I'm so glad to finally hear Tom McHale's playing! Lovely style...
I've been playing whistle around Athlone for the past couple of years now, and older folks regularly ask me if I ever heard Tom McHale who used to play around the town years ago. I keep asking locally if anyone has recordings of him and never had any luck.
Does anyone else out there have more recordings of him? I'd love to hear more...
If you have a record player keep an eye out on ebay for his Outlet LP. I don't think it ever made it to CD.
I have another friend who may have a recording of another Co Down session with Tom. If the quality is OK I may be able to add it to this wee archive.
Don't get your hopes up, it's a dub from the most heavily worn LP I've ever heard, so the sound quality is appalling. I just had a listen now, and I remember why I didn't post it before. It's almost unbearable.
It's obviously one of the albums that was re-released by the weird and wonderful company that bought the Outlet back catalogue (the 'Celtic Souls' box set is an absolute gem, for those who haven't discovered it yet: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Souls-Various-Artists/dp/B000GUK040).
There are two albums with Tom McHale tracks available on ITunes:
"Traditional Irish Sessions" (released 2006)
"The Best of Irish Traditional Music" (released 2009)
It's always a pleasure hearing of "new" legends of Irish music.
Slainte!
That's interesting stuff, Pat - worth quoting this bit here which gives a good insight to the man..
"Remembering Tom McHale
I have enjoyed the site so much, you cannot imagine. It is -20 degrees outside in downtown Montreal. I was in Dublin for the ballad boom( ....... and)
For a very brief spell, I played in a raggle-taggle group called the Rebel Folk, and I believe it was our manager who started the Rebel Folk Club at Slatterys after we drifted off.
Tom McHale played tin whistle with us, and he was really a special character. He had, as far as I know, won the All Ireland whistle competition the year before. Anyway, his favourite prank was to go into Donoghues and do an imitation of Seamus Ennis on the whistle. Seamus had a particular sound when he played due to a bout of tuberculosis and Tom could imitate this to perfection, and also Seamus's dry introductions to his tunes.
I remember one famous time Seamus arrived and sat down in his usual place to grace us with a few numbers. When he was about one third way into his repertoire, Tom showed up and began to play alongside him. Ennis was not too pleased, but in any event, he cranked up the complexity of the numbers to try and lose this young upstart. To no avail. Tom was really getting him rattled, and it turned into a real duel of the tin whistlers, until finally in the middle of one piece Tom matched Seamus note for note while playing the whistle through his nose. Seamus stormed out of the bar amidst the rousing cheers of the onlookers.
Those were wild days. A few years later Tom was killed in a car accident. A beautiful whistler. Just want to keep his name alive.
Tom McHale
Tom McHale
Tom occasionally visited Co Down and did the rounds of a few sessions. This was one such event although it turned into more of a solo gig for him.
http://soundcloud.com/deeor-1/sets/tom-mchale-at-scrabo-folk-club
# Posted on November 2nd 2011 by deeor
Re: Tom McHale
Thanks for sharing this.
# Posted on November 2nd 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tom McHale
I'm so glad to finally hear Tom McHale's playing! Lovely style...
I've been playing whistle around Athlone for the past couple of years now, and older folks regularly ask me if I ever heard Tom McHale who used to play around the town years ago. I keep asking locally if anyone has recordings of him and never had any luck.
Does anyone else out there have more recordings of him? I'd love to hear more...
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Pat Mustard
Re: Tom McHale
I've got the Outlet album, which I'll put up on Ceol Álainn at some point.
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tom McHale
If you have a record player keep an eye out on ebay for his Outlet LP. I don't think it ever made it to CD.
I have another friend who may have a recording of another Co Down session with Tom. If the quality is OK I may be able to add it to this wee archive.
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by deeor
Re: Tom McHale
Cross post. Was hoping you would say that DR
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by deeor
Re: Tom McHale
Don't get your hopes up, it's a dub from the most heavily worn LP I've ever heard, so the sound quality is appalling. I just had a listen now, and I remember why I didn't post it before. It's almost unbearable.
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tom McHale
Actually, I just did a quick check, and it's available to download, and in much better condition than the scratchy dub I've got:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tom-McHaile/dp/B001GCJW1E
It's obviously one of the albums that was re-released by the weird and wonderful company that bought the Outlet back catalogue (the 'Celtic Souls' box set is an absolute gem, for those who haven't discovered it yet: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Souls-Various-Artists/dp/B000GUK040).
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Dragut Reis
'Celtic Souls'
1.) "Seamus Tansey: Traditional Irish Music" ~ One of Ireland's finest flautists
2.) "Finbarr Dwyer: Pure Traditional Irish Accordion Music"
3.) "John & James Kelly: Irish Traditional Fiddle Music" ~ a great album
4.) "Tara Folk: Folksongs of Ireland"
5.) "The Best of Irish Ceili Music" ~ Shaskeen, Eamon Ceannt, The Pride of Erin Ceili Band, etc...
6.) "Rince: Complete Irish Dancing Set" (alias "First Steps and Beyond"
7.) "Festival of Traditional Irish Music #1" ~ Roger Sherlock, The Sean Ryan Trio, Na Fili, Sean Maguire and Joe Burke, Brian Vallely, etc.
8.) "Festival of Traditional Irish Music #2" ~ more of the same, including Tom McHale, John Whelan, Finbarr Dwyer, Joe Burke, Kevin Loughlin, etc.
9.) "Cherish the Ladies" ~ Peg McGrath, Mary Mulholland, Kathleen Smyth
10.)"Armagh Pipers Club: Song of the Chanter"
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tom McHale
Here are the two tracks that aren't available to download, and the original (misspelled) album cover:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ma6jer3uaga88
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Dragut Reis
Re: Tom McHale
Thanks for the info and the tunes! I'm surprised I didn't find that stuff myself if it's on Amazon...
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Pat Mustard
Re: Tom McHale
There are two albums with Tom McHale tracks available on ITunes:
"Traditional Irish Sessions" (released 2006)
"The Best of Irish Traditional Music" (released 2009)
It's always a pleasure hearing of "new" legends of Irish music.
Slainte!
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Eirepublican
The McHales & "Celtic Souls"
"Tom McHale: All Ireland Whistling Champion At Boyle" - see comments...
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1224
"Mike McHale: The Schoolmaster's House"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1170
Information on the 10 CDs in "Celtic Souls"
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1567/comments
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by ceolachan
The Tom McHale recording was also released as a cassette...
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Tom McHale
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/3223
also on track 23 - "The Mason's Apron"
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Kenny
Re: Tom McHale
Lovely stuff!
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by snorre
Re: Tom McHale
Funny how most people listen starting at the top, & fade out by the bottom: Ah, I heard one, they must all be the same!
Will someone please tell me what he's playing on tracks 3 & 6?
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by mulcreevy
Re: Tom McHale
Is this the recording you mean?
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1224
I've seen that on CD in the County Wexford library system, bit battered but played well.
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by the wounded hussar
Re: Tom McHale
To clarify, I'm looking for names of tunes on 3 & 6 on the soundcloud link in the original post.
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by mulcreevy
Re: Tom McHale
3 = Bonnie Kate
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Theirlandais
Re: Tom McHale
6 = The Templehouse I think http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/827
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by Theirlandais
Re: Tom McHale
Thanks Theirlandais. Always more to learn....
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by mulcreevy
Re: Tom McHale
Names added to the cloud. Anyone got any more (I'm useless at remembering tune names)?
# Posted on November 3rd 2011 by deeor
Re: Tom McHale
Track 7 is 'Drops of Brandy'
# Posted on November 4th 2011 by Pat Mustard
Re: Tom McHale
Track 1 is a set of tunes that I believe is known as 'McKenna's Reels'
# Posted on November 4th 2011 by Pat Mustard
Re: Tom McHale
McKenna's they are but individually they are Colonel Rogers and The Happy Days of Youth
# Posted on November 4th 2011 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Tom McHale
Thanks for those names. I've updated Soundcloud.
# Posted on November 4th 2011 by deeor
Re: Tom McHale
On the topic of Tom McHale, here's a link to a discussion about him on the Athlone Live forum in case anyone is interested:
http://www.athlonelive.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=163&SearchTerms=tom,mchale
# Posted on November 4th 2011 by Pat Mustard
Re: Tom McHale
That's interesting stuff, Pat - worth quoting this bit here which gives a good insight to the man..
"Remembering Tom McHale
I have enjoyed the site so much, you cannot imagine. It is -20 degrees outside in downtown Montreal. I was in Dublin for the ballad boom( ....... and)
For a very brief spell, I played in a raggle-taggle group called the Rebel Folk, and I believe it was our manager who started the Rebel Folk Club at Slatterys after we drifted off.
Tom McHale played tin whistle with us, and he was really a special character. He had, as far as I know, won the All Ireland whistle competition the year before. Anyway, his favourite prank was to go into Donoghues and do an imitation of Seamus Ennis on the whistle. Seamus had a particular sound when he played due to a bout of tuberculosis and Tom could imitate this to perfection, and also Seamus's dry introductions to his tunes.
I remember one famous time Seamus arrived and sat down in his usual place to grace us with a few numbers. When he was about one third way into his repertoire, Tom showed up and began to play alongside him. Ennis was not too pleased, but in any event, he cranked up the complexity of the numbers to try and lose this young upstart. To no avail. Tom was really getting him rattled, and it turned into a real duel of the tin whistlers, until finally in the middle of one piece Tom matched Seamus note for note while playing the whistle through his nose. Seamus stormed out of the bar amidst the rousing cheers of the onlookers.
Those were wild days. A few years later Tom was killed in a car accident. A beautiful whistler. Just want to keep his name alive.
- Al"
# Posted on November 4th 2011 by the wounded hussar