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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Thurs at Cruises (June 22nd)
Find us here from 8:30pm every Thursday – Cruises Bar, Ennis. Jimmy Clancy on accordion and all our visiting musicians – new and nearly new, loved and pre-loved – that’s all of us, and you too. Bring your instrument as it’s an open session. Here are some of last weeks’ participants…
James Kennedy on low whistle.
Daniel Aherne, Cratloe, Co Clare on banjo along with his father on guitar.
Pat Keating, Mr Aherne, Patricia Kirwin on concertina ans sean-nós, John Malone on banjo, Michael McGrath.
James Kennedy and Andy Lambert.
Lovely gathering of musicians…
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
Thurs 15th at Cruises 8:30pm
Yes, looking forward to getting back to Cruises Bar and tunes with Jimmy, our regulars and visitors! Thank you Sorcha, for sitting in for me – you played a stormer last Thurs I heard (not a bit surprised!) I had a chilled week on Achill Island, Co Mayo with the family last week – stunningly beautiful! 🙂 Come on, the summer!! 🙂
Here are some old photos (2 weeks) of Cruises session. Maybe see you there soon!!
Michael on fiddle, Bernie on flute and Patricia on concertina.
Flute player from Clare (sorry about your name – will get it soon), John on banjo
James on bodhrán, Mary on accordion, Mary on concertina, another concertina-player (sorry about the name)
John on banjo and Andy on bouzouki.
Jimmy, James, Mary and Mary.
Cruises Thurs night session
Thurs 8th June at Cruises Bar, Ennis.
Hi all! For those of you looking forward to joining in at the session with Jimmy Clancy from 8:30pm I’m delighted to let you know that you’ll also be playing tunes with Sorcha Curtin – a fine concertina player from Miltown Malbay who is standing in for me there for the night. May there be MANY, many tunes…and maybe a bit of dancing or a song? Have a great night and I’ll show some photos from last week when my signal improves enough to upload!! 🙂 Here are a couple of previous photos of Jimmy and of Sorcha though.. Ps – I’ll see you as usual with Jimmy next Thurs night 15th June!
Last Sunday’s ‘Ceol Cois Tine’
Áine with Caroline Killeen on fiddle and Mairéad Considine on concertina at Keane’s, Carrigaholt.
Tom Maguire singing a lovely song of Kilbaha!
Another fine singer in the audience!
Matt accompanying music and songs – and singing himself too!
Cruises Thurs eve session – June 1st!
Open seisiún at Cruises every Thurs night from 8:30pm – hosted by Jimmy Clancy on accordion and myself, Áine Heslin on flute and tinwhistle. Absolutely lovely group of people joined us last Thurs from different countries and from Facebook too!! 🙂 Met with Tony Illanes from Spain who joined us for the night – we’ve met on Facebook and he was happy to play ‘Walking the Dog’, my jig which he had learned from having downloaded my cd! Thanks Tony for supporting a composer!
We had visitors also from New York (Fang, on fiddle), London UK (Shirley and some friends) and closer to home, Wayne from Armagh, Gerry Eustace and Peig from Clare, also some of our regular visitors too; Patsy on piano accordion, Mary Caldwell on accordion, Brian Burke on flute, of course Andy on bouzouki, Michael on accordion, Patricia doing Sean-nós (we hear she won a sean-nós competition at the weekend – well done!) and concertina. Also their friend Mary, sean-nós dancer too. We had a couple more whose names I didn’t catch, sorry guys. Also Suzannah onfiddle and Geraldine on tinwhistle. Hup!
Wayne from Armagh on banjo! Fleadh Nua 2017
Patricia on concertina. Fleadh Nua 2017
In full flight – Tony Illanes from Malaga, Spain! Fleadh Nua 2017
Gerry Eustace singing, also (not in the photo) Peig, who sang a couple of lovely songs too. Fleadh Nua 2017
Andy Lambert on bouzouki, when not taking photos or singing a song!
In the snug beside the seisiún was the makings of another – only got Shirley’s name (on left, concertina) Fleadh Nua 2017
Three lovely sean-nós dancers seated before entertaining the lot of us with their lively steps! Fleadh Nua 2017
Ronan Burrenn (left) capturing the fun of the evening with Facebook Live for his group Ireland’s Inner Beauty!
Fang from NY on fiddle, Michael on accordion, Patsy on piano accordion Wayne from Armagh on banjo and this gentleman (sorry!) on bouzouki/mandolin? Fleadh Nua 2017
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.
Shirley from London on concertina, friend on banjo, Colm Nestor on flute and friend on fiddle! Cruises Thurs night session during Fleadh Nua 2017. Photo by Andrew Lambert
Cruises Thurs night session during the Fleadh Nua in Ennis May 2017. Photo by Andrew Lambert.
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)
Ceol Cois Tine May 28th Carrigaholt
Not really wishing away this lovely month but…looking forward to the hospitality of Keane’s Bar in Carrigaholt for Ceol Cois Tine (Music by the Fire) May 28th. All musicians welcome to join myself (on flute), Matt (on guitar/vocals), Mairéad Considine (concertina) and Caroline Killeen (on fiddle) and it’s an early seisiún so no more boss tapping you on the shoulder saying tut-tut late night!!NOT SAYING you have to go home early…at all!;) Join us at …...7:30pm. School-going musicians might find this useful too. Keep up to date with events by checking my Upcoming events – 2017 page. https://aineheslinmusic.com/upcoming-events/
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.
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