Martin Hayes (now living in America) is probably the best known musician to come from the area but he is just one of a handful of fine musicians who grew up and mostly still live and play in the area. Others include Mary MacNamara (who has done much to keep the tradition alive), Andrew MacNamara, Jed Foley, Vincent Griffin, Tommy Hayes, Mark Donnellan - well the list just goes on and on.

Tommy Hayes, Michael Landers and Andrew MacNamara

Dorothy's husband, Michael (above), plays regularly with local musicians.

Lenas (now called Shortt's) pub in Feakle holds the record for the longest regular pub session in the world. Every Thursday night musicians still gather to play as they have done for the last 39 years. Fine musicians they are; you won't hear the rushed 'diddly dee' tourist version of Irish music here. You'll hear the perfect East Clare lilting rhythm that is played with a deceptive ease. The Thursday sessions are hosted by Seamus Bugler who has been playing accordion in Shortt's for years, most of that time in the company of flute player Paddy O'Donoghue.

Taken with a couple of pints of the 'black stuff' and you'll think you're in heaven! Fiddles, concertinas and accordians make up the bulk of the instruments in the area.

Tulla is also home to many excellent musicians as well as the the famous Tulla Ceilidh band. Not many people know that Christy Moore, at the time a clerk in the bank, played some early gigs in the back room of Minogues pub in Tulla and that John Minogue introduced him to the song 'Spancil Hill' .

Mary MacNamara who has done much to keep the tradition alive.

The concertina features frequently in the music of East Clare.

Every year in August Feakle hosts a large music festival. In recent years Tulla also has a festival in September.

 

Liz Carroll playing in Tulla

In the last 12 months in addition to the local musicians above I have seen; Matt Molloy, Liz Carroll, Arty McGlyn, Joe Burke, Catherine McAvoy, Seamus Begley and Jackie Daly to name a few all within 5 miles of Clondanagh!

For more information on some of the East Clare musicians I have started building some pages of information here