The Tulla Céilí Band in Cloughjordan – St. Patrick’s Night Céilí Mór
The Tulla Céilí Band will perform at a special St. Patrick’s Night benefit concert in Cloughjordan on Friday March 17th at 7pm.
Everyone is invited to come and join in this celebration of traditional music and dance. There will be dance-callers, red lemonade and gallons of tea, Taytos and scones, raffles and prizes galore. The Céilí promises to be a great evening of St Patricks Day craic for the whole family. The dances are great fun, and are suitable for all ages and abilities.
Here is an opportunity to experience what a traditional ‘céili mór’ was all about – the noise and the energy – with the added bonus that the music is provided by the very best of the golden era of céilí bands.
In 2016 the Tulla Céilí Band celebrated its 70th year. Founded in 1946 by Paddy Canny, fellow fiddler P.J. Hayes (father of the world-renowned musician, and occasional Tulla member, Martin Hayes), pianist Teresa Tubridy, and accordion player Joe Cooley at Minogue’s Bar in Tulla, County Clare. They were brought together to compete at the Limerick Fleadh Cheoil that year. Their initial repertoire came from local sources, along with Galway tunes from Joe Cooley. They toured Britain and the United States, and a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on St. Patrick’s Day 1958 is a celebrated recording of that era. In 2008, to mark their 50th anniversary, An Post issued a stamp featuring the band.
The Tulla sound has all the energy and drive a dancer could wish for; the emphasis is always on the tune, and on lifting your feet, with no unnecessary frills. Others may play faster or louder, but the Tulla produces a lift that few can match, a lift that moves dancers effortlessly. Their rhythm is purely traditional – steady and reliable – with an extra built-in swing. This is dance music straight down the line: jigs and reels, plus a couple of hornpipes, presented for dancing, pure and simple.
Fiddler and Tulla band member Mark Donnellan said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be playing this event for the Cloughjordan Amphitheatre project; it’s been a while since we were there, but we always really enjoyed ourselves in Tipperary. The Premier know their tunes.”
The Ceili is a fundraising event for the Cloughjordan Amphitheatre project. Michael Canney, project co-ordinator, said: “This is our first major concert and it’s a huge honour to present the Tulla Céilí Band. This is the level of musicianship we hope to attract to the Amphitheatre over the coming years – this gig is setting out our stall, and setting a high benchmark.”
Renowned céilí caller Suzanne Leahy will lead céilí-goers through the classics on the night.
Support will be provided by a group of award-winning young traditional players from Cloughjordan and the surrounding area.
Admission is €12.50 (adults) and €5 (under 16s).
Tickets are available online at www.cloughjordanarts.ie and from the following outlets: Sheahan’s Homevalue Hardware, Nenegh; Moloneys Newsagents, Rosrea; The Organic Shop, Birr; Austin’s Centra, Cloughjordan; Sile na Gig Bookshop & Café, Cloughjordan.
The Céilí will take place in Kilruane MacDonagh’s GAA Hall on Friday March 17th from 7pm – 10.30pm.
