Seán Moloney

Traditional Irish Flautist

Bridging the Gap (Individual Tracks)

Kevin Moloney in the Ballinakill Ceili Band

1. Reels - Halpin's Favourite-Gan Ainm-Mary O'Neill's Fancy

The first tune has many different settings. It is given this name because Sean heard this particular setting being lilted many years ago by Mrs. Halpin from Kilmihil, Co. Clare, on one of Ciaran Mc Mathuna’s r adio programmes. The second tune Eddie Moloney (flute) and Tommy Coen (fiddle) used to play it. It was also played by Stephen Moloney and Tommy Whelan, the flautists with the old Ballinakill Players. The third tune Kevin recalls being played in his youth. It is in O’ N eill’s Music of Ireland.

2. Reels: Blockers / Trip to Nenagh.

These are compositions of the late Sean Ryan, fiddle player, whose playing was a big influence on Sean.

3. Jigs: The Humours of Ross/The Humours of Castlelyons.

The first tune is one which Kevin learned from Tommy Whelan over 60 years ago. Ross is the townland in Ballinakill where Kevin was born and raised. It appears that nobody else plays this tune nowadays. The second tune was recorded by the Ballinakill players on a ‘78’ in the 1 920’s.

4 Reels: Paddy Fahy’s/F airhaired Mary/Paddy Fahy’s.

The first is a rarely heard Paddy Fahy tune. Paddy is the well known fiddle player from near Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, who played with the famous Aughrim Slopes Ceidhli Band. Sean learned the tune from fiddle player Lucy Farr (nee Kirwan). Lucy was born and raised in Ballinakill. The other two tunes in the set were from the playing of the late Paddy Carty the great flute player from Loughrea, Co. Galway.

5. Air/Hornpipes: Slow Air: Gan Ainm/Hornpipes: The Acrobat/The Mathematician.

This is a flute solo. The first air Sean learned at school when he was 9 years old but could never get a name for it. The hornpipes are very much favoured by northern fiddle players such as Sean Maguire. It is rare to hear them on flute.

6. Reels: The Kylebrack Rambler / Sliabh An Óir.

Klylebrack is a townland beside Ross (Kevin’s home place) in the par ish of Ballinakill. This tune is normally played with three parts but Kevin and Sean prefer to play it as a two part tune. The second tune is another rare tune. Kevin learned it from Tommy Whelan and Stephen Moloney and Sean learned it from his father Eddie, who in turn had also got it from Tommy Whelan and Stephen Moloney.

7. Reels: Miss Wallace / Miss Johnson / Miss Thornton.

Kevin recalls these tunes being played at home in the old days. All three are in O’N eill’s with similar settings.

8. Reels: The Pidgeon on the Gate / Mullingar Lea.

The first tune Kevin learned in the 30’s fr om Frank O’ Higgins, a f iddle player from Co. Westmeath who frequently visited the Moloney household to play music. The second tune is a composition of the late Paddy Kelly who was a fiddle player with the Aughrim Slopes Ceidhli Band.

9. Hornpipes: Tomorrow Morning / The Star.

These two tunes Kevin recalls from his youth. The second one he learned from uileann piper Leo Rowesome while Leo was on a visit to Ballinakill.

10. Reels: Lady Gordon / Lord Gordon.

This is the same selection as one of the tracks which Kevin recorded with the Ballinakill Traditional Dance Players back in 1938.

11. Jigs: Sean Moloney’s / Gillan’s Apples.

The first is one composed by Sean in 1987. The second was first recorded by the Ballinakill Players.

12. Reels: Master Mc Dermott / The Yellow Tinker / The Chattering Magpie.

This is a fiddle solo. The first is an exquisite setting of the fairly well known reel often referred to as Mc Dermott’s whic h Kevin learned when he was very young. The other two he has been playing since he was young also. The version here of the Chattering Magpie is sometimes referred to as Aggie White’s Chatt ering Magpie. Aggie was a well known fiddle player from Ballinakill and a contemporary of Kevin’s. The y played together many times including performances with the Ballinakill Players.

13. Polkas: Wallop Away the Wattle O! / The Chorus Jig.

The first is a Polka which used to be played around Ballinakill in Kevin’s y outh. Sean also heard his father Eddie playing this tune. A wattle was a sally rod as used in the construction of wattle and mud huts. The Chorus Jig is an ancient tune which Kevin got from the Bunting Collection. It is a polka – the term jig in this instance does not refer to the category of tune but has the meaning lilt.

14. Reels: Paddy Kelly’s.

Two more compositions of Paddys Kelly’s. The f irst tune called the Custom house was first heard by Kevin in the 30’s. The second was recorded by Paddy Carty. Sean’s f lute playing brother Kieran plays this too.