My Grandmother started the Gallowglass Ceili Band with Paddy McGarr, her brother. We grew up to their beautiful music. My Grandmother is resident in a nursing home and is starting to lose her memories but until lately she could tell you the name of every town she ever played and the person who booked them. I remember being extremely proud when as a boy somebody asked her for her photo and autograph when on holiday in England. She didn't like the attention at all.
I danced and taught Irish dancing for years in New York and Florida. The children (and adults) loved to learn the Ceilis What a wonderful way to spend an evening. Kathleen Barnard, TCRG
Absolutely spot on their timing and tempo is beautiful. Most people take that for granted but it’s so hard to do considering how many people are playing different instruments. Also this rhythm is usually only achieved in a recording studio after many attempts but the Gallowglass band are here doing it on stage without a sweat. Brilliant to see.
from cork and boston Mike Dempsey's neices and nephews and grand neices and grand nephews love this song. thank you so much to the gallow glass ceili band.
I have heard the The Chieftains singing 'If I Had Maggie In The Woods' to the first tune. This is probably the only Irish dance I have ever danced (if you don't count a Pride of Erin Waltz). *****
Today's Irish Ceilidh bands are unrecogniseable from the Gallowglass. The instrumentation and sound is very different because the lead is usually being played on a woodwind or violin. I agree that this sound is more in line with the sound of Scottish bands in the 70's. The arrangement was usually Lead accordion usually a musette button box. Second accordion, chords and harmonies. Violin, harmonies and duplicating lead accordion melody. Rhythm section of piano, bass and drums. TKS FOR UPLOAD
Very interesting comment from Douglas Farmer. A great example for the English to follow. I have scant knowledge of the Welsh. But Cecil Sharp House in London would be an excellent starting-point.
I take it your grandmother is Peggy. I can tell you I danced so many times to the Gallowglass Ceili Band when they used to play here in Aberdeenshire Scotland. They were one of the most popular bands to ever visit this area and would still fill a dance hall if they played here again. There was so much love and respect for this band and still is to this day. There music was wonderful.
I'm sorry I missed this comment back then. She was. We named our own daughter after her. She was an unbelievable role model and influence on me. Very sadly missed.
To clarify , the tune Maggie in the Woods is also know as "An Bhfaca Tu mo Sheamaisin" which is probably the original name of the tune, the english translation of this is " Did you see my Little Jimmy". Quiet obviously then just shortened to " My Little Jimmy"
youre so right no venue was to small for them in the early 60s they were best around and the dance floor was always packed i.ve been to see a few of the new irish groups just not quite the same
Compare this ceili band to the kilfenora band of today, completly different styles and instuments. The music is played with little variations and ornamentation, todays bands feel like they have to ornament a tune fully to make it bearable and they also have a cluttered sound because of the large size of the band. Unfortunately this type of scottish influenced ceili band has vanished from ireland.
Such a shame this style of Ceili Band has gone . Paddy McGarr And the Gallowglass were top of their tree in former years. Always top accordionists in the line up . Fintan Stanley, Tony O Dowd , Brendan Breen , Richie Kelly and Jackie Coogan . The late Tony O Dowd my favourite . What a player he was and taken from us so young .
The Video that this track comes from is available to purchase on line (Together for one last reunion) and sadly that is the only video you will get, The leader Pat McGarr passed away 4 years ago, his brother Jimmy McGarr on Bass passed away about two years ago, their sister Margaret Keogh on Fiddle is now in a nursing home. Hope this is of some help to you. Rgds
i love listening to this band does anyone know where i can get a copy of a tune called nas nas ri played by this band my dad had a copy of it years ago i would love to listen to it again
louis was a founding member of this band ,and he was the first live musician to play on 2RM later changed to RTE. He lived in 7 springs . was jack your father ?
@accordion1994 I'd know these as Mary in the Woods, Sword of Colmcille and Winding Road to Galway. On the slieve of this recording they are called: My Little Jimmy, Sword of Colmcille and All the Way to Galway.
Has anyone got any 'bio' on these guys. They're so solemn yet so accomplished (remind me of Sir Jimmy Shand in that regard!) I believe the leader's now sadly passed away and the violinist is in a nursing home but someone somewhere must have some info on their history. I got one of their LP's (yeah, THAT dates me!) many moons ago and would be interested to know their background.
i have the written history of the band , from seven springs in louis McGarrs house to Jigginstown Where aunty Peggy and Emmett lived . The actual 3 members that founded the band . email me at smcg19161@gmail.com i will give you all the early history of the Gallowglass . what you see on the stage is only a fraction of what the family was about . the real history leaves for unexpected reading . I have it done now . My father was the main source . without him sitting at the fire in Jigginstown relaying it to me , i would never have found out . like his sister Peggy , he recalled dates names agents all the players in the band over the years . and the greed that set in . the world will read this in 2022 on the 75th year since it was founded in uncle louis house in seven springs.
@1234549084 Yeah great band before my time unfortunately. Their line up as a band seems to be typically more Scottish in my opinion than Irish with the piano accordion taking centre instrument rather than a button box.
when it was founded , there was two button boxes , and no piano box . the band was going for nearly 3yrs before paddy joined . my father was a founding member .
