COMHALTAS: The Rambles of Kitty

Comhaltas

The Rambles of Kitty

© 2007 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

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From the Comhaltas Traditional Music Archive, some of the 'greats' of Irish music.

notes

The Rambles of Kitty, an LP of Irish traditional music and song was published in 1967. It featured music and song from some of the leading traditional performers of the mid-'60s. There were solos from Liam Flynn, Séamus Connolly, Joe Burke and MIchael Crehan; Pilib Ó Laoghaire contributed three slow airs, Dónal Standúin and Seán Keane were featured in two duo items and there were selections from the Connemara Quartet and the Bunclody Céilí Band. Eibhlin Ni Bheaglaoich and Anne Mulqueen each sang two songs, and some items were introduced by Eoin Ó Súilleabháin, a well known actor and presenter of that era.

The LP was produced by Michael Slevin who also had produced many fine programmes of Irish traditional music for RTÉ, and Music Director was Micheál Ó hEidhin who is still playing an important role on the traditional scene. The principal motivator behind the production was Tomás P. Ó Diompsaigh of Bunclody who was then CCÉ's PRO at National level. Being aware that the Bunclody Céilí Band were keen to do a recording, he enrolled the assistance of MIcheál Ó hEidhin, and 'The Rambles of Kitty" was produced in due course under the label of Ceoltas Records (no CLS - 1).

All this happened in 1967, at a time when LP's of traditional music were still comparatively rare. The several brilliant performances by the artistes (listed above) ensured that the LP was a best seller and over the intervening years there have been many calls for a re-issue. Unfortunately the original Master tape could not be traced, and finding an unflawed copy after so many years proved difficult. With the assistance of several enthusiasts, - notably Pádraig Ó Dufaigh, Paddy O'Callaghan, Micheál Ó hEidhin, Joe Burke and Kit Hodge - we were finally able to assemble satisfactory copies of all tracks, and Cuan Studios processed the new master copy.

The Rambles of Kitty (otherwise Kitty's Rambles) is the title of a jig played on the LP (now CD) by Seán Keane and Dónal Standúin.

Several of those involved in the original publication have since gone to their eternal reward - Pilib Ó Laoghaire, Michael Slevin, Tomás P. Ó Diompsaigh, Eoin Ó Súilleabháin, Bridie Lafferty (accompanist). Go raibh siad ar fad i gcoluadar Dé sna flaithis.

We include here the original sleeve note written in 1967 by Liam Ó Murchú of Cork and RTÉ.

"One of the most remarkable features of cultural life in Ireland over the past decade or so has been the development of interest in Irish traditional music. A number of factors has contributed to this: the world-wide upsurge of folk-music, born of popular movements for emancipation and self-expression everywhere; a genuine affinity of spirit with the native mood and nuance; and, in Ireland, the many good radio shows which have worked with the persistence of a drip-effect to bring the native music to attention.

Through all of this, organising and promoting and advancing it, has been Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, who present this record. This is music of the grass-roots, fostered and refined at countless anonymous cross-roads and hearthstones down through the generations. True, there was a halt which for a time looked like death when, in Frank O'Connor's words, "a whole people were struck dumb"; that was the Great Famine of the 1840's. But a tradition that went so deep is not easily killed It is a matter for pride, in an age when there is much movement from the local, the indigenous and the inborn, that native music should begin again to find its true voice. And it is even more remarkable that it should find it essentially unchanged in a world which has changed so much in the interim.

The musical advisor on this record was Micheál Ó hEidhin, who has travelled much in the Connemara Gaeltacht and knows the authentic breath of its music and song. Production is by Michael Slevin, who has given pace and style to many good traditional music programmes on stage and television."

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