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
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.
Mon 19th June music in Kilkee!
Stella Maris Hotel hosts a lovely Monday night open seisiún at 9pm with Niamh Casey on fiddle – this Monday, joining Niamh are Matt Heslin on guitar and songs, and myself, Áine on flute and tinwhistle. So why not (after work maybe) throw on something for a walk on the beach or the cliff-walk and end up in the Stella Maris for music and something to quench the thirst! 40 mins drive from Ennis – worth it to smell the salty sea air!! #sea #sand #cliffs #wildatlanticway #irishtraditionalmusic #trad #session #kilkee
Will it 25°C on 25th May? Cruises Seisiún.
Join Jimmy Clancy, accordion and myself, Áine on flute/tinwhistle from 8:30pm in Cruises Bar Thurs 25th May for an open seisiún – could be a mighty session with the Fleadh Nua in town!!
Today we are spoiled, as the photos I have from last Thurs were taken by Pat Keating – accordion player who was not included but I found an older photo – a couple of musicians I didn’t have names for, my apologies. Check out Ronan Burrenn’s Facebook Group ‘Ireland’s Inner Beauty’ for some previous live videos taken. (People listen live from all around the world)
Jimmy’s set!
As promised, here are the manuscript notes and video of ‘Jimmy Clancy’s Fancy’ and ‘Jimmy will find a relation’ – two reels I wrote last month. There are many of you out there who can do a better job of playing these than I can so please give them a try. (Am not a great trad player – a good musician, I hope!) There are musicians who are used to translating manuscript into abc notation – I’m not very used to it, but will do that for you soon. Thanks Olaf Sickman for asking to be the first to record a composition of mine – Olaf plays a lovely solo guitar version of ‘Bláthú’ on his album ‘Cafe Rialto’!

Áine Heslin and Jimmy Clancy. Photo by Betty Connor.
Easter in Doonbeg photos
Was very happy during the night to play my two reels ‘Mairéad’s Paradise’ (written a few years ago especially for Mairéad) and Orla’s Intent!’ (written for our mutual friend Orla Coughlan) and it’s always great to hear the tunes on instruments other than my own! Having awesome times in the seisiún in Cruises, Ennis – where sometimes as many as six musicians are playing a couple of my tunes!! Don’t know how to react but I try to thank everybody. 🙂 Happy days! Happy out! (Ps these tunes and more on my album ‘The Tunes Foundry’ which can be purchased on this site if you are curious – grateful for all purchases)

Matt Heslin singing at Easter seisiún at Madigan’s, Doonbeg.

Mairéad Considine playing mighty tunes!

Delighted to have Tara O’ Malley join us in Madigan’s, Doonbeg

Áine with Mairéad Considine on concertina at Madigan’s Doonbeg.
Photos of Easter Saturday seisiún in Madigan’s, Doonbeg with Mairéad Considine, Matt and Áine Heslin and joined by Tara O’ Malley.
Cruises Thurs night sessions 23rd Feb
While I still have the time – I’m uploading photos from the previous week. As time moves on things will get busier…less photos! Some of you will be happy about that maybe, but for the rest of us – here we go! (Don’t forget to call in this Thurs 8:30pm Open Session, before heading to Doolin for the weekend!) Ps also, we’ll be here the night before St Patrick’s Day.

Áine Heslin and Jimmy Clancy. Photo by Betty Connor.

Paula, Satoshi and Michael.

Andy! 😉

Michael and…Michael!
Thurs trad/Cruises (- almost Feb?)
All are welcome to come in to Cruises Bar Thurs weekly at 8:30pm and listen/join in…we’re having a ball! Tunes, tunes and more tunes. Jimmy Clancy has a store of old one and new ones which keeps things buzzin’. Many visiting musicians each week – from all corners of the world! Some photos from last week taken by our visiting fiddler, Betty Connor – thanks for sharing them Betty!
Go to https://aineheslinmusic.com/shop/ to hear some tracks from my CD ‘The Tunes Foundry’

Orla, Áine, Jimmy, Bill, Patrick, Jerry and Colm. Photo by Betty Connor

Áine Heslin and Jimmy Clancy. Photo by Betty Connor.

Áine, Jimmy, Bill, Patrick, Jerry and Colm. Photo by Betty Connor

Sean nós dancing before our session finished – thanks Satoshi.

Áine Heslin and Jimmy Clancy. Photo by Betty Connor.
Thurs 5th Jan 2017
Back in Cruises, Ennis tonight at 8:30pm with Jimmy Clancy and a host of visitors – feel free to come in and join us for the tunes, the broken resolutions, the keeping of the resolve to play/meet with friends and sure where would we be without our great audience who keep us motivated to play our best!
Thurs last and Thurs 22nd Dec!
Have to show some photos (taken by Patrick Keating) of last Thurs – great night with nearly a dozen lovely musicians! My first time meeting with Dessie Mulkere, banjo/flute-player/singer all rolled into one. Oh, and add ‘composer’ to the list too as he played us a couple of lovely tunes of his. Jimmy Clancy was anxious that I meet him and I was delighted he asked him to come. But there were more than Dessie as you can see. Great night – and looking forward to this Thurs night – Christmas Eve (reel) will be played…again. (One of my favourites at any time of year). Please feel free to join in. If I don’t see you – a very happy Christmas to you and your families!
A video and few photos taken on my phone – see below..

Jimmy Clancy, Patrick Keating, Michael Brown, Patsy Hanrahan and Michael McGrath.

Michael McGrath, Betty and Bill from Seattle, Paula O Regan (hidden!)and Mick Coffee.
2nd Thurs before Christmas! :)
Seisiún-time again for many Thurs 15th at Cruises Bar, Ennis. Join us at 8:30pm for tunes and merriment! I promise to wear the Christmas jumper….. NEXT Thursday! 😉 Here are some photos from last Thurs – including a special birthday lady who sang for us!! (Nóirín!)

Noirín Lynch included us in her birthday in the best way – with a song, beautiful! Thanks Noirín! x

Jerry from Canada and Clara from Ennis (Argentina!) and of Los Paddys de las Pampas

Quentin Cooper (The Fiddle Case) and Paula O’Regan on fiddle with Andy Lambert on bouzouki

Jimmy Clancy, Patsy Hanrahan and Canadian – Jerry!
Looking for tunes in Ennis tonight?
Come on down to Cruises Bar for 8:30pm where I’ll be playing as usual with Jimmy Clancy and a fine gathering of musicians (or maybe we’ll be quiet tonight due to the weather?? Nah! 🙂 Jigs and reels, waltzes and hornpipes – all very warming!) Order a hot toddy or maybe a nice meal. See you there. Bring your instrument if you play.

Cruises session captured by Patrick Keating
Above is a photo taken on the first night of Tradfest.
Getting cosy in Cruises!
Thurs 17th – tonight – Jimmy Clancy hosts the seisiún with me from 8:30pm and it’ll be lovely to have you with us if you are wrapping up and braving this winter’s day. Bring your favourite tunes tonight – we all have favourites and it’s nice to get to play them.

In Cruises Bar

In Cruises Bar

Photo by Patrick Keating
This coming Thurs..(13th)
I am really enjoying these Thurs night early sessions in Cruises Bar (8:30pm – 10:45pm)! Jimmy Clancy has some lovely tunes that I’m picking up and we have great fun with visiting musicians – some regular now! Below are a selection of photos from recent and past Thurs nights…apologies if names are incorrectly spelled or missing!

Áine with Leslie Glassmire

Patsy Hanrahan (in background) and Áine McCarthy Kent.

Christy from Newbridge /concertina as well as a great sean-nós singer

Paula O’Regan

Joe Hanrahan

Conor Lynch

Mark – from North Carolina

Patsy Hanrahan, Liam O’Connor, Áine and Jimmy.

Fr. Pat Horgan, Florida/Kilfinora
Thurs 9th in Ennis
Yes, it’s time for Cruises Bar again tonight. 8:30pm till 10:30/45pm. Looking forward to playing with Jimmy Clancy and I hear there are some visitors coming too! 🙂 Please drop in for a few tunes if you are near. https://www.facebook.com/cruises.bar/?fref=ts
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the tourists/visitors who give great attention to our session – it makes our night special.
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