Mike "Tosh" O' Sullivan: Banjo,
Eoin(Stan) O' Sullivan: Fiddle,
Lisa O' Sullivan: Fiddle,
Eoin Jordan: Bouzouki & Vocals, Flor Rahilly: Guitar & Vocals
The Ceili Allstars are a fresh and exciting five piece traditional Irish music band from Cork. They evolved from a group of friends playing on the session trail in Cork city in the late nineties. The group have similar tastes and styles of Irish traditional music and originally hail from the Sliabh Luachra area near the Cork-Kerry border.
The line-up has changed quite a bit over the years, with past members including: Danny Murphy (fiddle), Brian Murphy (accordion), Mick Hayes (guitar), Aidan O'Halloran (vocals), Declan O'Mahony (uillean pipes) and Derek Mooney (accordion).
As well as having several regular gigs in some of Corks top venues they are no strangers to the big stage. Highlights for the group so far have been playing support to Mosaik (featuring members of Planxty) in the Cork Opera House and travelling to Sri Lanka as part of the 2004 St. Patricks Day celebrations in Colombo. For the past four years, they have played in Amsterdam as part of the St. Patrick's day celebrations there. The most recent trip abroad found them playing in Parma, Italy as part of Festa dell'Europa, an international music festival featuring acts from all over Europe.
The band were the resident trad band every Sunday in The Lobby Bar, this was followed by stints in the Cruiscín Lán, The Far Side, The Slainte and the Pavillion.
In 2005 the group appeared on a documentary entitled A Magic Night in The Lobby Bar which was hosted by John Spillane and broadcasted on RTE. The show featured top Irish acts who have cut their teeth in the legendary Cork venue. Also one of the last shows in The Lobby was recorded for The Lobby Live 2005 cd, currently available to buy. They appeared on 'Ardan' on TG4 later in the year as part of their Oireachtas show.
They also received a mention in the book "Atlas of Cork City", which was released as part of Cork's European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2005.
Three of the bands members are also in indie-rock group Stanley Super 800. Since forming in 2003, SS800 have released four records to date and have toured all over Ireland as well as the UK and Europe. They were nominated for a Choice award in 2008.
The Ceili Allstars and Stanley Super 800 joined forces in 2008 performing in the Spiegeltent as part of the Cork Midsummers festival. Here, the band performed a 'country set' of Stanley Super original songs aswell as covers of some country classics. The group has played the hugely popular country set in gigs & festivals over the past year.
THE CEILI ALLSTARS are:
MICHAEL( TOSH )O'SULLIVAN : Banjo
FLOR RAHILLY : Guitar & Vocals
EOIN( STAN )O'SULLIVAN : Fiddle
LISA O'SULLIVAN: Fiddle
EOIN JORDAN : Bouzouki & Vocals
Our Tuesday session currently takes place in Johnny's Bar(Blarney Castle Hotel) the Square, Blarney, Co. Cork.
'An Réalt Dearg' is the home of our new Session every Wednesday night at 9.30 on Barrack St. Cork (formerly known as The Gateway Bar).
A New Sunday session takes place in Bradley's on Barrack St. Cork at 19.00 every Sunday
We also play a monthly session in the excellent DE BARRAS, Main St., Clonakilty from 2 - 5pm on the Last Sunday of every month.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
How's it going gents? Hope to see you over the summer, i'll be in pine lodge on may 22nd and pavilion july 1st and traipsing around Europe in between..hope all's well, Niall
Stanley Super 800 + mystery guests play their country set at the Spiegeltent Emmett place,Cork this fri june 20th. Doors 8pm. Tickets €15. We will be joined on stage with Eoin and Lisa from our other band The Ceili Allstars and Also Martin Leahy of North Cregg on Drums.Its Country n Western fancy dress too if you fancy it!
This gig will also mark the return of Flor to the SS800 fold.......
Hi Ya lads! If you make it down to Baltimore again sometime in the near future, please be on the lookout for a lost liver. I seem to have lost mine heheee. Thanks for fantastic weekend of tunes and great company. Chat soon, Dom ;)
Hi there! Nice to have you in the friendlist ;) Lovely session last wednesday, in spite of the loud spaniards in the back, and I..m not talking bout my pipes! :P I'm back in Seville now, but hopefully I..ll see you soon again.
Hey Lisa/mike, Cant wait to come over.. we're all sorted. Might be good idea to figure out what we are going to do for accomadation.. and what we need to bring :) CAnt wait!!!! wooohhoooo ... Dom
