Album Notes

Michael O Connor comes from Killianin,Rosscahill,Co.Galway. Mick`s love for Irish music goes back to the age of 8 when his mother became his first teacher.She taught him to play his first tune,Paud O Donahue on an old melodian,which she received as a present from her brother.Shortly afterwards he also developed a love for the tin whistle.He loved to listen to the great fiddle players`Michael Coleman,Hugh Gillespie,James Morrison and Paddy Killoran`,featured at the time of the old 78 records.His mother owned a new gramaphone and each week she added one new record to her collection,a feast of Irish music.So Mike got a great start at home in those early days.He was very impressed by accordian players such as `Michael Grogan,Paddy O Brien and Kieran Kelly.He always attended their shows.

He played in many traditional groups around the country,was featured on radio with a group called Sheebeen,which he co founded.Mike spent 35 years with C.I.E. as a bus conductor,driver and tour guide.He loved meeting people so he enjoyed his time there.He still does the odd tour as a hobby.Nowadays he plays accordian,tin-whistle and melodeon with the group COIS TINE which he also helped to form.He finds time for the occasional bit of fishing on Ross Lake near him.Mike says that music is his life,saying too that he feels young while he is playing.He is also one of the vocalists in the group.He always loved singing and writes some of the songs for the group.He writes very nice poetry too,and even has had some published.He also says music is the cure of many of todays illnesses.Being envolved in music keeps ones mind occupied and free from wordly cares.It`s a perfect recipe for a healthy life.Mick is a fluent Irish speaker.He has two songs written in the gaelic language which are included on the CD.He has often been featured on the Irish radio`Radio na Gaeltacta`.Mick also recalls the day of the ``kitchen rackets``as the local farmhouse ceili`s were called,when weekly dances were held in the kitchens of thatch cottages in Ireland.
` Those were fine days`he says.

Linda comes from Loughrea,Co.Galway and now resides in Rosscahill Co.Galway close to mike.Linda comes from a very traditional family.Her Father Paddy Doorhy played with the first Ballinakill ceili band playing the drums.He also played drums with the great accordian player Joe Burke for many years,and he even got a chance to tour America with him.Linda`s mum Kathleen who also plays a touch of music met her dad by following the group to different venues.Linda`s Grandfather also Paddy Doorhy played fiddle with the first Letrim ceili band,he was known far and wide throughout Ireland and won many awards at Fleadh`s and festivals.A few weeks before he passed away he had won Connaught champion.Paddy, I would have to add, was also a mechanical genius.He was credited with being the inventor of the brake light for our vehicles in acknowledgement of the messers Fords in Cork.He also wrote a few tunes,which one of them is widely known throughout Ireland as being called the Letrim Jig.Linda started playing music at 14 years of age,and has continued to this day with her band Cois Tine(which translates as `beside the fire`).A lover of all music and even the Irish dancing,she has every intention that this tradition carries on to the next generation.Linda plays the keyboard on the cd,but of the scenes she plays fiddle,banjo and drums.
Peggy Higgins comes from Corrifin in Galway.She learned to play guitar at school and was a member of the Corrifin balled group which competed in G.A.A. scor competitions,which won many connaught,county and even an all Ireland title.
Traditional music goes back to the 1900`s when her grandfather Patrick Rabbitte,who spent many years as a school teacher in Connemara had great love for singing and also played the the tin-whistle and fiddle.His son Jack,now in his 80`s carried on with his interest in the fiddle,mouth-organ and accordian.He now has a grandchild Sharon an accomplished accordianist.Peggy loves singing,and loves dancing especially the sean no`s(old time) dancing.She has also being known to offer up a few steps after a late nights gig.

Mike Coyle who is not on this album hails from cavan,and has written some of the songs.He now resides in Bristol,and is 84 years of age and still writing wonderful heart felt songs.