Updates April 2021
Well, Matt and I have surprised ourselves by completing a year of live-streaming sessions weekly. It has been a wonderful experience where we connected with many family and friends who have been in various different stages of Pandemic lockdown and got to know many new friends! You all kept us going, thank you! We’ll be back live-streaming very shortly.
I’m currently updating my website https://aineheslinmusic.com/ so please bear with it for a while. Thanks for your support.
Jan 14th 2021
Live from Home 39
Join us for our live session (hopefully only for this week!) at https://www.facebook.com/aine.heslin.1
from 8:30pm GMT for a half hour of music and song.
New compositions coming..
A Fund it campaign ( https://fundit.ie/project/the-tunes-foundry–2-new-compositions) started – if you support music projects/new compositions/new Irish music (traditional style) or if you have been following my story so far – please read on.
This new album in production is called The Tunes Foundry 2. When I’m composing I always use my tinwhistle to try out the new phrases.. so I’ve used the whistle entirely on this cd – no flute this time. Hopefully the whistle will give a nice clear version of each tune that I’ve recorded. It’s the only time really that I use my whistle as I continue to use my flute in sessions for all other tunes! Matt is accompanying me with guitar on a lot of the tracks. I once again asked Dave Keary of Red Door Studios in Limerick to record for me and thankfully he had time to do it this March/April – a great studio engineer and a lovely guy!
Each track on this album will have just one tune on it which should make it easy for you to decide which new tune(s) you like and therefore will make it easier to learn too. There will be between 25 and 30 tracks.
The other half of my new project this year is the production of a Tune-book containing most of the new tunes from The Tunes Foundry (click on Music page/Reviews/Shop for more info) and The Tunes Foundry 2 – so up to 50 new tunes. It’s been really exciting working with Laura Ugur in Corofin, Co Clare getting all the tunes in PDF format and she has been invaluable in working out the notes in abc format too so that the tunes can be played by midi player. (I’m not even sure I said all that correctly! lol ) Anyway, the book will be a useful tool for some, I’m certain.
If you would like to buy either the new album or the new Tune-book why not have a look at the Fund it page where you can pre-order them and that will help in the actual funding of the project! I intend to get it finished soon so as it will be useful for music teachers who might like new tunes for competitions/concerts etc. for the new school year. (Check out the rewards section for those who pre-order!)
Composed in honour of Jimmy Clancy, co-host of a weekly session in Cruises Bar, Ennis.
Thurs April 19th – Music!
Our usual weekly session is on this Thurs 19th in Cruises Bar, Ennis (https://www.facebook.com/cruises.bar/) and we’ll just have to wait and see who visits this week! Last week we had a great variety of musicians and singers too and I’ll upload some fine photos taken by our friend and musician, Patrick Keating who divided his time between the accordion and his zoom lens! Sarah Croker, a singer-songwriter with a wonderfully sweet voice travelled up from Tipperary and had encouraged a touring band called Swampcandy to come to the session too. We invited them to play naturally and wow, they were amazing! (http://swampcandy.com/) I can see by their videos that we only saw the tip of the iceberg!! We had plenty of musicians who visit us quite regularly too – we love seeing them return.
Joey, member of Swampcandy on double bass. Photo by Patrick Keating
Ruben, member of Swampcandy and Sarah Croker. Photo by Patrick Keating
Gina, member of Swampcandy. Photo by Patrick Keating
Ruben, from Swampcandy, Sarah Croker and Andy Lambert. Photo by Patrick Keating
Ruben and Sarah. Photo by Patrick Keating
Jim Maher on accordion, Ruben on guitar. Photo by Patrick Keating
Sarah Croker on vocals/guitar. Singer-songwriter from Co.Tipperary. See https://www.facebook.com/sarahcrokersmusic/ Photo by Patrick Keating
Áine Heslin playing one of her own tunes on tinwhistle with John Clancy, banjo, in background. Photo by Patrick Keating
Hands of Brian Burke on flute, Bernie Kerwin on flute, Jim Maher on accordion Ruben on mandola and Joey on double bass. Photo by Patrick Keating
Catherine Mulhearne on flute. Photo by Patrick Keating
Ruben on mandola and Mary Caldwell on accordion. Photo by Patrick Keating
Andy Lambert on bouzouki/vocals. John Clancy on banjo. Photo by Patrick Keating
Thurs 22nd March at Cruises, Ennis!
We had a really great night last Thurs (see pictures below taken by Andrew Lambert)! Join us this Thurs 22nd March from 8:30pm and we’ll see what tunes we’ll play and who will play them with us! We love company!!
#loveirishmusic #lovethecraic #alwaysdifferent #coclare #wildatlanticway
Orla McGovern, Patricia Kerwin, Jim Maher, Lenka Hoffmanova, Bernie Kerwin, John Malone and Aoife. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Áine Heslin, Jimmy Clancy, Orla McGovern and Patricia Kerwin. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Orla McGovern, Jim Maher, Patricia Kerwin (dancing), Bernie Kerwin, John Malone and Aoife. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Orla McGovern, Patricia Kerwin, Jim Maher, Lenka Hoffmanova, Bernie Kerwin, John Malone and Aoife. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Lenka Hoffmanova, Brian Burke, Bernie Kerwin, John Malone, Aoife ? Yoshinori Fukuda, Misaki Fukuda and Mary Caldwell. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Áine Heslin, Misaki Fukuda, Yoshinori Fukuda,and Orla McGovern. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Lenka Hoffmanova, Brian Burke and Bernie Kerwin. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Thurs March 15th at Cruises Bar – Irish music!
Open session with Jimmy Clancy (accordion) and Áine Heslin (flute) from 8:30pm. Join us for a cosy pre-St Patrick’s Day session indoors and get geared up for the actual St. Patrick’s Day festivities!!
Feeling very sad though at Ireland having lost a master-piper today – Rest in Peace Liam Óg O’ Flynn, and to celebrate his contribution to Irish music we will play something in his honour – ‘Newfoundland’ from Shaun Davey’s suite The Brendan Voyage.
Here are photos from last week’s session and most of them lovely shots from Patrick Keating who also played accordion with us! Note Ronan Burrenn from ‘Ireland’s Inner Beauty’.
Geraldine on whistle and Lisa on fiddle. Photo by Patrick Keating.
Patrick, Jim, Geraldine and Lisa.
I think this was Lisa? on fiddle. Photo by Patrick Keating.
Matt on guitar and song.. Photo by Patrick Keating.
Howard on tinwhistle. Photo by Patrick Keating.
James on low whistle. Photo by Patrick Keating.
Colm on flute and Ronan. Photo by Patrick Keating.
Open session on International Women’s Day! Cruises Bar, Ennis – 8:30pm.
Join us for some music, song and whatever else comes up on Thurs 8th March at 8:30pm! Jimmy Clancy on accordion and Áine Heslin on flute/whistle and all of you taking part in the fun.
No photos from last week other than snow photos and you’ve probably enjoyed enough of them so I’ll post a video soon with sunshine (maybe) in the background..
We’ll play some lovely tunes with reference to ladies/girls and if you want to offer some ideas please do comment below! (See some archive photos!)
Áine, Jimmy Clancy and Tony Illanes, fiddle. (Brian Burke on flute behind and Gerry Eustace on mandolin) Fleadh Nua May 2017 Cruises. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
Áine Heslin on flute with Paula O’ Regan on fiddle. Photo by Betty Connor.
Áine Heslin and Jimmy Clancy. Photo by Betty Connor.
Thurs Feb 22nd – Open session at Cruises Bar, Ennis
Lots of photos from last week – we were extra busy as we had a large contingent from the US of Old Time musicians warming up for their Old Time Festival in Lisdoonvarna last weekend!! How exciting our night was!! Come join us tonight at 8:30pm for our regular (??) Open Session of Irish trad music with Jimmy Clancy, Áine Heslin and friends.
This session means a lot to Jimmy and myself – we love and encourage the new friendships made every week – it is as important to us as the music. Even though I have written over 100 tunes I don’t consider a session to be the place to demonstrate them (I usually play one or two popular sets though) and that was why I did my mini-summer concerts last year. People come to play, with others, tunes they have in common and we all appreciate the tunes that new instrumentalists bring that we might not have heard for years!
Having said that I love it when one or two of my tunes touch a chord with musicians and they take the time and effort to learn them – TUNES have a life of their own I’m convinced!!
#sessions #irishtraditionalmusic #oldtime #coclare #wildatlanticway #shannonairport #cruisesbar
Emmy Truckenmiller, Dan Levenson, Howard Winrow, Jim on accordion, Paula and Patsy on concertinas!
Jim, Paula, Patsy, Greg Smith and Bob Denton.
Old Time Flatfoot dance meets old Irish Sean-nós dance!! Thanks Dan and Patricia.
Greg Smith, Orla McGovern behind on keyboards and Bob Denton.
Lorene Smith on double bass.
Can’t decide which I love more – Bob’s bright banjo or his fab smile!!
Andy Lambert (organiser of the Irish Old Time Festival last weekend in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare) and Lorena Smith.
Open session in Ennis tonight.
February 15th – (Thursday) from 8:30pm at Cruises Bar with Jimmy Clancy, Áine Heslin and friends. Had a great session of visiting musicians last Thurs – see photos below (missed some people, our apologies.) We also had some lovely sean-nós dancing from Patricia and a little from Mary – but no photos I’m afraid. Next time! Come join us tonight.
Aoife from Kilmaley on concertina.
Michael on fiddle and Jim on accordion.
Aoife on concertina and Andy on bouzouki.
Mary and Patricia discussing sean-nós steps and Patricia and Aoife playing concertinas.
Sorcha on concertina, Mike on flute and Howard on whistle.
Thurs night open session, Co. Clare.
Jimmy Clancy and Áine Heslin invite you to join the session from 8:30pm Thurs nights at Cruises Bar, Ennis – a great group of musicians come in whenever they can make it so there are nearly always old friends to meet – new people come in for tunes/songs too – so friends to make!
(A good time to make arrangements to come to Ennis and experience a 3 day Irish Traditional Music festival called Fleadh Nua which is held in May! See link: http://www.fleadhnua.com/)
See some photos from last week:
Damien on banjo, Jim on accordion and Howard on whistle.
Orla on keyboards and Ronán recording the music for his Facebook group ‘Ireland’s Inner Beauty’.
Seamus on flute, James on whistle and low whistle and Damien on banjo.
James on whistle, Damien on banjo and Jim on accordion.
February 1st 2018 – a session in Cruises.
Well, last week’s session must have been our last in Jan because this one coming…..is
Join us at 8:30pm in Cruises Bar Thurs night… 1st Feb!
Last week there was Jimmy Clancy on accordion and myself, Áine Heslin on flute. As always we had lovely guest instrumentalists and we had tunes all evening even though for the previous two weeks we had four singers at least each night! But then, a young singer who had made her way up from Tipperary just to give us a couple of songs…..arrived as we were finishing and gave us a couple of beautifully-sung songs, accompanying herself on guitar. Ronán from Ireland’s Inner Beauty recorded some videos.
#enniscoclare #sessions #irishtraditionalmusic #accordion #flute #tinwhistle #irelandsinnerbeauty
Some photos below of last week.
25th Jan in Cruises, Ennis.
Join us for tunes tonight from 8:30pm in Cruises Bar, Ennis. Jimmy Clancy and friends! I’m playing a few NEW tunes if there is time and we can relish this wonderful winter weather…or we can dream of sunny days……!!
Last week we had our friend Gerry for the last time before he headed back to Spain again – but he wants to return – often! 🙂 Gerry gave us a fine rendition of the song ‘She moved through the fair’ while accompanying himself on accordion!! Beautiful!
See photos below of our session last week and pop in to us tonight!
Gerry playing his most recent instrument!
Joe Curtin playing harmonica and singing.
Brian, Siobhán and Matt.
Joe, Jim and Brian.
Gerry on fiddle.
Siobhán and Matt – sister and brother! Both lovely singers.
Matt singing.
Jimmy Clancy.
Who would think it – in January?!:)
In Cruises Bar last Thurs at our open session there were at least ten musicians besides ourselves – isn’t that just a statement about Irish traditional music? We love to get together in a relaxed atmosphere and just play tunes here in Co Clare – and of course the bit of chat and fun helps but mostly, it’s the music. (Thurs 11th Jan 8:30pm Cruises Bar, Ennis)
Ronan did a bit of recording for his Facegroup Group, Ireland’s Inner Beauty and Andy Lambert took some great photos in between playing lots of bouzouki and singing too! Here are some, and a couple I took myself. (Colm Nestor was gone before the photos began but played lovely flute for the first half)
Photo by Andy Lambert.
Monochrome by Ronan Burrenn
Fiona Kerwin. Photo by Andy Lambert.
My friend Rosaleen came in to listen! 🙂
Gerry Denis with Andy Lambert.
We’ve made it to 2018!! Yaay!
After all that has happened in the past few years – we’re lucky to be here and looking forward to meeting our friends tonight at Cruises Bar, Ennis for tunes and a bit of craic! Join myself and Jimmy Clancy from 8:30pm JANUARY 4th! 😉
Last week I captured a few hurried snaps – we had returning musician Jerry with us on fiddle and he played a couple of lovely ‘old timey’ tunes..we had lots of other friends playing/singing as well – it was lovely. Thanks guys for making our Thursdays so enjoyable. #friends #newyear2018 #cruisesbar #enniscoclare #irishtraditionalmusic #sessions
Thurs 28th Dec in Cruises, Ennis.
In between Christmas and New Year….tunes with Jimmy Clancy in Cruises Bar from 8:30pm! It’ll be an open session as usual and we welcome in/welcome back whoever wants to join our last Cruises session of 2017! Here are a few photos from last week – see you tonight maybe – and hopefully lots of you in 2018!
Jimmy, Matt, Jim (hidden), John and Paula.
John, Paula, Howard and Martha.
Paula, Brian, Howard, Michael (hidden) and Martha.
Matt, John, Paula, Brian and Howard.
Colm and Patsy.
A New Year’s gift?
‘The Tunes Foundry’ CD. https://aineheslinmusic.com/shop/ for more info. Also for sale in digital download format at cdbaby https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/aineheslin where you can hear short clips from each track!
Celebration time!! Christmas IS celebration. Music…..:)
Thurs 21st Dec at Cruises Bar, Ennis – Jimmy Clancy and I and of course Pat and Teresa (bar management!) will be hosting an OPEN session again – room for all at the inn! We had some lovely friends last week and very
Great tunes with Pat, Jim, John, Patsy and Howard.
good tunes too! This week Jimmy and I would like to wish all the people who are away from home for Christmas the very best for the season – to look after yourself, maybe make contact even if it’s with just one person, to have a little moment for yourself even if you’re surrounded by lots of people and to remember that we’re thinking of you. We will play our traditional Irish music JUST FOR YOU this Thurs! Happy Christmas/ Happy holidays – just …some happy times!
#irishmusic #christmas #sessions #coclare #wildatlanticway #ennis #mentalhealth
Howard on whistle, (Ronan getting ready to take some live video) and Colm on flute.
Jimmy, Pat and Jim on accordions and John on banjo.
Colm on flute and Andy on bouzouki.
Now, those photos above were taken by me with my phone but I’m going to upload some taken by Pat Keating (when he wasn’t playing the accordion!!) – they’re lovely I’m sure you’ll agree. Of course – he’s not in them.
John, Howard and Ronan. Taken by Pat Keating.
Colm Andy and Áine – taken by Pat Keating.
Andy, Áine and Jimmy – taken by Pat Keating.
Jim, (Ronan filming), John, Howard, and Patricia dancing. Taken by Pat Keating.
Jim, Patricia enjoying the fun and John. Taken by Pat Keating.
Friday 25th Aug/Sat 26th Aug
Tonight, Friday 25th it’s back West to Kilkee in Co Clare. O’Mara’s Pub from 10pm – I’m joining Paddy Mulcahy, guitar and vocals and Lenka Hoffmannova, dance, vocals, whistle and rhythm instruments! It’s usually lively so join us if you are near. #kilkee # coclare #tradsession #music #songs #irishdancing #flute #wildatlanticway
Saturday night 26th I’m looking forward to joining Mairead Considine (concertina) and Conor Keane (accordion) in Faffa Considines Pub in Parnell St., Ennis!! 9:30pm – Open seisiún. See you! #ennis #fleadh2017 #tradsession #accordion #concertina #flute #coclare
#fleadhdowninennis #fleadh17
In Cruises Pub Ennis tonight from 8pm with Jimmy Clancy and hopefully many visiting musicians – pop your head around the door or come in a look for a seat! You could be lucky…;)
Tomorrow night Friday 18th I’m playing in Kilkee with Paddy Mulcahy (of Los Paddys de la Pampas!) and Lenka Hoffmannova (from same band) from 10pm.
Busy few nights ahead…(tunes! :))
Tonight(Thurs 27th) from 8:30pm in Cruises with Jimmy Clancy and our wonderful, forever-growing set of friends! Join us there!
Tomorrow night(Fri 28th) from 9:30pm in the Stella Maris, Kilkee, with Niamh Casey on fiddle and Matt on guitar and song – open session too!
Saturday morning (29th) meeting my Facebook friend Olaf Simpson for the first time 🙂 and bringing him to the Dan Furey Set Dancing Weekend, Labasheeda, where I’m hosting a kid’s session at 2pm (all welcome) and partaking in the commemoration concert at 3pm.
Saturday night (29th)from 9:30pm looking forward to having a lovely session in Fafa Considine’s, Parnell St, Ennis with Sorcha Curtin and Caroline Tubridy.
Sunday 30th July you will probably find us at the early evening open session in Labasheeda 6pm (with Singer’s Club after) to end the Dan Furey Set-Dancing Weekend! Join us somewhere this weekend!
https://www.facebook.com/Dan-Furey-Set-Dancing-Weekend-Labasheeda-164517380280892/
Last Saturday night’s tunes!
Had a lovely night of tunes, and more tunes – at Friels Lynches in Miltown Malbay last Saturday night July 22nd. Sorcha Curtin on concertina, Caroline Tubridy on fiddle and concertina and joined by Pat Curtin on flute! We played many old tunes that night – selections from Michael Sexton’s Céilí Band, as both Pat and Caroline had been members in years past (I had even covered a couple of ceili nights for Caroline so I knew them too) – Sorcha, despite her age, knows many, many tunes!! What a great night. A couple of photos….;)
Playing with Caroline Tubridy (concertina and fiddle) at Friels Lynches in Miltown Malbay.
Pat Curtin , flute and Sorcha Curtin (no relation) on concertina. At Friel’s Lynches in Miltown Malbay.
Thurs 20th July in Cruises, Ennis
Make your way into town tonight and join in with our open session at 8:30pm in Cruises Bar! I’ve a few photos from last Thurs (- some of you may have looked up the Facebook Group ‘Ireland’s Inner Beauty’ for the several Live videos taken that night;)) We had a lovely night with Andy, Paula and Patsy joining myself and Jimmy. We were delighted to have Andi again from NYC on fiddle and met David and his sister Angela on whistles and low whistles from Germany/Norway – friends of my friend Olaf Sickman! Maybe see you later. 🙂
Andi Leahy from New York visiting and adding to our session!
Paula on fiddle and Patsy on accordion.
Andy Lambert on bouzouki and vocals.
Paula and Patsy. Note in the foreground the wild rose from The Burren that Ronán brought in to us – with seed bulbs too!
David Westphal with his sister Angela from Germany/Norway! ( Áine Heslin, centre)
Áine on flute and Jimmy Clancy on accordion. Photo by Pat Keating.
David Westphal with his sister Angela.
Thurs night (6thJuly) in Ennis.
Join Jimmy Clancy (accordion) and myself, Áine (flute and whistle) in Cruises Bar from 8:30pm at our open seisiún – plenty of traditional Irish music and maybe some song and dance depending on who visits! Checked back in my phone camera and not one photo from last Thurs – but we had lovely music and lovely genuine visiting musicians!! Lots of thanks to our visiting friend Ronán from the Facebook group Ireland’s Inner Beauty who has taken many videos this past week of us both and shared them WORLDWIDE!! :0
Áine on flute and Jimmy Clancy on accordion. Photo by Pat Keating.
Sunday 2nd July 6-8pm (- before you head to Miltown!)
Sunday 2nd July 2017 ‘Áine’s New Tunes’ Summer Concert Series’ (No admittance charge) continues at ‘The Maguire Suite’ Old Ground Hotel in Ennis from 6-8pm! ‘Áine will play, on tinwhistle and flute, a selection of her recent compositions. From this extensive repertoire of tunes, each concert will feature a unique programme. Presenting also, some popular tunes from her album: ‘The Tunes Foundry’ (released 2014). She will be accompanied by her husband Matt, on guitar and he will sing some songs. Áine encourages people and musicians to ask questions and, any who know her tunes to play with them towards the end of the performance. She may have guests join her – more information will be shared on this website’s homepage or Áine’s Facebook Page (Aine Heslin Music) as it comes available.
“Thoroughly enjoyed playing yesterday at The Sanctuary at Cruises! Was joined by Patricia Kerwin – sean-nós dancer from Clare – who danced beautifully to some reels, and Brian Burke – flute player from Ennis – joined us for ‘Walking the Dog’ and ‘A Tribute to Michael Tubridy’ – two jigs from my album. Lovely playing Brian!! Matt’s songs went down really well too. Looking forward to next Sunday!”
Patricia Kerwin – sean-nós dancer from Co Clare with Áine Heslin at The Sanctuary at Cruises.
Áine accompanying Matt, singing Sullivan’s John at ‘The Sanctuary at Cruises’
Matt Heslin singing during the concert at The Sanctuary at Cruises.
Aine Heslin Music 
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