William John Francis Naughton, or Bill Naughton (Ballyhaunis, 12 June 1910 – Ballasalla, 9 January 1992) was a playwright and author, best known for his play Alfie.

Born in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo,Ireland his family moved in 1914 to Bolton, Lancashire, England, where he attended Saint Peter and Paul’s School. Naughton worked as a weaver, coal-bagger and lorry-driver before he started writing. Naughton’s preferred environment was working class society. Although Alfie is the play with which he will always be associated, mostly because of the British film starring Michael Caine in the eponymous role, he was a prolific writer, with both plays, novels, short stories and children’s books to his name. At least two of his other plays have been transferred onto the cinema screen as well. These are Spring and Port Wine, which had James Mason starring in the role of Rafe Crompton, and The Family Way, which starred John Mills. His work also includes the novel One Small Boy (1957), and the collection of short stories The Goalkeeper’s Revenge: And Other Stories (1961). Had many of his plays performed at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton town Centre and has a theatre named after him. (more…)

The folk music of Ireland (also known as Irish traditional music, Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the entire island of Ireland, North and South of the Border.

Irish traditional music has survived more strongly against the forces of cinema, radio and the mass media than the indigenous folk music of most European countries. This was partly due to the fact that the country was not a battleground in either of the two world wars. Another significant factor was that the economy was largely agricultural, where oral tradition usually thrives. From the end of the second world war until the late fifties folk music was held in low regard. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (an Irish traditional music association) and the popularity of the Fleadh Cheoil (music festival) helped lead the revival of the music. The English Folk music scene also encouraged and gave self confidence to many Irish musicians. Following the success of The Clancy Brothers in the USA in 1959, Irish folk music became fashionable again. The lush sentimental style of singers such as Delia Murphy was replaced by guitar-driven male groups such as The Dubliners. Irish showbands presented a mixture of pop music and folk dance tunes, though these died out during the seventies. The international success of The Chieftains and subsequent musicians and groups has made Irish folk music a global brand.

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I consider myself a doubly lucky person, for the reason that every year I assist the same ceremony. It happens in May when my wife asks me to spend a few days in Aghamore, during our summer holidays. I nod my head in affirmation and in answer I say that it will be very satisfactory for me. Meanwhile, with my feet I am already pushing, under the table, all my meagre personal pertinences into the 15 Kg luggage that Michael O’Leary allows me to carry in without being squeezed by his low cost line.

As an introduction, I have to let you know that my skin is only able to get a very low tan level. I have lain under the sun for many hours, gone through all the different stages; pink, red, tomato red, Chernobyl radioactive red, but I have always failed in getting the deep Julio Iglesias tan. So I have given up on looking like him or any of those boys who appeared in Miami Vice.

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Late 19th century revival and the 20th century

The revival of interest in Irish traditional culture was closely linked to Nationalist calls for independence and was catalysed by the foundation of the Gaelic League in 1893. This sought to encourage the rediscovery and affirmation of Irish traditional arts by focusing upon the Irish language, but also established an annual competition, the Feis Cheoil, in 1903 as a focus for its activities.

The Gaelic League was often accused of being a largely middle-class organization and of taking little heed of the interests or enjoyments of those living in rural areas of Ireland; most of the League’s meetings were in fact held in London. (more…)

Fiddle

One of the most important instruments in the traditional repertoire, the fiddle (or violin – there is no physical difference) is played differently in widely-varying regional styles. It is normally tuned as GDAE. Modern performers include Brendan Mulvihill, Paddy Cronin, Peter Horan, James Kelly, Martin Hayes, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Cathal Hayden, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Matt Cranitch, Frankie Gavin, Paddy Glackin, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maire Breatnach and Gerry O’Connor. Sligo fiddlers like Michael Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran did much to popularise Irish music in the States in the 1920s and 1930s.

The best-known regional fiddling traditions are from Donegal, Sligo, Sliabh Luachra and Clare. The fiddling tradition of Sligo is perhaps most recognizable to outsiders, due to the popularity of American-based performers like Lad O’Beirne, Michael Coleman, John McGrath, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran; Irish Sligo fiddlers included Martin Wynne and Fred Finn. Notable fiddlers from Clare include Paddy Canny, Bobby Casey, John Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Peadar O’Loughlin, Pat O’Connor and P. Joe Hayes, while Donegal has produced James Byrne, Vincent Campbell, John Doherty, and Con Cassidy. Sliabh Luachra, a small area between Kerry and Cork, is known for Julia Clifford, her brother Denis Murphy, Sean Maguire, Paddy Cronin and Padraig O’Keeffe. Contemporary fiddlers from Sliabh Luachra include Matt Cranitch, Gerry Harrington and Connie O’Connell, while Dubliner Séamus Creagh, actually from Westmeath, is imbued in the local style.

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By: Xavier Arbiell

This is how the Romans called Ireland once. The fact is that in Latin, Hibernia means winter; the land of the never-ending winter.

From the forgotten depths of the history, Ireland has been there, far away of the central axis of the power of the different empires that ruled Europe once. Growing its own character and personality. (more…)