The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
The Doran family has asked Oliver O'Connell(Co Clare) and myself to research and publish the story of Johnny Doran, his brother Felix and other members of the Irish Travellers' Traditional Irish Music fraternity. The focus will be on the indelible mark Johnny made on ITM today, and how his influences are apparent on recent phenomena from the Bothy Band to Riverdance.
We would like to hear from anyone who has information, photos etc that they think would add to this remarkable story.
Contact us initially at tommyfegan@nsec.info or Oliver on oliveroconnell@eircom.net
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
Brilliant! ~ Best of luck Tommy. I look forward to the results...
I'm sorry I can't help here as the only tales I had were second hand, but I have a high appreciation of the music from the brothers, though also second hand, through recordings... I'm sure many will come to your assistance. You probably already have, but don't forget to get something on both the Na Piobairi Uilleann site and the main Comhaltas site, and in the various magazine, including CCE's Treoir. Often the best bait is a tale to start it off... If you could write an article for any of the magazines for example, and maybe with a picture or two too. But, I suspect you already have those options in mind. ~ 'c'
My lousy memory isn't doing much good now, but I remember that there was some professor, UCD or Trinity, who had done some study of the playing of Johnny. I attended some lectures by him, one focusing on Johnny's use of regulators. I'll see if I made any notes and if I can offer up a name or two here that might help. Again, you probably have this covered, but there's the folklore folk and the music departments at the various universities there, as it may have been Queens ~ UCD, Trinity, Queens, etc... The liklihood is there may be a thesis or two knocking about. There are also other Uilleann piping groups that may have resources, living or otherwise, your search would benefit from contacting, most available through NPU...
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
Thanks to everyone who has replied here and via email. We are greatly encouraged by tge responses here and elsewhere.
Ceolacan, I too remember hearing that analysis of Johnny's playing, but cant remember who it was. I'm sure we'll come across it.
I'll post the occassional up date here, but please let me know if anything spings to mind.
T
The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
The Doran family has asked Oliver O'Connell(Co Clare) and myself to research and publish the story of Johnny Doran, his brother Felix and other members of the Irish Travellers' Traditional Irish Music fraternity. The focus will be on the indelible mark Johnny made on ITM today, and how his influences are apparent on recent phenomena from the Bothy Band to Riverdance.
We would like to hear from anyone who has information, photos etc that they think would add to this remarkable story.
Contact us initially at tommyfegan@nsec.info or Oliver on oliveroconnell@eircom.net
# Posted on June 6th 2008 by tommy fegan
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
Brilliant! ~ Best of luck Tommy. I look forward to the results...
I'm sorry I can't help here as the only tales I had were second hand, but I have a high appreciation of the music from the brothers, though also second hand, through recordings... I'm sure many will come to your assistance. You probably already have, but don't forget to get something on both the Na Piobairi Uilleann site and the main Comhaltas site, and in the various magazine, including CCE's Treoir. Often the best bait is a tale to start it off... If you could write an article for any of the magazines for example, and maybe with a picture or two too. But, I suspect you already have those options in mind. ~ 'c'
# Posted on June 7th 2008 by ceolachan
~ & through the traveler community too, online and in print...
# Posted on June 7th 2008 by ceolachan
My lousy memory isn't doing much good now, but I remember that there was some professor, UCD or Trinity, who had done some study of the playing of Johnny. I attended some lectures by him, one focusing on Johnny's use of regulators. I'll see if I made any notes and if I can offer up a name or two here that might help. Again, you probably have this covered, but there's the folklore folk and the music departments at the various universities there, as it may have been Queens ~ UCD, Trinity, Queens, etc... The liklihood is there may be a thesis or two knocking about. There are also other Uilleann piping groups that may have resources, living or otherwise, your search would benefit from contacting, most available through NPU...
# Posted on June 7th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
Here are a couple of references - Tommy you probably have them, but others may be inyterested in them:
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/therollingwave/1179997.html
http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/doran.html
http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0219/rattlebag_av.html?997115,null,209
# Posted on June 7th 2008 by Feargal French
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
And here:
http://web.telia.com/~u46103557/jdoran.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Doran
# Posted on June 7th 2008 by Feargal French
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
Here's a short article on Felix Doran's nephew John Rooney's visit to Leeds in 2005: http://www.grtleeds.co.uk/Culture/rooneyRecordings.html
I believe John's son Larry is Felix's grandson.
I had a chance to listen to them a year earlier in Leeds and was completely dazzled. The tradition of the travelling pipers is still alive!
# Posted on June 7th 2008 by slainte
Re: The Story of Johnny Doran & other Traveller Musicians
Thanks to everyone who has replied here and via email. We are greatly encouraged by tge responses here and elsewhere.
Ceolacan, I too remember hearing that analysis of Johnny's playing, but cant remember who it was. I'm sure we'll come across it.
I'll post the occassional up date here, but please let me know if anything spings to mind.
T
# Posted on June 8th 2008 by tommy fegan