County Cork, Ireland

From County Tipperary we head west to County Cork with Cork city the second largest city in Ireland.  Here we meet retired teacher and comical song writer Con O'Drisceoil, who has got himself into a bit of an argument during a music session in a pub...  This song, The Spoons Murder, is off a compilation album, The Rough Guide to Irish Music.

Born in Newmarket, Co. Cork, we meet the Jimi Hendricks of the accordion, Liam O'Connor,  He apparently holds the Guinness world record for fastest fingers on an accordion.  He mixes traditional music with modern influences.having toured some time with pseudo-Irish act Riverdance.  This track is from his 2010 album Tico Mystico and is entitled Morning Dew:

Singer Karan Casey should really have had a mention when we visited Co. Waterford as that was where she was born, but as she now lives in Cork, we make up now for that omission.  This song, The King's Shilling, can be found on her 2006 album The Winds Begin to Sing.

Harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh was raised in a musical family in West Cork somewhere.  She frequently collaborates with English virtuoso guitarist Chris Newman.  The following lively air is from her 1997 album The Carolan Albums and is entitled Lord Inchiquin.

Finally guitarist Jim Murray has accompanied many great traditional acts, most notably Co. Clare's Sharon Shannon.  Here he plays on a set, The Cat's Miaow, from Sharon Shannon's 2005 album Tunes.

That's it from Cork, next stop Kerry.  As usual you can follow my virtual journey on Tripline.

County Tipperary, Ireland

It's a long way to Tipperary... and all that sort of thing.  Well I suppose it depends where you start off from.  It's not so far from Waterford, our last stop, but if you are walking say from Outer Mongolia, it'll take you a while.  Well, this an English army song anyway, so we'll skip this.

The Clancy Brothers, whom we have met in County Armagh with Tommy Makem, hailed from Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary.  They also thought Tipperary was so Far Away, but then they were active mostly in the USA.  This can be found on their album The Absolutely Essential Collection.

Shane MacGowan of the Pogues was born in London, but spent part of his childhood in County Tipperary.  This song is called Boys from The County Hell, which may or not be near County Tipperary...  It's from their album Red Roses For Me.  

Now for something a bit quieter.  Harpist Áine Minnogue hails from Borrisokane in County Tipperary.  This song, The Gathering, is from her album Celtic Pilgrimage:

Paddy O'Brien from Newton in County Tipperary was a great button accordion player and composer, who died in 1991.  Here are some historic recordings of him back in 1972.  I love the old photos in this clip!

Gerry O'Connor from Nenagh is considered one of the best Irish tenor banjo players, replacing Barney McKenna of the Dubliners after the latters sudden death.  Here he is in action at the Fleadh Cheoil 2017.

As usual you can follow my virtual journey on this map.  See you soon in County Cork.