I recently enjoyed a small session at Pepper's with Mark Donnellan on fiddle and his son on concertina. Mark's playing was a major highlight of my visit there. Despite his talents, he seems to keep a fairly low profile, playing mostly at Pepper's on Wednesdays and at local festivals.
Anyone have any anecdotes about his father Francie (who co-anchored the Pepper's session for many years with P. Joe), or a sense of his fiddling? Any recordings?
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I think the concertina player is his nephew, not his son. Brian, I believe. There's also an Eimear Donnellan, who I think is his sister, who is a fine concertina and flute player. They are in the Tulla Junior Ceili Band which won All Ireland last year.
I had the chance to hear PJoe and Francie in a small session in a small pub in Tulla on a Sunday night in 1996. I think it was just the two of them and a teenage boy also on fiddle. I can't recall there being any other musicians. The teenager's bow was flying all over the place while PJoe and Francie's bows were hardly moving.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
i have enjoyed lovely sessions in feakle headed by md (aka "king of swing" in at least one thread posting somewhere) and co-conspirators as well. i believe francie donnellan is on the feakle festival anthology....perhaps it's with pj hayes? it's a duo or trio of the east clare OG fiddlers. only one cut, unfortunately....
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
That was a great session at Peppers. Wish some of those punters from MIssouri would post YouTube videos already, so I can see if it was as good as I remember
Would love to hear more of Mark's playing. It was fun listening to him and Cyril play off of each other.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Now that we've somehow persuaded MacDarra O'Raghallaigh to
record, maybe we can put the pressure on the King? And another
one who "owes" us an album is the wonderful fluter Patsy Hanley.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I *like* that many really brilliant players don't do albums. All power to them if they want to just play the music for the sake of playing the music, with the occasional local gig thrown in.
BTW, a big thank you to Rev for making it all happen that I got to sit in Pepper's that night in the first place.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
MD played on the Clare FM "Kitchen Session" recorded in Ballycunneen on Dec. 9, 2007. I have him doing a solo set during that session: Farewell to Milltown / Sgt. Early's Dream / Tempest. PM me and I can send you an mp3.
This thread reminds me to order a copy of Jack Talty's new CD. He's yet another ubiquitous Clare talent who has finally released a recording.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I have a minidisk recording I made of a fiddle concert on a sweltering hot afternoon at the Feakle festival about 10 or more years ago. Mark Donnellan plays a few solo sets and a couple of duets with Martin Hayes. Also has Pat O' Connor, Kevin Carey, Vincent Griffin and some others on there. Not the greatest quality recording, but the playing is absolutely gorgeous stuff, East Clare fiddling at it's finest.
Let me know if interested.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I was thinking more of Francie who travelled the world with the Tulla but Mark plays with them too, not sure how much they travel at the moment though.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Thanx for the quick response on tunes #2 & 3........haven't played those in five years or so. If anyone knows the title for the first tune pls post when time permits......that one is the stranger.
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
And that's Brian's sister Eimear on flute in the blue shirt on the left. And Aisling Hunt on accordion. I sat next to her at a session in Pepper's one night a few years back after she had won the All-Ireland under 12.
Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I recently enjoyed a small session at Pepper's with Mark Donnellan on fiddle and his son on concertina. Mark's playing was a major highlight of my visit there. Despite his talents, he seems to keep a fairly low profile, playing mostly at Pepper's on Wednesdays and at local festivals.
Here's a clip of him carousing through some reels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtHrGleX41A
Anyone have any anecdotes about his father Francie (who co-anchored the Pepper's session for many years with P. Joe), or a sense of his fiddling? Any recordings?
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I think the concertina player is his nephew, not his son. Brian, I believe. There's also an Eimear Donnellan, who I think is his sister, who is a fine concertina and flute player. They are in the Tulla Junior Ceili Band which won All Ireland last year.
I had the chance to hear PJoe and Francie in a small session in a small pub in Tulla on a Sunday night in 1996. I think it was just the two of them and a teenage boy also on fiddle. I can't recall there being any other musicians. The teenager's bow was flying all over the place while PJoe and Francie's bows were hardly moving.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by GaryAMartin
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Yes, that was Brian on concertina when I was there. Wasn't sure just what the relation was.
Would've liked to have been a fly on the wall at that Tulla session. Thanks Gary.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
i have enjoyed lovely sessions in feakle headed by md (aka "king of swing" in at least one thread posting somewhere) and co-conspirators as well. i believe francie donnellan is on the feakle festival anthology....perhaps it's with pj hayes? it's a duo or trio of the east clare OG fiddlers. only one cut, unfortunately....
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by ceemonster
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
That was a great session at Peppers. Wish some of those punters from MIssouri would post YouTube videos already, so I can see if it was as good as I remember
Would love to hear more of Mark's playing. It was fun listening to him and Cyril play off of each other.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Reverend
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Now that we've somehow persuaded MacDarra O'Raghallaigh to
record, maybe we can put the pressure on the King? And another
one who "owes" us an album is the wonderful fluter Patsy Hanley.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Hup
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I *like* that many really brilliant players don't do albums. All power to them if they want to just play the music for the sake of playing the music, with the occasional local gig thrown in.
BTW, a big thank you to Rev for making it all happen that I got to sit in Pepper's that night in the first place.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Not sure, in this case, travelling with the Tulla would qualify as ' a few local gigs' though.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
It was a fun trip... we should do it again!
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Reverend
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
MD played on the Clare FM "Kitchen Session" recorded in Ballycunneen on Dec. 9, 2007. I have him doing a solo set during that session: Farewell to Milltown / Sgt. Early's Dream / Tempest. PM me and I can send you an mp3.
This thread reminds me to order a copy of Jack Talty's new CD. He's yet another ubiquitous Clare talent who has finally released a recording.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by alec b
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Prof. given that my home state of Montana can hold 4.5 Irelands, anywhere Mark plays is likely "local" by my standards.
But I didn't know that he routinely plays with the Tulla Ceili Band. Thanks for the info.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I have a minidisk recording I made of a fiddle concert on a sweltering hot afternoon at the Feakle festival about 10 or more years ago. Mark Donnellan plays a few solo sets and a couple of duets with Martin Hayes. Also has Pat O' Connor, Kevin Carey, Vincent Griffin and some others on there. Not the greatest quality recording, but the playing is absolutely gorgeous stuff, East Clare fiddling at it's finest.
Let me know if interested.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Pot8os
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
I was thinking more of Francie who travelled the world with the Tulla but Mark plays with them too, not sure how much they travel at the moment though.
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Love the set, Will ! Thanx for posting the youtube. Can you clue me in to the names of the tunes ? Grey matter going too fast !
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by Omaopa1
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
My grey matter is going on the first tune, but tunes 2 and 3 are: The Otter's Holt / Toss the Feathers.
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by alec b
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Thanx for the quick response on tunes #2 & 3........haven't played those in five years or so. If anyone knows the title for the first tune pls post when time permits......that one is the stranger.
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by Omaopa1
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
The first one is one of Crowley's
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by Reverend
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
This one: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/759
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by Reverend
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Tulla Junior Ceili Band 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNtgQS3n-bA
Is that Brian in question? And is the fiddler Sorcha Costelloe?
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by slainte
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
That's the Brian on concertina who was at the Pepper's session in my OP.
Here's another clip of the Tulla lads with Mark and Martin up front:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFi1SIzjNTA&feature=feedf
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
And that's Brian's sister Eimear on flute in the blue shirt on the left. And Aisling Hunt on accordion. I sat next to her at a session in Pepper's one night a few years back after she had won the All-Ireland under 12.
# Posted on July 20th 2011 by GaryAMartin
Re: Francie and Mark Donnellan, East Clare Fiddlers
Thanx to all that helped ID the tunes on the youtube, not to mention
the side-info I picked up reading those interesting, newsworthy posts.
# Posted on July 20th 2011 by Omaopa1