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Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 3, Page 29

Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 3, Page 29
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music
volume Number
1
issue Content
50Ceol na hEireann Irish Music51as being very ill, though in fact her illness was not as serious as had first beenthought and a diversion resulted to UIbh Rthach and a recording of singing bya group of Spanish sailors at Valentia island.At this time there was not in Raidi Eireann such a thing as a folk musicprogramme and what traditional music Samus did record was for use inprogrammes of a more general nature which described in a widely-based way,the social and economic life of an area. However, a couple of surviving radioprogranmies on sean-ns singing show that he was a naturally skilled presenterwith a fine radio voice and an easy, natural delivery.During his time with Raidi Eireann he spent time assisting the famousAmerican folk music collector, Alan Lomax, on a recording expedition. Lomaxtold the columnist Macalla of the Irish Press that Sdamus piping was like aflock of mocking birds in harmony. An amazing instrument - like an organ, thenlike a violin. (13th February 1951 - ITMA).He was also seconded for a time by Raidi Eireann to assist the BBC when theywere on a visit to Ireland working on a pilot scheme to set up a folk musicrecording project. This was to prove beneficial to him when, having left RaidiEireann on 31st May 1951, he was hired to work for the BBC by Brian George,the producer who was the main person responsible for the setting-up of this folkmusic recording project.During his time with BBC, he was one of the presenters of the pioneeringfolk-music programme As I Roved Out broadcast on the BBC Home Serviceevery Sunday morning and introduced by a verse of the song of that name bySarah Makem. He collected in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales and alsoduring this time married Margaret Glynn, an air-hostess from Liverpool andthey had two children, Christopher and Catherine.His full-time contract with the BBC ended in 1958 and for a time he tried hishand at freelance broadcasting which, however, he described as unrewardingand even did some work in the building trade for a time. It was during thisperiod that his marriage ended and he decided to return to Ireland at the end ofthe 1950s.During his three periods of employment in the Folklore Conmiission, RaidiEireann and the BBC, he often visited the same places as a collector and thereis no doubt that he was very much accepted by the people whom he visited. Itwas a two-way process - they respected his musicianship as he respected theirs,and they liked to hear him play the pipes - recognising him as one of their own.He learned many songs and tunes from them and it was always remarkable howhe could reproduce samples of this music and song in later life. Among thosehe collected from were Mrs. Elizabeth Cronin of Baile Mhiiime who used topresent him with the songs already written out on paper on his arrival in orderthat they could spend their time more pleasurably in conversation. He collectedtwo hundred and twelve songs and hits from Colm O Caoidhein of Glinnsce,Conamara and his visits to Denis Murphy and Pdraic OKeeffe in ShiabhLuachra resulted in long-term friendships. He was very impressed by themusical style of Sliabh Luachra and played many of that areas tunes on thepipes. Another singer who impressed him was Labhrs O Cadhia of CountyWaterford - Labhrs an Bhdil Bhinn and a listening to the air Pilib Simh OFathaigh shows that Sdamus not only collected the song from Labhrs but alsowas able to faithfully reproduce it as a slow-air on the uilleann pipes.BACK TO IRELANDWhen Sdamus returned to Ireland from Britain he secured some part-time workin Raidi Eireann and he was also one of the presenters of traditional musicprogrammes on the new television station, TelefIs Eireann, with programmetitles such as An Ceoltir SIdhe and Samus Ennis sa Chathaoir. I remembermyself and my brother Oliver on pipes and fiddle playing frequently on thislatter programme. I recall Paddy Ban Broin deputising for Sdamus when hewas injured in a car accident and then Samus presenting a later programme inthe series with his leg in a plastercast.At this time he was living in different flats and houses around Dublin, the housein Jamestown having been sold. He stayed for a time with Peggy Jordan inKenilworth Square, Rathmines and also lived in Drumcondra. He also travelledthe country, staying with friends such as Liam Clancy and for a time there wasa scheme in operation whereby he was living in Queallys in Miltown Malbay,his accommodation paid for by a group of traditional music enthusiasts,including Sean Talty and Sean Reid, the return for which being that Sdamuswould spend his time writing a book on the uilleann pipes. This period led tothe oft-repeated phrase: As we met! given in response to the question, Shallwe have one drink? The original version of this question and answerconversation took place between Samus and Willie Clancy during this stay inV
issue Number
3
page Number
29
periodical Author
[Various]
issue Publication Date
2001-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 3

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