In the Easter holiday of 1984 I was one of a group of archaeologists from Durham (England) doing a week's minibus-and-Youth Hostels holiday tour round some of the ancient monuments of Ireland - starting and finishing in Dublin, otherwise going round the flat bit in the middle.
One night we stopped near Mellifont Abbey in County Louth - or at any rate, in the hinterland of Drogheda. We found a smallish pub precisely in the middle of nowhere, don't know its name. There was a notice saying, "Irish night", and I wondered what to expect. In due course two men came in. One had a tambourine. The other, smaller and older, got out a three-row button accordion with a full set of basses, piano-accordion style, on the left side, and began playing. And how he played - I'd never heard such amazing button-box playing, and don't think I've done since. Imagine a first-rate BC player with an extra row and a full set of chords to play with. I can't remember his tunes, though, except he began with The Hag's Purse.
His name was Tom Sullivan. I've not heard of him otherwise. Has anybody here heard of him?
Jackie Daly plays a polka called Tom Sullivan's on his recording "Music from Sliabh Luachra Vol. 6" - I think it's the first tune on the album if I remember correctly.
When I read about the surprise at seeing a three row accordion I come to the conclusion that I could well be the only three row player on this site. Well, I can confirm that there are still a few of us around. The reason I changed from a two row B/C to a B/C/C# was simply the scope it gives you for playing different types of music in different keys and for Band work. I think one of the reasons why the three row lost some of it popularity was that two row players were frightened of the Stradella Bass. (Piano Accordion Bass) Paolo Soprani made 'three row/80 bass boxes' from the fifties up to the eighties. In my opinion their fifties/sixties model (known as the 'Blue Badge) was the best, as indeed was the Blue Badge two row. I think that Saltarella still make a nice light three row B/C/C# 60 Bass model. The Rolls Royce of the 'three row box' was of course the Shand Morino as played by many 'three row' players in Scotland and Ireland. For myself..I own a Gaelic 1V - A Blue Badge Paolo Soprani 1964 - A Black Badge Paolo Soprani 1975 and of course a Shand Marino. This clip shows the master of the three row Seamus Shannon (no relation to the little girl from Clare) helping out country singer Doc Carrol. He is playing a Shand Marino B/C/C# 120 Bass box and makes it look so easy.
Nicholas, only just read the comments you made in March 2008 about Tom Sullivan and I can tell you that Tom was a very good friend of mine for a long number of years. Unfortunately, Tom passed away about 10 years ago and is a great loss to those who knew him and appreciated his playing.
I was really delighted to hear how much you appreciated his music. Tom was a very shy man but a brilliant musician.
The pub you would have seen Tom play in is called Carberrys in Drogheda which is a traditional Irish music pub where sessions took place every Tuesday night and Sunday mornings. He was a regular player there.
I have a tape of Tom playing which his son gave me and I understand it is the only recording he made. I would be happy to have a copy made for you if you wished and would be more than happy to pass on any information about this gifted musician.
You can contact me on patsi.finegan@gmail.com
Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
In the Easter holiday of 1984 I was one of a group of archaeologists from Durham (England) doing a week's minibus-and-Youth Hostels holiday tour round some of the ancient monuments of Ireland - starting and finishing in Dublin, otherwise going round the flat bit in the middle.
One night we stopped near Mellifont Abbey in County Louth - or at any rate, in the hinterland of Drogheda. We found a smallish pub precisely in the middle of nowhere, don't know its name. There was a notice saying, "Irish night", and I wondered what to expect. In due course two men came in. One had a tambourine. The other, smaller and older, got out a three-row button accordion with a full set of basses, piano-accordion style, on the left side, and began playing. And how he played - I'd never heard such amazing button-box playing, and don't think I've done since. Imagine a first-rate BC player with an extra row and a full set of chords to play with. I can't remember his tunes, though, except he began with The Hag's Purse.
His name was Tom Sullivan. I've not heard of him otherwise. Has anybody here heard of him?
# Posted on March 5th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
No I haven't. Chances are it was a B/C/C# box à la Jimmy Shand, which were quite popular in Ireland the ceili band era.
# Posted on March 5th 2008 by Jeeves Tones
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
namesake playing a Shand Marino:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hc_w80QyqQ
# Posted on March 5th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
Thanks, Key. I've a feeling Tom Sullivan's box was a bit smaller than that, and red - pointing to a Soprani; but I can't be positive on either score.
# Posted on March 6th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
Jackie Daly plays a polka called Tom Sullivan's on his recording "Music from Sliabh Luachra Vol. 6" - I think it's the first tune on the album if I remember correctly.
# Posted on March 6th 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
When I read about the surprise at seeing a three row accordion I come to the conclusion that I could well be the only three row player on this site. Well, I can confirm that there are still a few of us around. The reason I changed from a two row B/C to a B/C/C# was simply the scope it gives you for playing different types of music in different keys and for Band work. I think one of the reasons why the three row lost some of it popularity was that two row players were frightened of the Stradella Bass. (Piano Accordion Bass) Paolo Soprani made 'three row/80 bass boxes' from the fifties up to the eighties. In my opinion their fifties/sixties model (known as the 'Blue Badge) was the best, as indeed was the Blue Badge two row. I think that Saltarella still make a nice light three row B/C/C# 60 Bass model. The Rolls Royce of the 'three row box' was of course the Shand Morino as played by many 'three row' players in Scotland and Ireland. For myself..I own a Gaelic 1V - A Blue Badge Paolo Soprani 1964 - A Black Badge Paolo Soprani 1975 and of course a Shand Marino. This clip shows the master of the three row Seamus Shannon (no relation to the little girl from Clare) helping out country singer Doc Carrol. He is playing a Shand Marino B/C/C# 120 Bass box and makes it look so easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlpEVxjGWQo
# Posted on March 6th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
Really great box playing FR, shame about the rest of it... where was the Casio keyboard player hiding?
I think people are more likely to be frightened of the weight of one of those yokes.
# Posted on March 6th 2008 by Jeeves Tones
Re: Tom Sullivan, Irish button-box player
Nicholas, only just read the comments you made in March 2008 about Tom Sullivan and I can tell you that Tom was a very good friend of mine for a long number of years. Unfortunately, Tom passed away about 10 years ago and is a great loss to those who knew him and appreciated his playing.
I was really delighted to hear how much you appreciated his music. Tom was a very shy man but a brilliant musician.
The pub you would have seen Tom play in is called Carberrys in Drogheda which is a traditional Irish music pub where sessions took place every Tuesday night and Sunday mornings. He was a regular player there.
I have a tape of Tom playing which his son gave me and I understand it is the only recording he made. I would be happy to have a copy made for you if you wished and would be more than happy to pass on any information about this gifted musician.
You can contact me on patsi.finegan@gmail.com
# Posted on December 29th 2010 by patsi finegan