It Was Great Altogether
# It Was Great Altogether

It Was Great Altogether TSCD680T subtitled The continuing tradition of Irish music in London is the second album in the fourth series of The Voice of the People from Topic Records.

## Introduction

This compilation follows the development of London-Irish music from the 1950s to the present time mad presents recordings from Topic records back catalogue and many private collections.

Reg Hall defines the booklet of the other compilation in the series, the 'London-Irish' as a distinct ethnic community of settled migrants and their offspring with topping up from a constant trickle of immigrants from Ireland. On this second compilation most of the musicians were raised in Ireland with a few from London, some of whom travelled to Ireland for holidays.

## The Compiler

Reg Hall has been active in Irish music in London since the 1950s having been invited by Michael Gorman to join his band in 1956. His involvement in documenting the phenomena continued when he co-produced Paddy in the Smoke with Bill Leader in 1968, recorded in The Favourite public house in Holloway. A number of other recordings followed as well as continuing to play in sessions around London.

A large number of the tracks selected feature him providing accompaniment on either piano or keyboard for the dance tunes.

## Packaging

The album consists of a cardboard case with a card CD holder for the three CDs and a booklet for the sleeve notes.

### Cardboard case

The cardboard case does not detail the tracks in the compilation but does identify all the musicians and in the brief notes explains the place of Irish music in the lives of the migrant population in the 1950s. The notes then continue to explain that this album covers the period after the 1950s up to the present day.

### Booklet

The booklet consists of 106 pages and follows a similar sequence to the other albums in the series.

* About the Editor – written by Tony Engle Managing Director of Topic Records
* The Voice of the People – Detailing the concept and philosophy of the series of compilations
* It Was Great Altogether – A commentary on the album and the social context of the Irish music within London. The first and second CDs cover music produced by the original migrants and the third is recordings made more recently with some older migrants together with second and third generation Londoners.

CD1, CD2 and CD3. These three sections details the tunes being played on the CDs together with a brief biography of each of the musicians and a history of the recordings in track order. Track lists. The track lists for the three CDs are listed with the artist details and running time.

## The Recordings

The album consists of three CDs of recordings made of London Irish Musicians who have worked and played in London from 1964 to 2014. The majority of recordings were made in London. Many of the recordings were made by private individuals with a number from various organisations and individuals including Bob Davenport, Bill Leader, Reg Hall, Peter Bellamy, Resonance 104.4 FM, RTÉ and Radio na Gaeltachta.

### CD1

The CD contains recordings from 1965 to 1998.

A number of the tracks on the CD were recorded in The Favourite, Holloway. 7 of the tracks recorded by Bill Leader in addition to the tracks on Paddy in the Smoke, with 2 other tracks recorded by Edward Tise.

Tom Cussen both plays on and records track 13.

Tracks 1 and 2 were originally released on the Topic records album Memories of Sligo which is available as a download.

| Track | Title/Recording Details | Artist/| Instrument | Length |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Tarbolton / The Longford Collector / The Sailor’s Bonnet(Reels) | Johnny Duffy(fiddle), Tommy Healy(flute), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:10 |
| 3:10 ||
| 2 | Martin Wynne’s No. 1 / Martin Wynne’s No. 2(Reels) | Johnny Duffy(fiddle), Tommy Healy(flute), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:50 |
| 2:50 ||
| 3 | Whelan’s / The Lark in the Morning(Jigs) | Jimmy Power(fiddle), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:35 |
| 2:35 ||
| 4 | Jackie Coleman’s / The Castle(Reels) | Jimmy Power(fiddle), Reg Hall(piano), Gerry Wright, (bodhran). | 2:13 |
| 2:13 ||
| 5 | The Flax-dresser(Highland)/ The Limerick Races(Single Jig) | Danny Meehan(fiddle), Michael Hynes(flute), Dermot Kearney(piano). | 2:50 |
| 2:50 ||
| 6 | Billy Brocker’s / The Humours of Tulla(Reels) | Michael Hynes(flute), Dermot Kearney(piano). | 1:52 |
| 1:52 ||
| 7 | Cherish the Ladies(Jig) | Danny Meehan & Bobby Casey(fiddles), Reg Hall(piano), John McLaughlin(spoons). | 2:20 |
| 2:20 ||
| 8 | Lucy Campbell / The Bucks of Oranmore / Rakish Paddy(Reels) | Bobby Casey(fiddle), Andy Boyle(fiddle). | 5:10 |
| 5:10 ||
| 9 | Connemara Stockings / Ships Are Sailing(Reels) | Bobby Casey(fiddle), Tommy McCarthy(concertina). | 1:50 |
| 1:50 ||
| 10 | The New Century / Caroline O’Neill’s(Hornpipes) | Finbarr Dwyer(accordion). | 3:02 |
| 3:02 ||
| 11 | Kitty in the Lane / Maude Miller(Reels) | Finbarr Dwyer(accordion). | 2:25 |
| 2:25 ||
| 12 | The Mouse in the Cupboard / Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part(Jigs) | Jimmy Power, Paul Gross & Lucy Farr(fiddles), Tommy Maguire(accordion), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:12 |
| 2:12 ||
| 13 | The Glenside No.1 / The Glenside No. 2(Polkas) | Maureen Minogue(fiddle), Tadgh Kearney(accordion), Tom Cussen(banjo), Jimmy Hogan(piano). | 2:02 |
| 2:02 ||
| 14 | Eddie Maloney’s / Lady Gordon(Reels) | Lucy Farr(fiddle), Tommy Healy(flute), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:05 |
| 2:05 ||
| 15 | Sweet Flowers of Milltown / The Boys of Knock(Schottisches) | Lucy Farr(fiddle), Tommy Healy(flute), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:29 |
| 2:29 ||
| 16 | The Knights of St. Patrick / Paddy in London(Jigs) | Jimmy Power(fiddle), Paddy Malynn(accordion), Frank Blaney(banjo), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:01 |
| 2:01 ||
| 17 | The Humours of Tullycrinme / Mickie Callagher’s(Hornpipes) | Joe Whelan(accordion), Liam Farrell(banjo), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:51 |
| 3:51 ||
| 18 | The Siamsa(March) | Joe Whelan(accordion), Liam Farrell(banjo), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:17 |
| 3:17 ||
| 19 | The Fly in the Porter / Burning Brakes(Jigs) | Joe Whelan(accordion), Liam Farrell(banjo), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:50 |
| 3:50 ||
| 20 | The Pride of Rathmore / The Girls of Farranfore(Reels) | Con Curtin & Edmond Murphy(fiddles), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:20 |
| 2:20 ||
| 21 | The Derrycrag / Tie the Bonnet / The Abbey Reel(Reels) | Con Curtin & Edmond Murphy(fiddles), Reg Hall(piano). | 4:49 |
| 4:49 ||
| 22 | Strike the Gay Harp / Brendan Tonroe’s(Jigs) | Tommy Maguire(accordion), Father O’Keefe(mandolin), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:47 |
| 2:47 ||
| 23 | The Stoney Steps / The Hare’s Paw(Reels) | Tommy Maguire(accordion), Father O’Keefe(mandolin), Reg Hall(piano). | 1:54 |
| 1:54 ||
| 24 | The Carracastle Lasses(Reel) | Martin Byrnes(fiddle), Reg Hall(piano). | 1:45 |
| 1:45 ||
| 25 | The Frieze Britches(Jig) | Martin Byrnes(fiddle), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:44 |
| 2:44 ||
| 26 | The Heathery Breeze(Reel) | Sean O’Shea(fiddle), Bobby Casey(fiddle), Reg Hall(piano). | 1:47 |
| 1:47 ||
| 27 | O’Callaghan’s / The Hare’s Foot(Reels) | Con Curtin, Denis McMahon & Julia Clifford(fiddles), Reg Hall(piano). | 1:57 |
| 1:57 ||
| 28 | Cooley’s / O’Rourke’s / The Pigeon on the Gate(Reels) | John Whelan(accordion), Jimmy Power(fiddle), Tommy Healy(flute), Frank Blaney(banjo), Big John Gray(bodhran), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:12 |
| 3:12 ||

### CD2

The CD contains recordings from 1964 to 2014.

1 track was recorded by Lucy Farr in The Favourite, Holloway. Tom Cussen both plays and/or records on a number of tracks.

The musicians in the Thatch Ceili Band are Bobby Casey, Brendan Mulkere & Adrian Bourke(fiddles), Roger Sherlock & Paul Gallagher(flutes), Tommy Keane(uilleann pipes), John Bowe(accordion), Mick O’Connor(banjo), Kevin Taylor(piano), Mick Whelan(drums).

| Track | Title/Recording Details | Artist & | Instrument/Original Release | Length |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | The Rakes of Clonmel / The Humours of Drimnagh / Castleconnor(Jigs) | The Thatch Ceili Band. | 3:30 |
| 3:30 ||
| 2 | The Four Courts / The New Copperplate(Reels) | Maureen Minogue(fiddle). | 2:29 |
| 2:29 ||
| 3 | The Knocknagow(Jig) | Maureen Minogue(fiddle). | 1:38 |
| 1:38 ||
| 4 | The Harlequin(Hornpipe) | Julia Clifford(fiddle), Billy Clifford(flute). | 2:07 |
| 2:07 ||
| 5 | John Mahinney’s No. 1 / Sligo Bay(Jigs) | Julia Clifford(fiddle), Billy Clifford(flute). | 1:52 |
| 1:52 ||
| 6 | Paddy in London(Jig) | Jack Heffernan(accordion), Mary Heffernan(bodhran). | 1:36 |
| 1:36 ||
| 7 | Australian Waters(Jig) | Danny Meehan(fiddle). | 1:47 |
| 1:47 ||
| 8 | Farewell to Ireland / The Maid of Mount Cisco / Come West along the Road(Reels) | Marcus Hernon(flute), Martin McMahon(accordion), Teresa McMahon, (keyboard). | 4:54 |
| 4:54 ||
| 9 | un-titled / Royal Charlie(Single Jigs) | Lucy Farr(fiddle). | 2:04 |
| 2:04 ||
| 10 | Anderson’s(Reel) | Lucy Farr(fiddle). | 1:52 |
| 1:52 ||
| 11 | The Long Note(Single Jig) | Lucy Farr(fiddle). | 2:01 |
| 2:01 ||
| 12 | Jack Coughlin’s Favourite(Reel) | Gabe O’Sullivan(flute). | 1:27 |
| 1:27 ||
| 13 | The Green Blanket(Jig) | Gabe O’Sullivan(flute). | 1:43 |
| 1:43 ||
| 14 | The Green Mountain(Reel) | Brian Rooney(fiddle). | 1:08 |
| 1:08 ||
| 15 | Rolling in the Barrel(Reel) | Brian Rooney(fiddle). | 0:39 |
| 0:39 ||
| 16 | McHugh’s / The American Jig(Jigs) | Tom O’Connell(accordion), Mick O’Connor(banjo). | 2:44 |
| 2:44 ||
| 17 | The Honeysuckle / The Frisco(Hornpipes) | Jacqueline McCarthy(concertina), Tommy Keane(uilleann pipes). | 2:53 |
| 2:53 ||
| 18 | The Castlepollard Lass(Jig) | Tommy McGowan(fiddle). | 1:32 |
| 1:32 ||
| 19 | Tommy McGowan’s(Jig) | Tommy McGowan(fiddle). | 1:22 |
| 1:22 ||
| 20 | The Maid behind the Bar(Reel) | Eddie Corcoran(tin whistle), Seamus Tansey(tambourine). | 1:53 |
| 1:53 ||
| 21 | Rakish Pat(Reel) | Henry Dwyer(fiddle). | 1:18 |
| 1:18 ||
| 22 | Pat Burke’s / Fraher’s(Jigs) | Vince O’Halloran(accordion), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:09 |
| 2:09 ||
| 23 | Touch Me If You Dare / The Flowers of Redhill(Reels) | Jack Dolan(three-quarter flute). | 0:56 |
| 0:56 ||
| 24 | Nora Crionna / The Banks of Newfoundland(Jigs) | Maureen Minogue(fiddle), Tom Cussen(banjo). | 2:11 |
| 2:11 ||
| 25 | Scotch Mary / Ships Are Sailing(Reels) | Maureen Minogue(fiddle), Tom Cussen(banjo). | 2:26 |
| 2:26 ||
| 26 | The Thatched Cabin / The Skylark(Reels) | Selina Munnelly(accordion). | 1:36 |
| 1:36 ||
| 27 | The Eel in the Sink / The Ivy Leaf(Reels) | Bill Glasheen(fiddle), Selina Munnelly(accordion), John Blout(banjo). | 3:12 |
| 3:12 ||
| 28 | The Humours of Lisheen(Jig) | Billy Clifford(flute). | 1:01 |
| 1:01 ||
| 29 | The Humours of Glenflesk(Slide) | Julia Clifford(fiddle). | 1:05 |
| 1:05 ||
| 30 | Sergeant Carey’s Dream(Reel) | Amby Whyms(fiddle). | 1:22 |
| 1:22 ||
| 31 | Paddy O’Brien’s(Reel) | Amby Whyms(fiddle). | 1:26 |
| 1:26 ||
| 32 | Maud Miller(Reel) | Amby Whyms(fiddle), Mary Bowe(concertina). | 1:25 |
| 1:25 ||
| 33 | Munster Buttermilk / Jim Ward’s / The Old Favourite(Jigs) | John Carty(banjo), Marcus Hernon(flute), unidentified(bodhran), Paddy Gallagher(bouzouki). | 4:56 |
| 4:56 ||
| 34 | The Jolly Tinker / The Pretty Girls of Mayo(Reels) | Bobby Casey & Andy Boyle(fiddles), Paddy Breen(flute). | 2:29 |
| 2:29 ||
| 35 | The Banks of the Ilen / Cronin’s(Reels) | The Thatch Ceili Band. | 2:33 |
| 2:33 ||

### CD3

The CD brings the scene up to date with recordings from 1988 to 2014.

The musicians in The Auld Triangle Ceili Band are Teresa Heanue & Sinead Linane(fiddles), James Carty, Mick Mulvey & John Murphy(flutes), Gary Connolly & Maureen Linane(accordions), Karen Ryan(banjo), Reg Hall(piano), Pat McNamee(drums).

| Track | Title/Recording Details | Artist & Instrument/Original Release | Length |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Lad O’Beirne’s / Fionn O’Donal’s(Reels) | Sinead Linane(fiddle), James Carty(flute), Reg Hall(keyboard). | 3:07 |
| 3:07 ||
| 2 | The Concert Reel / The Corpus Reel(Reels) | The Auld Triangle Ceili Band | 2:28 |
| 2:28 ||
| 3 | Up Sligo / The Shoemaker’s Fancy(Jigs) | Lamond Gillespie(fiddle), John Blake(flute). | 3:15 |
| 3:15 ||
| 4 | Lady Gordon / Johnny Henry’s(Reels) | Lamond Gillespie(fiddle), John Blake(flute), Eamon Burke(flute), Tommy Maree(accordion), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:39 |
| 2:39 ||
| 5 | The Mullingar Races / Music in the Glen(Reels) | Sean Casey(fiddle), Bernadette McCarthy(fiddle), Dermot Kearney(banjo), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:41 |
| 3:41 ||
| 6 | The Primrose Lass / Cregg’s Pipes / Tom Ward’s Downfall(Reels) | Brian Rooney(fiddle), Mick Mulvey(flute), Reg Hall(keyboard). | 2:43 |
| 2:43 ||
| 7 | The Mill Pond / Statia Donnelly’s(Jigs) | Dermot Burke(fiddle), Mick Mulvey(flute). | 2:41 |
| 2:41 ||
| 8 | Grandpa Tommy’s Ceili Band(Reel) | Brian Rooney(fiddle). | 0:53 |
| 0:53 ||
| 9 | The Knocknagow(Jig) | Brian Rooney(fiddle). | 0:59 |
| 0:59 ||
| 10 | Devaney’s Goat / The Dairymaid(Reels) | Mick Linane & Sinead Linane(fiddles), James Carty(flute), Gary Connolly & Maureen Linane(accordions), Reg Hall(keyboard). | 3:57 |
| 3:57 ||
| 11 | The Salmanca / The Crooked Road(Reels) | Brendan Mulkere(fiddle), Paul Gallagher(flute). | 2:05 |
| 2:05 ||
| 12 | Blackbirds and Thrushes(Slow Air) | Joe Whelan(accordion), Liam Farrell(banjo). | 2:47 |
| 2:47 ||
| 13 | Collier’s / The Doone(Reels) | Joe Whelan(accordion), Liam Farrell(banjo), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:26 |
| 3:26 ||
| 14 | The Telegraph / Out on the Ocean(Jigs) | Austin Dawes(fiddle), Seanin McDonagh(accordion), Bobby Ramsey(guitar). | 2:00 |
| 2:00 ||
| 15 | The Morning Dew(Reel) | Austin Dawes(fiddle), Seanin McDonagh(accordion), Bobby Ramsey(guitar). | 2:40 |
| 2:40 ||
| 16 | Pat Mahon’s / The Fox and the Thatch(Jigs) | Sheena Vallely(flute). | 2:13 |
| 2:13 ||
| 17 | Dan Breen’s / The Road to Monalea(Reels) | Sheena Vallely(flute). | 1:47 |
| 1:47 ||
| 18 | The Musical Priest / Jenny’s Chickens(Reels) | Sean Casey(fiddle), Reg Hall(piano). | 2:26 |
| 2:26 ||
| 19 | Cronin’s / The Western(Hornpipes) | Tom O’Connell(accordion), Mick O’Connor(banjo). | 3:03 |
| 3:03 ||
| 20 | Fred Finn’s(Reel) | Eamon Burke(flute), Reg Hall(piano). | 1:56 |
| 1:56 ||
| 21 | Marie Rua (Red Haired Mary)(Slip Jig) / The Visit to Ireland(Jig) | Rosie O’Leary(fiddle), Clare O’Leary(fiddle), Alan O’Leary(flute). | 2:55 |
| 2:55 ||
| 22 | The Boys of the Lough / The Devils of Dublin(Reels) | Lamond Gillespie & Jimmy Murphy(fiddles), John Blake, James Carty, Eamon Burke & John MacLeod(flutes), Mick Leahy(bouzouki), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:41 |
| 3:41 ||
| 23 | Farrell Gara / Christmas Eve / The Sligo Maid(Reels) | Karen Ryan(fiddle). | 5:23 |
| 5:23 ||
| 24 | The Coolai(Jig) | Mick Linane & Sinead Linane(fiddles), Gary Connolly & Maureen Linane(accordions), Reg Hall(keyboard). | 2:05 |
| 2:05 ||
| 25 | The Laurel Tree / King of the Clans(Reels) | John Blake(flute), Eamon Burke(flute), Tommy Maree(bodhran), Reg Hall(piano). | 3:43 |
| 3:43 ||
| 26 | P Flanagan’s / The Corpus Reel(Reels) | Gary Connolly(accordion), James Carty(flute), Reg Hall(keyboard), Francis Gaffney(guitar). | 3:32 |
| 3:32 ||
