Evening Album Launch: Sala Room, The Crown Hotel (7pm FREE)

Evening Album Launch: Sala Room, The Crown Hotel (7pm FREE tickets can be reserved in advance)

Please note that all advertised concert times are door opening times. Performances will commence 30 minutes after doors open.

- Mick Mulvey and Shane Meehan – The Missing Guest

- Maureen Minogue-Brown – Ceol sa Chistín (CD launched by Tom Cussen and Mick O’Connor (London banjo))

- Tara Breen and Marty Barry – Sooner or Later

- Mick O’Connor (Dublin flute) – In Safe Hands

Mick Mulvey and Shane Meehan

London audiences will know Mick Mulvey as an erstwhile of the London-Irish traditional music scene through the 70s, 80s and 90s, but he always maintained strong links with his Leitrim roots. His two acclaimed solo recordings; ‘Within a Mile o ’Jamestown’ [2003] and ‘Bridging the Gap’ [2009] – were both launched in Leitrim and at the Return to Camden Town Festival in London. 

Shane Meehan grew up in Carrick-on-Shannon, starting off his musical journey with his grandfather, John, in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. John’s passion for researching rare tunes was passed down to his grandson. Shane listened avidly to composers such as Charlie Lennon, Josephine Keegan, Ed Reavy, Joe Liddy, and Paddy Fahy, and took great inspiration in his early days of playing. Major playing influences include the famous Sligo fiddle players Michael Coleman, Lad O’Beirne, Paddy Killoran and James Morrison. His biggest influences came from the Leitrim musicians he grew up playing with, mainly in Cryan’s Teach Cheoil: Oliver Loughlin, Damian O’Brien, Padraig McGovern, Ben Lennon, Mick and many more. Shane and Mick were both founder-members of The Moylurg Ceili Band, winners of the SCB in Derry in 2013.  In 2019 Shane’s debut solo album “Twill Do” - featuring 19 of his own compositions – was released to glowing reviews in Ireland and further afield.

The new album from this duet, The Missing Guest, is a celebration of Leitrim’s musical heritage - a treasure trove of old and new tunes brought to life by these two outstanding musicians. Their deep understanding, respect and passion for the music of Leitrim and north Connacht shines through every track. Names indelibly associated with Connacht music abound: Coleman, Morrison, Killoran, Redican; and more recently, Maguire and Sherlock, McGann, Tansey, Keane, Molloy and Rooney amongst many others. 

Mick and Shane will be joined this evening by Pete Quinn.

Liverpool-born pianist Pete Quinn has performed with some of the greats of traditional Irish music including Brendan McGlinchey, Bryan Rooney, Mary MacNamara, John Bowe and Mick O’Connor. He has featured as accompanist on a number of recordings including five albums with The London Lasses, plus solo albums from whistle player Peter McAlinden, fiddlers Karen Ryan and Seán Casey, and flute player Mick Mulvey.

Ceól sa Chistín – Maureen Minogue-Brown

Written by Tom Cussen:

The story of this recording started back in 1969 in Maureen Minogue’s home in Kentish Town. The Irish traditional music scene in London at this time as I discovered was widespread and in a very healthy state. I met Maureen at a session and asked her if I could record some of her music so that I could learn tunes.

The CD is the result of those recordings and today with the help of modern technology, 55 years later, I am able to bring this selection of Maureen’s fiddle playing style and quality to a new and wider audience.

Many thanks to Maureen’s family (they are the children in the background on some of the tracks) who have been very supporting, encouraging and involved in this project. It must also be acknowledged that Maureen was a founding member of Shaskeen and was a resident member of the Céilí Band in the Galtymore  in Cricklewood for many years. She has also played on Reg Hall’s It Was Great Altogether! The Continuing Tradition of Irish Music in London.

On retiring to Ireland in the early 90s, Maureen continued to play and teach music and was actively  involved with her local Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Ėireann.

I had encouraged Maureen to do a commercial recording of her fiddle playing but she kind of always put if off till later. I am pleased to posthumously present this recording with the help and blessing of Maureen’s family and to offer this extraordinary portrayer of East Galway/ London fiddle playing style from Maureen.

Tom Cussen

Tom Cussen, plays tenor banjo and mandolin, originally from County Limerick, now a long time resident of Galway. Tom spent many years in London and founded the band Shaskeen there in 1970, who have recorded 10 albums to date.

As well as being Shaskeen’s band leader, Tom is the maker of the renowned Clareen banjos. Tom and Tony Howley (RIP) recorded an album together called “There is Always Room in Our House” featuring banjo and saxophone.

Tom has recently released an album of archive recording of fiddler Maureen Minogue-Brown from Galway, who spent many years playing music in London and was a huge influence on Tom’s playing.

Tom’s Banjo Maintenance workshop covers a wide range of topics, including the choice of strings, intonation setup, action, banjo head tension, bridges, type/ style of plectrum, playing position and tone etc.

Mick O’Connor (London Banjo)

London’s own Mick O’Connor, who plays Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, inherited a love of Irish music from his parents who came from County Kerry and Roscommon in Ireland. He learned tunes from the great London Irish musicians, including John Bowe, Bobby Casey, Tommy McCarthy, and Roger Sherlock, and is particularly influenced by Clare, Galway and Kerry styles of playing.

All Ireland winner on the tenor banjo in 1971, Mick has been playing since 1967 and is a veteran of the great days of the London Irish music scene of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. In 2013, he was honoured by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which bestowed its Bardic Award on him for his ‘exceptional contribution to the promotion of Ireland’s cultural traditions’.

Tara Breen and Marty Barry

Tara Breen is a highly acclaimed Irish musician and a celebrated figure in the world of traditional Irish music. Born and raised in County Clare, Tara developed a deep connection to Irish music from a young age, hugely influenced by her musician father Martin. Tara's musical journey began in her early childhood when she was introduced to the fiddle, she honed her skills under the guidance of local musicians and teachers. Tara gained numerous All-Ireland titles in both fiddle and flute. 

Tara's reputation as a skilled musician quickly spread, leading her to collaborate with some of the most respected names in Irish music. Tara joined the legendary bands, Stockton’s Wing and The Chieftains. Her performances with the groups have taken her to prestigious venues worldwide. Tara was also a founding member of Ciorras, a group formed as part of the TG4 series Lorg Lunny, which showcased emerging Irish talent under the mentorship of Dónal Lunny.

Tara is a full time member of both Breen/ Rynne/ Muarry and Notify.  Her playing of fiddle, flute and saxophone appears on recordings with these bands other recordings due to her high demand as a session musician. 

Tara’s debut solo album Sooner or Later is officially released this year.

Mick O’Connor (Dublin Flute)

Mick O’Connor is originally from The Liberties area of Dublin where many of the Dublin piping families lived. He was a member of the Piper’s Club in the late 1950s through to the 1970s where he trained the Pipers’ Club Céilí Band. Mick is a well-known flute player, archivist, researcher and music historian. As a musician, he has broadcast and recorded with Seán Keane of The Chieftains and Charlie Lennon. In the 1960s, he was leader of the popular Castle Céilí Band and led them to success at Fleadh Cheoil na hĖireann in 1965 and Oireachtas na Gaeilge Céilí Band Championships on four occasions. He is a popular lecturer and teacher at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and formerly Scoil Ėigse. He was a member of a sub-committee that was instrumental in organising the 1968 uilleann piping Tionól in Bettystown, Co. Meath, which resulted in the formation of Na Píobairí Uilleann. For many years Mick has been involved in the design and production of LPs, CDs, videos and books relating to Irish music. This evening, Mick O’Connor will be launching his comprehensive book In Safe Hands: An Illustrated History of Irish Traditional Music in Dublin, 1893-1970