Hi , I have heard a few Altan albums but not all , and Im wondering did they ever have another flute player after Frankie?
If not was it a concious decision?
Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree.
They did have some flute players guest on their albums, but did not take another player into the band. In an interview, Mairead said that they did not intend to get another flute player.
thanks for the answers folks.
I can understand the decision but its a pity really cos sometimes to me it sounds like the tunes need a flute, especially when you listen to earlier and older stuff together.
Flute or no, an Altan CD is just the thing to cheer me up when I need a boost of something life-affirming. I saw them at Sidmouth in 2003 and I'm very much hoping to see them there again this year. I love 'em to bits. Frankie was a true star and it's my severe bad luck that I never saw him play.
Steve: I feel very fortunate to have seen Frankie with Altan in Ballyshannon in 1992, and to have played with him in a session after the concert. I was just a beginner then, and he was very gracious and friendly. His cancer was in remission at the time, and although he was very "up", I was very saddened by his prognosis. Life ain't fair! I certainly respect Mairead's reluctance to add a flute player; 'twould truly bring back to many heartaches.
Harry Bradley also guested on one set of tunes on “The Blue Idol”, which included Paddy O’Brien’s “Ormond Sound” and the “Well-Bred Foal”. The set was played on “Travelling Folk” on Radio Scotland, which I usually tape and listen to when driving in to work the next day. When that set was played, I got so distracted by the flute being with Altan again that I drove right on past the road where I turn off, and had to make a detour.
Agree with PB’s sentiments above.
Altan was playing at the local concert venue here when Mairead was called away suddenly because word came that Frankie had taken a turn for the worse. It was hard watching the show knowing what was going down back in Donegal that night. Because Frankie and Mairead had spent so much time here (before they became Altan) and then came through often after that, many of us locally felt a strong bond. Watching that show without the two of them that night was very emotional.
The next time Altan came through I remember Mairead had two mikes on stage. One for her fiddle and the other for her voice. Whenever she was playing fiddle the vocal mike appeared to be right where it would have been had Frankie been alive. You could almost see him standing there. Such a tragic loss.
Just to add my appreciation and admiration for Frankie. And I remember well he passed away with so much courage and dignity.
Do any of you rember the last tv documentary he did whilst in remission and shortly before he departed ? Would have brought a tear to a stone. He was fully resigned to dying and it was as if he wanted to add something to the music archives. ....... One of life's true gentlemen and wonderful musician. RIP Frankie.
Btw, Altan are here in Tampa next month and I'm looking forward to that immensely.
Manys the session I had with Frankie when we were growing up in Belfast. I remember when he was just learning the whistle and he would come along to our Monday night session in the old McDermotts club.
Later they started a group called Ragairne which included Ciaran Curran and Mairead's brother Gearoid. They won the Downpatrick Folk Club Bass Ireland competition and the rest is history!
They were a lovely ccuple and we were always made welcome up in Hudai Beags in Bunbeg. They never forgot their roots and never got too big for their boots.
I was priveleged to know him and his playing was truly wonderful,
Breandan, what year were Ragaime formed. Why I ask... I was at NUU, Coleraine late 70's early 80's and knew Ciaran Curran. I wasn't aware of Ragaime. Did they ever record ?
I see your a Co Down man. You know a good friend of mine, Tom Mc Gonigle ? Concertina player, originally Newcastle but Belfast a long time.
Now there's a coincidence, Strathfoyle. You mention Tom McGonigle, who I hadn't heard of before. Apparently he recorded an LP with a whistle player on the Outlet label, which came up on ebay last week and I got it. Haven't received it yet, but I'll post it in the recordings section when it arrives.
Nice to read all these happy memories of Frankie - a true gentleman, and sorely missed as a musician and a person.
I finally made it up to the Frankie Kennedy Winter School this year after spending many summers in Donegal. I knew Frankie very well as a little girl and always enjoyed his jokes and magic tricks. He was the first person close to me to leave, and I will never forget him. I was happy to work at the winter school and see all of the students and people who came in respect for Frankie.
Frankie called to my door to ask me to teach him the whistle. I played the harmonica then, my mate Noel Carlin was the whistle player. he was desperate to learn an instrument to sit with Mairead at sessions. I should have sent him down to your house Breandan, even your Pat was a lot better than me, certainly on the whistle.
I didn't know Frankie. I never met him. he didn't ask me to teach him anything. I never played in a session with him. He never knocked on my door. I didn't know him as a child. He never turned to me in desperation. I'm so glad a thread has appeared that gives me the opportunity to reveal all this.
" didn't know Frankie. I never met him. he didn't ask me to teach him anything. I never played in a session with him. He never knocked on my door. I didn't know him as a child. He never turned to me in desperation."
Altan and the flute
Altan and the flute
Hi , I have heard a few Altan albums but not all , and Im wondering did they ever have another flute player after Frankie?
If not was it a concious decision?
Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by doyler
Re: Altan and the flute
They did have some flute players guest on their albums, but did not take another player into the band. In an interview, Mairead said that they did not intend to get another flute player.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Red Crow
Re: Altan and the flute
Matt Molloy guested on the Flood on the Holm set.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Altan and the flute
And yes, I seem to remember it was a conscious decision out of respect for Frankie.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Altan and the flute
thanks for the answers folks.
I can understand the decision but its a pity really cos sometimes to me it sounds like the tunes need a flute, especially when you listen to earlier and older stuff together.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by doyler
Re: Altan and the flute
Flute or no, an Altan CD is just the thing to cheer me up when I need a boost of something life-affirming. I saw them at Sidmouth in 2003 and I'm very much hoping to see them there again this year. I love 'em to bits. Frankie was a true star and it's my severe bad luck that I never saw him play.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Altan and the flute
Steve: I feel very fortunate to have seen Frankie with Altan in Ballyshannon in 1992, and to have played with him in a session after the concert. I was just a beginner then, and he was very gracious and friendly. His cancer was in remission at the time, and although he was very "up", I was very saddened by his prognosis. Life ain't fair! I certainly respect Mairead's reluctance to add a flute player; 'twould truly bring back to many heartaches.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by jtrout
Re: Altan and the flute
Frankie can't be replaced.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Altan and the flute
Harry Bradley also guested on one set of tunes on “The Blue Idol”, which included Paddy O’Brien’s “Ormond Sound” and the “Well-Bred Foal”. The set was played on “Travelling Folk” on Radio Scotland, which I usually tape and listen to when driving in to work the next day. When that set was played, I got so distracted by the flute being with Altan again that I drove right on past the road where I turn off, and had to make a detour.
Agree with PB’s sentiments above.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Altan and the flute
Altan was playing at the local concert venue here when Mairead was called away suddenly because word came that Frankie had taken a turn for the worse. It was hard watching the show knowing what was going down back in Donegal that night. Because Frankie and Mairead had spent so much time here (before they became Altan) and then came through often after that, many of us locally felt a strong bond. Watching that show without the two of them that night was very emotional.
The next time Altan came through I remember Mairead had two mikes on stage. One for her fiddle and the other for her voice. Whenever she was playing fiddle the vocal mike appeared to be right where it would have been had Frankie been alive. You could almost see him standing there. Such a tragic loss.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Altan and the flute
Thanks, Button. That was cool... I read it twice. Nice to know that there are some old timers on board ( not meeeeee... )
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Farr
Re: Altan and the flute
Just to add my appreciation and admiration for Frankie. And I remember well he passed away with so much courage and dignity.
Do any of you rember the last tv documentary he did whilst in remission and shortly before he departed ? Would have brought a tear to a stone. He was fully resigned to dying and it was as if he wanted to add something to the music archives. ....... One of life's true gentlemen and wonderful musician. RIP Frankie.
Btw, Altan are here in Tampa next month and I'm looking forward to that immensely.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Altan and the flute
Manys the session I had with Frankie when we were growing up in Belfast. I remember when he was just learning the whistle and he would come along to our Monday night session in the old McDermotts club.
Later they started a group called Ragairne which included Ciaran Curran and Mairead's brother Gearoid. They won the Downpatrick Folk Club Bass Ireland competition and the rest is history!
They were a lovely ccuple and we were always made welcome up in Hudai Beags in Bunbeg. They never forgot their roots and never got too big for their boots.
I was priveleged to know him and his playing was truly wonderful,
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by breandan
Re: Altan and the flute
Breandan, what year were Ragaime formed. Why I ask... I was at NUU, Coleraine late 70's early 80's and knew Ciaran Curran. I wasn't aware of Ragaime. Did they ever record ?
I see your a Co Down man. You know a good friend of mine, Tom Mc Gonigle ? Concertina player, originally Newcastle but Belfast a long time.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Altan and the flute
And I apologise for going off topic. Email me Breandan if you like.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Altan and the flute
Now there's a coincidence, Strathfoyle. You mention Tom McGonigle, who I hadn't heard of before. Apparently he recorded an LP with a whistle player on the Outlet label, which came up on ebay last week and I got it. Haven't received it yet, but I'll post it in the recordings section when it arrives.
Nice to read all these happy memories of Frankie - a true gentleman, and sorely missed as a musician and a person.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Altan and the flute
I'll look forward to that Kenny, cheers mate. You remember the whistle players name ?
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Altan and the flute
Robert McGouran. LP title is "Road Map Of Ireland".
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Altan and the flute
I finally made it up to the Frankie Kennedy Winter School this year after spending many summers in Donegal. I knew Frankie very well as a little girl and always enjoyed his jokes and magic tricks. He was the first person close to me to leave, and I will never forget him. I was happy to work at the winter school and see all of the students and people who came in respect for Frankie.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by m
Re: Altan and the flute
Thanks again for that info Kenny. Let me know your opinion of the recording when you get it.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Altan and the flute
Frankie called to my door to ask me to teach him the whistle. I played the harmonica then, my mate Noel Carlin was the whistle player. he was desperate to learn an instrument to sit with Mairead at sessions. I should have sent him down to your house Breandan, even your Pat was a lot better than me, certainly on the whistle.
# Posted on February 28th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Altan and the flute
I didn't know Frankie. I never met him. he didn't ask me to teach him anything. I never played in a session with him. He never knocked on my door. I didn't know him as a child. He never turned to me in desperation. I'm so glad a thread has appeared that gives me the opportunity to reveal all this.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Altan and the flute
" didn't know Frankie. I never met him. he didn't ask me to teach him anything. I never played in a session with him. He never knocked on my door. I didn't know him as a child. He never turned to me in desperation."
And I still miss him...
j
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by jeff_willner
Re: Altan and the flute
Thank you for sharing Steve.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Altan and the flute
Don't mention it. Luke Kelly's another.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Altan and the flute
It was Luke's brother I'd have known better. Him and Des Geraghty.
# Posted on March 3rd 2007 by bodhran bliss