGS PLACE, JAN 2020

10 RtLT2020
FLASHBACK:
THE TRAD GATHERING REHEARSALS OF 'TUNES FROM THE REPERTOIRE OF
LUCY FARR' (JAN – MARCH 2020)

www.returntolondontown.org 11
 LISTINGS

SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTAL AND
VOICE WORKSHOPS
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers.

VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

11am–1pm: SINGING WORKSHOP WITH CATHY JORDAN (DERVISH)

11am–1pm: BUTTON ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH
SHANE MITCHELL (DERVISH)

11am–1pm: FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH TOM MORROW (DERVISH)

11am–1pm: FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH LIAM KELLY (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL HOLMES
AND BRIAN MCDONAGH (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: PIANO ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH MARTIN TOURISH (ALTAN)

2–4pm: WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH NOREEN O'SULLIVAN

2–4pm: UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH SHEILA FRIEL
2–4pm: CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH JACK TALTY
2–4pm: HARP WORKSHOP WITH TUTOR ÉADAOIN NÍ MHAICÍN
2–4pm: BANJO WORKSHOP WITH ANGELINA CARBERRY

Virtual Workshop Tickets: £10/ £6 under 18s

(www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown)

12 RtLT2020
Damien O'Reilly and
John Blake in Concert
TUESDAY 13TH APRIL 2021
at The Green Note, Camden
106 Parkway, Camden Town NW1 7AN
(Please note: venue/event date may need to change according to
Government guidelines)
This concert is part of the 'Return to Camden Town Event Series' presented
by 'Irish Music and Dance in London' (IMDL)
Promoting Damien's solo album 'Dúchas' with accompanist, John Blake
Doors open: 7pm
Music starts: 8.30pm
Tickets: £10 (plus booking fee) available from:
www.irishmusicinlondon.org

This series of concerts is presented by 'Irish Music and Dance

in London'. IMDL would like to thank Culture Ireland and the
Emigrant Support Programme for supporting these events.

www.returntolondontown.org 13
LISTINGS
CATHY JORDAN
Cathy Jordan was born in
Scramogue, County Roscommon.
Her love for traditional singing
was instilled at an early age,
especially by her father. Cathy
began singing publicly at all kinds
of Feiseanna and concerts as a
child. She is a songwriter, and
multi-instrumentalist playing guitar,
bodhrán, bones and bouzouki. Her
career spans three decades, during
SHANE MITCHELL
is a native of County Sligo. Having
started playing instruments at
the age of seven. Shane went on
to learn the Accordion from the
legendary Sligo Accordion player
Alphie Joe Dineen. From a very
young age Shane frequently found
himself drawn to local sessions as
TOM MORROW
Tom Morrow is a former All Ireland
fiddle champion and is a member
of the popular Irish traditional
group Dervish. Tom is a native
of Carrigallen in county Leitrim
and is the eldest of a musical
family. He has played extensively
with a wide range of musicians
around Leitrim and Cavan with
LIAM KELLY
is a native of Sligo and now lives
in Dromahair, County Leitrim. He
began playing traditional Irish
music at the young age of eight,
starting on the tin whistle. He
also played the accordion and
later switched to the flute, mainly
learning from local player, Carmel
Gunning. His style is firmly rooted in
14 RtLT2020
which time she has worked with
some of the top folk stars in the
world and performed at landmark
concerts in places like China and
Israel. She has been the lead vocalist
for the traditional Irish music band
Dervish since 1991. She combines
this role with a highly successful
solo career. Jordan is also a member
of the group The Unwanted. Her
first solo album, entitled All the Way
Home, was released in January, 2012.
well as competing with regular
success in competitions. Shane is a
founding member of Dervish and
has played accordion in the band
since 1989. He was one of the co-
founders of the Sligo Live Festival
in 2005 and has remained in his
role as artistic director ever since.
including the Cornafean Group
and Antoinn McGabhann. While
studying in Limerick, he was part
of the vibrant session scene that
existed in the area. Tom then
lived and worked in Dublin and
is regularly involved in music
sessions in Dublin and throughout
the country. He has toured the
world extensively with Dervish.
the North Connacht flute tradition.
Liam is a founding member of
the band Dervish one of the most
successful, consistent and long-
standing groups on the traditional
circuit. Liam recently began
presenting a traditional music
radio programme on Radio Sligo.
 www.irishpost.com

CONNECTING
IRISH PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD
/TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost

www.returntolondontown.org 15
 LISTINGS
BRIAN MCDONAGH
Born in Dublin in 1959, Brian
McDonagh moved to Sligo 30
years ago to study art under
the instruction of Sean Mc
Sweeney and John O Leary at
the Sligo Regional College. He
became interested in a variety
of styles of music and became
an accomplished performer on
mandola and mandolin, among
MICHAEL HOLMES
Michael Holmes is a native of Co.
Sligo. He was part of a vibrant
session scene in the late 1980s
and recorded an album called
Boys of Sligo in 1989 with Brian
McDonagh, Liam Kelly and Shane
Mitchell. It was on the back of this
in the Connemara Gaeltacht for
over 30 years to two generations
of musicians. She is a music
examiner for the syllabus in Irish
traditional music, SCT, run by
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and
has tutored music teachers in
their Teastas i dTeagasc Ceolta
Tíre (CCTT) program. She teaches
NOREEN O’SULLIVAN master classes in whistle at Scoil
Noreen has been playing music Éigse, adjudicates at Fleadh Cheoil
since the age of five and teaching na hÉireann, various provincial
SHEILA FRIEL
Sheila Friel was born and brought
up in Glasgow with family roots
firmly entrenched in the Donegal
Gaeltacht. Sheila plays the uilleann
pipes, flute, whistle and sings. She is
a part of the hugely popular group
The Friel Sisters along with her
sisters, Clare and Anna. They play a
mixture of music interspersed with
16 RtLT2020
other instruments. Brian is a
member of the highly acclaimed
band Dervish and in is high
demand as an accompanist. As
well as being a musician and artist,
Brian is also a recording engineer
and has a studio at his home in
Sligo where he has recorded many
albums including Kevin Burke's
recent release 'Sligo Made.'
album that the band Dervish were
formed, they have become one of
Ireland’s best loved bands. Please
note that Brian and Michael will
teach one hour each during our
‘Return to London Town Festival’
virtual accompaniment workshop.
fleadhanna, féiseanna and at
Oireachtas na Samhain. Noreen
frequently plays in a trio with
her brother, Seán Gavin, an All-
Ireland champion on the button
accordion, and her younger
brother Frankie Gavin, virtuoso
fiddler, founder of De Danann
and international recording artist.
In 2012 Noreen released a solo
CD titled The Quiet House.
songs in English and Irish, many
from their family repertoire. They
have performed worldwide. Sheila
appeared on Na Píobairí Uilleann's
most recent (Volume 12) 'Piper's
Choice' DVD. She is in high demand
as a tutor, regularly teaching at
Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy,
Co. Clare and Scoil Gheimhridh
Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal.
A5 ADVERT LAST PAGE.qxp_GRD Ireland 2006 PRO.qxt 16/10/2019 10:11 Page 19

I
rish Traditional Music is at the heart of the Irish culture
and history, never as a static antiquity, the tradition is
alive and vital, open to change yet conservative of its
core values. The essence of Irish Music Magazine is to
reflect what is happening in Irish music in contemporary society.
From the commercial recordings of traditional tunes, to experimentation
with other musical cultures, Irish Music Magazine keeps readers informed
about upcoming tours, events and festivals from the diverse world of
Irish and Celtic acoustic music.
Irish Music Magazine, strives to inform readers and musicians alike,
keeping you abreast of all major developments in the Irish Traditional
Music community. It is this vital human contact which is at the heart of
the music experience and is the reason why Irish Music Magazine is
the leading independent voice on Irish music in the world.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS

www.returntolondontown.org 17
 LISTINGS

from County Clare. As a performer, acclaim. In September 2018, Jack

JACK TALTY
is a multi-award-winning musician,
composer, producer, and researcher
producer, and engineer, Jack has
contributed to over 80 albums to
date. In 2011, he founded Raelach
Records, and he has released
three albums with Ensemble Ériu.
Since 2013, Jack has performed
as a section leader with the Irish
Memory Orchestra. He has also
recorded Na Fir Bolg with Cormac
Begley, and in November 2016
Jack released his debut solo album
In Flow to widespread critical
was appointed Traditional Artist
in Residence at University College
Cork. Jack recently released an
audio-visual installation project
with photographer and filmmaker
Maurice Gunning as Clare Arts
Office Creators in Residence at the
Irish Traditional Music Archive.

ÉADAOIN NÍ MHAICÍN
Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín is a multi-award
winning Harp and Fiddle player
from County Mayo, Ireland. With an
excess of 10 All Ireland titles to her and received her TTCT (Teaching
name and The Camac Trophy from Diploma from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Lorient Interceltique Festival, she Éireann) this year also. Éadaoin
has played to thousands of people has appeared on numerous,
all over the world in multiple national and international, radio
different venues. In 2019 she co- and television stations such
founded the band EADAOIN who as RTÉ, BBC, TV3 and TG4.
went straight to number 1 on the
iTunes world music charts with the
release of their singles 9 Years and
Bunalaka. She achieved a First Class
Honours in her Master’s degree in
Music at the University of Limerick

the highly acclaimed album appearing at major festivals

ANGELINA CARBERRY
was born in Manchester in the late
70’s into a County Longford musical
family steeped in traditional music.
Angelina moved to Galway in
the late 90’s where she recorded
‘Memories from the Holla’ with such as Catskills Irish Arts Week.
her father Peter on Accordion and Angelina has also played on
John Blake on guitar and piano. In TV program Fleadh Cheoil
addition to performing, Angelina from Cavan in 2012, popular
is also a respected music teacher series Bosca Ceol TG4 in 2014
and popular banjo tutor at many and 2015 TG4 series Hup!
festivals throughout the country
and abroad. She has taught master
classes at the Irish World Academy
of Music and Dance, University
Limerick, Scoil Éigse and the Willie
Clancy Summer School. She has
toured throughout Ireland, Europe
and Japan and North America,

18 RtLT2020
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www.returntolondontown.org 19
 LISTINGS

SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER

EVENING CONCERT ‘IRISH NIGHT AT
CADOGAN HALL’ (and streamed online)
IN MEMORY OF JIMMY PHILBIN
Sponsored by: and in Association with

• LE CHÉILE
• JOHN AND JAMES CARTY WITH JONAS FROMSEIER
• THE LONDON LASSES AND PETE QUINN
6pm Doors open • 7pm Concert starts
Tickets for socially distanced concert at Cadogan Hall: £20/£6 under 18s
Tickets for streamed concert: £12.50 (www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown)
Please note: Tickets for Cadogan Hall should be booked in your 'bubbles'. Please arrive at venues wearing a
face covering (unless exempt) and continue to wear unless eating or drinking in your allocated seat – capacity
monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one-way system measures in place for everyone's safety.

LE CHÉILE
Le Chéile was formed in the
early 1970s by musicians who
played regularly in the famous
sessions at The White Hart, on
Fulham Broadway. The 1960s
and 70s were golden years for
traditional Irish music in London,
when musicians played to packed
houses and sparked the revival
which went on to spread back
home and around the globe.
Le Chéile was the cult Irish band
of 1970s London. Their classic
album Lord Mayo was reissued
on CD in 2006. To coincide with
that release, the surviving original
band members – master fiddler
Danny Meehan, Liam Farrell (banjo),
John Roe (piano) and Kevin Boyle
(guitar) reformed alongside new
recruits, flautist Paul Gallagher
and accordionist Andy Martyn.
Now they’re back, with a slightly
changed line up. Adding powerful
momentum to the revivalist
movement within Irish music
today with their exciting big band
mix of back to basics traditional
music from Donegal and Galway.
Their third album Out of the
West was released in 2010.
This evening’s line up features:
Andy Martyn (accordion), Paul
Gallagher (flute), Mark Conyard
(fiddle/ banjo), John Roe (piano)
and Kevin Boyle (guitar).

20 RtLT2020
 PROUD SUPPORTER OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC
AND THE RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL
My WEEK
the in TRAD
with Helen
t h e p a p e r f o r t h e I ri s h i n B r i t a i n w w w.t h e i r i s h wo r l d .c o m 28 March 2020 • Issue No.1715 • £1.60

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IRISH IN BRITAIN
MIZZELL, MCNICHOLL AND OTHER
STARS OF IRISH COUNTRY ON
REACHING FANS DURING LOCKDOWN
PAGE 19

KEEP YOURSELF ENTERTAINED

WHILE SELF-ISOLATING IRISH PRIDE
GENTLEMAN JACK BROUGHT LEEDS
SINGER BELINDA O’HOOLEY TO A HUGE
NEW AUDIENCE...BUT SHE’S GOT AN
EVEN BIGGER REASON TO CELEBRATE
iw section
In our
2

‘YOU ARE NOT

PAGE 15

EVERY WEDNESDAY SEARCH ‘IRISH MUSIC

ALONE’
JUGGLING’ ON TWITTER

IN ALL GOOD
NOW FOR something completely different...
Check out this video of Oxford University student Hira

LEARN A
Javaid who made a video of herself juggling to traditional
Irish music (as you do) which has since clocked up just shy of
one million views since it was posted on her twitter account
last month.
Hira, who was born in Pakistan and brought up in Saudi
Arabia, fell in love with Irish trad music and culture from visits

NEWSAGENTS NEW TUNE

 President reaches out to Irish people in UK to Ireland - where her father is a doctor.
as Ambassador says funds are there for She told the Irish Mirror : “I've been unable to visit my dad
organisations helping the most vulnerable for several months and since I missed
Ireland, I decided to bring the Irish
By David Hennessy history to make such a recom- past are now older and especially
vibes to me instead.”

EVERY
mendation. susceptible and vulnerable to this

P
eople are being advised
against travel between
Britain and Ireland un-
less it really is essential.
And anyone travelling to
Ireland MUST isolate themselves
for fourteen days, says the Irish
government.
Here in Britain the Foreign &
The emergency travel guid-
ance comes as the President of
Ireland Michael D Higgins
reaches out to Irish people here
with a message especially for them
in this week’s Irish World (see
page 5).
President Higgins, who
repeats calls for social distance
Covid-19 virus.
But they have not been forgot- She juggles her love of Irish music
ten, he says.
and juggling (pun intended) with her
Learn
Ireland’s Ambassador to
Britain Adrian O’Neill, also on very serious PhD studies in Oncology,
THE PRESIDENT to Play!
these pages, says the Embassy will
ensure there is financial help for
those organisations helping the
which is the study of cancer.
most vulnerable in the commu- ADDRESSES THE UK Hopefully won’t even think of using
Button

Commonwealth Office (FCO) has
advised against all but essential
international travel to anywhere in
the world - the first time in its
and self-isolation, points out that
very many of the Irish people who
came to this country in the great
waves of emigration of decades
WEEK IN
nity, via its own Emigrant Support
Programme (ESP) funding. IRISH COMMUNITY juggling when delivering bad news.
PAGE 5 Love the video Hira, well done! Accordion
Continued on page 3

IN OUT
TOP ROW

OUR TRAD
E A G B C D E F G A G B E D G F G A E B

D# G# F# A# B G# D# E F# G# B A# D# C# F# E B G# D# A# F # C#

ALSO AVAILABLE
BOTTOM ROW

COLUMN!
John Ryans

TO READ ON
YOUR DEVICE
POCKETMAGS.COM/
IRISH-WORLD-MAGAZINE

/THEIRISHWORLD @THEIRISHWORLD THEIRISHWORLD.COM

www.returntolondontown.org 21
 LISTINGS
JOHN AND JAMES CARTY ‘WAVY BOW’ ALBUM LAUNCH
John Carty is one of Ireland’s
finest traditional musicians having
been awarded TG4’s Traditional
Musician of the Year in 2003. He
was recently appointed Sligo
Traditional Musician in residence.
Born in London, fiddle and banjo
player John Carty has established
himself among the elite in Irish
traditional music and as a staunch
supporter of its preservation.
Carty developed his love for fiddle,
banjo, and flute, all of which he
has mastered, through his multi-
instrumentalist father who was
a member of the Glenside Ceili
Band in London in the 1960’s.
Since moving to Ireland in 1991
he has recorded extensively and
performs worldwide both as a
solo player, in duets notably with
Matt Molloy and as part of John
Carty’s Festival Band, At the Racket
and as a member of super group,
22 RtLT2020
Patrick Street. John has performed
in two feature films Jimmy’s Hall
and Brooklyn, for which he also
arranged all the traditional music
pieces. In addition, John is a tutor
on the BA course at the Irish World
Academy of Music and Dance in
Limerick and with such experience
is a highly sought tutor for
workshops and summer schools
James Carty Fiddle player,
James Carty from Boyle, Co
Roscommon comes from a long
line of traditional Irish musicians
and a family highly respected
in the traditional idiom. James
however is cutting his own path
in the traditional music scene with
his own distinctive style which
he developed having grown up
listening to the recordings of the
old Sligo masters Michael Coleman,
James Morrison, Paddy Killoran
to name just three. He has toured
throughout Ireland, the UK, Canada
and the USA exploring the rich
and varied tapestry of the of North
Connaught fiddle tradition.
James has spent several years
living in London where he
has taught extensively.
James has appeared on a couple
of commercial recordings, most
notably The First of May with
Harry Bradley on flute and At
Complete Ease, a milestone
fiddle recording, with his father
John and Brian Rooney. He
released his debut solo album
Hiding Daylight in Dark Corners
in 2017 to high critical acclaim.
John and James are delighted
to present their latest album
The Wavy Bow Collection which
will be for sale this evening.
John and James focus on the art
of duet playing utilising material
from a wide variety of sources
including their local area of Boyle
which lies in North Roscommon
cushioned by neighbouring
counties Sligo and Leitrim. During
this evening’s concert, they will be
joined by Danish born bouzouki
player, Jonas Fromseier who also
features on the album. Primarily a
banjo player, Jonas is now living
in London after a spell in Galway.
He was also a member of the
groups Mórga and Arcady 3.
www.johncartymusic.net
www.jamescartyfiddle.com
THE LONDON LASSES
AND PETE QUINN
Described by Irish Music Magazine
as “one of the best bands on
the scene today”, the six-piece
traditional Irish group The London
Lasses have released four critically
acclaimed albums with pianist,
Pete Quinn and a fifth with
pianist/guitarist Chris O’Malley.
The London Lasses have toured
Germany with the St Patrick’s Day
Celebration Festival, performed the
first ever ceilidh in the Royal Albert
Hall as part of the BBC Proms,
and played at Ireland’s longest
running folk festival, Ballyshannon.
They have brought their unique
sound to some of the world’s most
prestigious festivals and concert
halls including Cambridge Folk
Festival, the Concertgebouw
(Amsterdam), Glastonbury,
Philadelphia Irish Festival and
Sidmouth International Festival.
Band highlights include headlining
at Dublin City Hall as part of Temple
Bar Trad Festival’s celebration of The
Gathering, closing the night after
Camille O’Sullivan’s performance
at the St Patrick’s Day Festival in
Camden’s iconic Roundhouse,
appearing on BBC Radio 3’s In
Tune, supporting The Chieftains
on their 50th Anniversary Tour
appearance at the Royal Albert
Hall, plus various TV appearances,
including Ardán, Geantraí and
Hup! (TG4), plus a memorable
turn on EastEnders (BBC1).
This evening’s line up features:
Karen Ryan (fiddle), Elaine
Conwell (fiddle), Maureen Hankins
(accordion), Annie Quinn (flute/
uilleann pipes) and Pete Quinn
(piano). www.londonlasses.net
The band will be joined by
special guest: Co. Clare singer,
songwriter, guitarist and bouzouki
player, Terence O’Flaherty.
www.returntolondontown.org 23
TERENCE O’FLAHERTY
from Ennistymon, Co. Clare, is from
a family of singers. He learned his
earliest songs from local musicians
and travelling storytellers and
singers. In the early 1970s, he
emigrated to London and joined
the thriving Irish music scene in the
capital as part of the popular band
Crusheen, with Kevin Shanahan,
Chris Hayes and Joe Searson. He
has performed with musicians
from many different backgrounds,
including classical, jazz and funk
and has performed widely in
the UK, Europe and the USA. He
has released three CDs to critical
acclaim and is currently working on
a new album due for release soon.
 LISTINGS

SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER

SOCIALLY DISTANCED WORKSHOPS
AT ASHFORD PLACE
Please note: that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Please arrive at
workshop venue (wearing a face covering, unless exempt) no more than 15 minutes before start time to allow for
registration. Advance booking is strongly recommended as workshop places are limited due to social distancing –
capacity monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one-way system measures in place for everyone's safety.

WORKSHOPS

11am–1pm: FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH EIMEAR MCGEOWN

11am–1pm: UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH RITA FARRELL
11am–1pm: PIANO ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH COLETTE O’LEARY

11:30am–1:30pm: BANJO WORKSHOP WITH JOHN CARTY

11:30am–1:30pm: FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH BEN GUNNERY

2–4pm: WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH PETER MCALINDEN

2–4pm: HARP WORKSHOP WITH JEAN KELLY
2–4pm: CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH ALEX KELLY

2:30pm–4:30pm: BUTTON ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH CORMAC MURPHY

2:30pm–4:30pm: ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH TAD SARGENT

Socially Distanced Workshop Tickets: £10/ £6 Under 18s

24 RtLT2020

EIMEAR McGEOWN
Irish flautist Eimear McGeown has
steadily built a reputation as being
RITA FARRELL
Rita Farrell is a London born
uilleann piper, flute and piano
player. With family roots firmly in
COLLETTE O’LEARY
Colette O’Leary, London based
piano accordionist, was born
in the highly musical area of
Sliabh Luachra in Co. Kerry and
one of the world’s most versatile
exponents of both the classical
and Irish flute. She has appeared
as a soloist throughout the USA,
South America, South Korea, Japan,
China, The Philippines, Russia
and Europe. She has recorded
with various artists on albums for
Universal, Decca and Chandos
Record labels and played on BBC
Radio, Classic FM and RTÉ Lyric FM.
Having performed for President
Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and
Co. Leitrim, she started playing
the tin-whistle at the age of five.
She eventually progressed onto
the concert flute and uilleann
pipes under the direction of
Marion Gill, Damien Mullane and
Emmett Gill going on to win
multiple national and international
medals at the Fleadh Cheoil.
After studying to become an
architect, Rita remains a prominent
figure in the traditional Irish music
session scene, and organises
raised in Dublin. She began
playing at the age of five and
by the age of eighteen, had
won two All-Ireland titles.
Colette was a founder member of
highly acclaimed all girl Irish group
Bumblebees before moving to
London in 2001 and recording her
first solo album The Attic Room.
Between 2007 and 2012, Colette
recorded and toured extensively
with the ‘The Long Notes’. They
released two albums The Long Note
www.returntolondontown.org 25
Prince Edward, Eimear received
an invitation by Her Majesty
the Queen, to attend a Royal
Reception at Buckingham Palace
to celebrate her achievements
in the Performing Arts.
On the Irish flute, she holds two
All-Ireland titles and released her
debut album Inis launching it at the
Irish Embassy in London, hosted
by Ambassador Adrian O’Neill.
the London based International
Uilleann Piping day annually.
Over the years, she has played at
many traditional music festivals
worldwide and has featured
in concerts at Willie Clancy
Summer School. Most recently,
she appeared on The Graham
Norton Show, playing alongside
Robbie Williams and featured in
Na Píobairí Uilleann’s recent online
series Piping in the Parlour series.
and In the Shadow of Stromboli.
Colette participated in Liverpool
Philharmonic Hall’s first Irish Sea
Sessions which also featured
Dublin’s luminary singer
songwriter Damien Dempsey.
She has also performed at
countless more festivals around
the globe and has recorded on
albums with Wolfstone, Máire
Breatnach, Mark Nevin and Russian
legend, Boris Grebenshikov.
 LISTINGS
JOHN CARTY
John Carty is one of Ireland’s
finest traditional musicians having
BEN GUNNERY
Born in Dublin, Ben was bought
up in London of Irish and French
PETER MCALINDEN
Peter was born in London in
1960 to parents who hailed from
JEAN KELLY
Jean Kelly hails from a family of
several generations of professional
musicians. Jean started playing
Irish harp in Cork, studying with
26 RtLT2020
been awarded TG4’s Traditional
Musician of the Year in 2003. Born
in London, Carty developed his
love for fiddle, banjo, and flute, all
of which he has mastered, through
his multi-instrumentalist father who
was a member of the Glenside Céilí
Band in London in the 1960s. He
has released 15 albums including
five solo works and collaborations
with artists such as Matt Molloy,
parentage. In his formative years
Ben won the All Ireland fiddle title
at the Fleadh Cheoil and also won
numerous classical competitions.
Ben graduated at the Royal College
of Music and Trinity College of
Music London under Gillian Findlay
and Hugh Bean respectively.
Ben is a virtuosic violin player,
a multi-instrumentalist and a
multi genre artist. He has toured
extensively from the age of
County Cork and County Down.
Encouraged by a neighbour
Kathleen Murray, Peter gradually
developed a love for traditional Irish
music, and learned to play Flute,
Tin Whistle and Piano. In 1979 he
won the senior competition in the
All Ireland fleadh in Buncrana.
Following his retirement from
school teaching in 2012, Peter
Bonnie Shaljean. She then won a
scholarship to study harp at the
Royal College of Music, London.
Jean is in great demand as a
versatile harpist, with an eclectic
career ranging from Early Music
to Classical and Folk Music.
Jean performs on film soundtracks,
for composers such as Jonny
Greenwood (Radiohead), Dario
Marianelli and Max Richter.
She has performed at Áras
Bryan Rooney and Patrick Street.
In addition, John is a tutor on
the BA course at the Irish World
Academy of Music and Dance in
Limerick and with such experience,
is a highly sought-after tutor
for workshops and summer
schools. He has recently been
appointed joint director of the
Leitrim Youth Trad Orchestra.
15 till the present day. He has
performed and toured with
Michael Nyman Band, Steph
Geremia, Gaelforce, Riverdance,
Celtic Legends and many more.
As well as performance, Ben
is a tutor at World Heartbeat
Academy and gives online
tutorials internationally for
festivals and students.
has become an integral part of
the traditional music scene in
London, both in teaching and in
sessions. In 2010 his whistle solo
album Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part
received much positive critical
acclaim. He was a member of
the popular Saint Colmcille's Ceili
Band which won the senior All
Ireland title in 1988 and 1991.
an Uachtarán, and at Windsor
Castle for the historic visit of
President Michael D Higgins.
Jean is a member of The Society of
Strange and Ancient Instruments.
They undertake regular UK and
European tours and have recently
released a CD ‘The Longest
Night’ featuring Jean on Irish
harp with Benedicte Maurseth
on hardanger fiddle and Clare
Salaman on nykelharpa.
 The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith
presents

THE ICC SEISIÚNS

A new series of recorded concerts starring an exciting
line up of London’s great Irish musicians and artists.

06/11 
THE DEVINE FAMILY
13/11
LUKE COUGHLAN
20/11
BRENDAN MCAULEY
& MICK SANDS

27/11
THE QUINN FAMILY

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
FIONA DALY & COLMAN CONNOLLY, JACQUELYN HYNES,
TIM LOGUE, CAROLYN HOLT & PAUL MCKENZIE

www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk/digital
#ICCSEISIÚNS

www.returntolondontown.org 27
 LISTINGS
ALEX KELLY
County Sligo concertina player,
Alex Kelly, comes from a very
musical family. He was a member
CORMAC MURPHY
Kildare button accordionist, Cormac
Murphy is an All-Ireland champion
on the instrument. Influenced
TAD SARGENT
London Born Tad Sargent, whose
family roots hail from Castlebar in
Co. Mayo, started playing music
at a young age on the piano. He
28 RtLT2020
of the national award-winning
Sligo group: Tog a hOcht. He has
been a highly valued member
of the traditional Irish session
scene here in London ever since
he moved over in recent years
– first playing regular sessions
in West London with Dublin
accordionist, Conal Cuttle and
fiddler, Deirdre Glynn. In 2019 he
was involved in performances of
the ‘De Cuéllar Suite’ which was
by the music of Galway’s great
accordionist, Joe Cooley, one of
his early musical performances at
the ‘Music under the Mountain
Festival’ in neighbouring Wicklow,
saw him play support to legendary
musicians Seán Keane (fiddle) and
Liam O’Flynn (pipes). He spent a
number of years playing in Dublin
– during his time there, he was
involved in playing with the project
‘All in Good Time’ who released a
started playing the bodhrán in 2002
after re-discovering his childhood
love for Irish music. Learning about
Irish music took years of attending
sessions run by the London Irish
banjo player Mick O’Connor
Now a multi-instrumentalist, Tad
is an experienced performer on
the Guitar, Bouzouki, Bodhrán
and Tin Whistle among other
instruments. He has performed/
recorded and worked with many
great musicians and groups such
composed by Michael Rooney
and pays tribute to the Spanish
Armada. Alex works in the capital
as a secondary school teacher.
Alex taught concertina at the
20th Return to Camden Town
Festival at the London Irish
Centre and received great
reviews from his workshop
students – we are delighted to
welcome him back to teach for
our annual Festival this year.
CD at Smithfield’s ‘The Cobblestone’
in 2013. He was also a member
of the band Tramú and more
recently has been performing with
London’s popular ‘Parish Céilí Band’
as Tony Christie, The Kelly Family,
Brian McNeill, Sylvain Barou,
Michael McGoldrick, Mohsen Amini,
Benedict Morris, Cara Dillon, Joby
Talbot, Kristina Train, Luke Daniels,
The Dhol Foundation, and The
Long Notes. He released albums
with the band CrossHarbour,
Breton uilleann piper Loïc Bléjean
and London fiddler, Matt Tighe.
Tad teaches regularly at the Irish
Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.
www.returntolondontown.org 29
LISTINGS

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2019 – CRICKLEWOOD

30 RtLT2020
www.returntolondontown.org 31
LISTINGS

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2019 – CRICKLEWOOD

32 RtLT2020
www.returntolondontown.org 33
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