Product Description

Songs from singers in Irish and English; jigs, reels, hornpipes and airs from solo musicians and groups; step dances, set dances, and ceili dances from exhibition and social dancers ­ this DVD from the television archives of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, contains more than two hours of outstanding performances from across the rich spectrum of Irish traditional music.

1 Jimmy Sinnott, lilting. Hornpipe: Mullingar Races

2 Bothy Band. Song: Pretty Peg; Reel: Gregg¹s Pipes

3 Celine Hession & Donncha Ó Muimhneacha´in, step dancing; Paddy Glackin, fiddle. Slip jigs: Fig for a Kiss, Kid on the Mountain

4 Darach Ó Catháin. Song: Óro, ŒSé Do Bheatha Abhaile

5 Liam O¹Flynn, uilleann pipes. Jig Frieze Britches

6 Tulla Ceili Band. Reels: Pigeon on the Gate, Foxhunter¹s

7 Ann Byrne & Jesse Owens. Song: Lily of the West

8 John, John Jnr & James Kelly, fiddles. Reels: Ceathrú Cavan, Wild Irishman

9 Clannad. Song: Téir Abhaile Riú

10 Mary MacNamara & Martin Hayes, concertina & fiddle. Reels: John Naughton¹s, Tommy Coen¹s

11 Swords Mummers. March, Song: Twenty Men from Dublin Town

12 Ceoltóirí Laighean. Slide: Scattery Island Slide

13 Paul Brady. Song: Shamrock Shore

14 Set dancers; Tulla Ceili Band

15 Sean Keane, fiddle. Air: Gol na mBan san Ár

16. Willie Reynolds, uilleann pipes. Reels: Rakish Paddy, Sligo Maid

17 Knocknagree Set Dancers; Johnny O¹Leary, accordion; Michael Duggan, fiddle; Ellen O¹Leary, whistle; Kathleen O¹Keeffe, whistle. Slides: Rathawaun, Hare in the Corn

18 Pádraig Ághas. Song: An Baile Atá Láimh Léi Siúd

19 De Danann. Jigs: Tom Billy¹s, Sean Ryan¹s; Reels: Mick Hand¹s, Hills of Clogher

20 Colm Walsh. Song: Bonny Bunch of Roses

21 Tommy Peoples, fiddle. Strathspeys: Laird of Drumblair (two versions)

22 Sea´n Ó Cuilleanáin (John Cullinane), step dancing; Seán ÓCearbhill, fiddle. Hornpipe: Liverpool

23 Julia Clifford, Denis Murphy, fiddles; Paddy Moloney, whistle; Des Mulkere, flute. Reel: Liffey Banks

24 Nioclás Tóibín. Song: Na Prátaí Dubha

25 Joe Cooley, accordion; Jack Cooley, bodhran; Des Mulkere, banjo. Reel: Wise Maid

26 Unknown boy. Song: Four Green Fields

27 Session group. Reels: Lucy Campbell¹s, Sligo Maid

28 Pat Kearney; Eric Benson, piano. Song: Síle Ní Ghadhra

29 Wrenboys. Hornpipe: Harvest Home; Reel: Duke of Leinster

30 Planxty. Song: Jolly Beggar; Reel: Wise Maid

31 Seán Œac Dhonncha. Song: Bean an Fhir Rua

32 Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts, whistles; Peadar Mercier, bodhran. Reels: Connaught Heifers, Micho Russell¹s

33 Gerry Cullen, Brian Leahy, Fran McPhail. Song: Bonny Light Horseman

34 Stocktons Wing. Reels: Boys of Malin, Green Fields of Tyrol, Glass of Beer

35 Ludlow Trio. Song: Butcher Boy

36 Seán Ó Sé & Ceoltóirí Chualann. Song: Tá Œna Lá

37 Dubliners. Song: I Must Away Now

38 Denis O¹ Brien, whistle. Air Ní ar Chnoc nó ar Ísleacht; Reel: Finbarr Dwyer¹s

39 Tommy Makem. Song: Leaving Liverpool

40 Session group. Reel: Maid behind the Bar

41 Frank Harte. Song: Valentine O¹Hara

42 Tullyvin Ceili Band. Reels: Donegal Reel, Sheehan¹s, Croghan Hill

43 Al O¹Donnell. Song: Ramble Away

44 Ceili Dancers. Dance: Briseadh na Carraige (Siege of Carrick)

45 Siasma Tíre Folk Theatre. Dramatization of the song ŒCasadh an tSúgáin¹

46 Matt Molloy, flute; Donal Lunny, bouzouki. Reel: Bucks of Oranmore

47 Bonus feature: Meet the People 1961

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15658 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-01-30
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Compilation, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 145 minutes

Customer Reviews

Superb archival performance
Mutton chop sideburns, bell bottoms and beehives add a charming accent to this delightful collection of traditional Irish dance, music and song drawn from twenty five years (1961-1986) of Irish Public Broadcasting. Many of the performers are unknown in any international sense, but the extraordinarily high standard of virtuosity makes this a real pleasure to watch. The lovely melodies and irresistible beats of traditional Irish performance are truly enjoyable in this bargain-priced, two hour-plus DVD.

A slice of Ireland
If you're looking for a glitzy performance like Riverdance, this is not the dvd for you. If you're looking for a slice of Irish culture and music from the 60s-80s, this is it. Most of the performers are not even professionals. There's a clip of a young boy in Buncrana singing Four Green Fields in 1976. It gave me chills the first time I heard it. His voice is amazing. There's a touching performance at Sean O'Riada's funeral sung by Sean O'Se. And there's a very funny looking clip taken in a pub somewhere with an old man singing with his eyes shut and his friend seems to be pumping the song out of him with one hand and holding a pint in the other. I loved this dvd. I'll know I'll watch it again and again.

The "West" is the Best!
Want a crash course in pre-Celtic Tiger Irish culture? Viewing the historic archival segments on this video collection of Irish music, song and dance performances captured over a four deade period is like a getting a crash PH.D. on the topic. The DVD has become the 'must have' item if you're a Irish music session hound. Some rough audio and low quality video for certain segments only add to the charm. Pour yourself a pint, tune your instrument, and sit back and enjoy the journey.