Holly Geraghty and Jonathan Roche have been playing together since 2001 when, as students in University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology they struck up a friendship through music which has flourished over the years. While frequenting the weekly UCC student session at an Spailpin Fanach and indeed various sessions in the Cork/Kerry region, Holly and Jonathan uncovered a musical affiliation which kindled the formation of this dynamic duo.
2005 marked the inception of Ceolmhar, when Holly and Jonathan performed a collection of Holly’s newly composed Irish traditional dance tunes and airs as part of her major study option in composition and performance at UCC. Positive feedback infused with prompts to record eventually provoked Holly and Jonathan to begin recording this material in early 2007. Rich in reed sound, this recording presents to you a mixture of old and newly composed Irish traditional dance tunes and airs delicately woven together by intricate accompaniment provided by Matt Griffin (guitar) and Stephen Markham. We hope you enjoy the fruits of our endeavors.
Jonathan Roche hails from Brosna, a small parish in the Sliabh Luachra area of North Kerry steeped in a rich musical tradition. From an early age Jonathan displayed a keen interest in traditional Irish music, the accordion in particular, having spent many afternoons "pulling and tearing" at an old battered hohner in his grandfather’s attic!
Jonathan Roche At the tender age of 8 years, Jonathan attended his first music class in Brosna under the renowned tutelage of Cecilia Regan. With a great help from a number of local accordion players, and in particular his neighbour Joe Mulcahy who was called to on a weekly basis for help with tunes, he started to make some progress and before too long something that resembled a Jig emerged from the reeds. In the following years, Jonathan spent time learning from local accordion players Donal De Barra and Willie Larkin, both of whom had a huge influence on his style of playing.
In the late ‘80s, two great venues existed for traditional music in the neighbouring town of Abbeyfeale - the Fáilte bar and the Cellar bar. Regular visitors to the venues included accordion players Tony McMahon, Paul Brock, Jackie Daly, PJ Hernon, Joe Burke and Seamus Begley, a fantastic exposure to the greats of the instrument for any inspiring young box player.
While most of his school friends were playing football or on foreign holidays for the summer, Jonathan was off to music festivals eager to learn more, and no summer was complete without a week long workshop with Jackie Daly in Miltown Malbay at the Willie Clancy Festival. During his teenage years he was a regular competitor in the fleadh ceoils, and went on to capture two All-Irelands on the melodeon and a Munster title on the two row button accordion.
These successes brought Jonathan to the attention of a number of dance shows, and lead to summer tours of Australia and Asia with "Spirit of Ireland". Further spells were spent playing with renowned productions such as "Ragús" and "To Dance on the Moon", the highlights of which were trips to Dubai and playing to a full house in the renowned Vicar Street venue in Dublin.
While studying computer science in cork, he was a regular visitor to sessions in the spailpín fánac, the gables and the faran well, with the occasional morning lecture paying the price! After six fond years in the real capital and a masters degree in computer science in his back pocket, it was time to head for the bright lights of Athlone to pursue a career in software engineering.
haven't even seen it myself, was too busy what with all the praying and picking out a nice habit to wear to mass! must get a hold of it! tedfest was unreal, soooo much fun!
Hey Buddy..... Very best of luck with the launch - think my mother & father are going to take a spin back - sorry I'm not home but I'll buy a copy!! L xx
The bloody thing is still in Mountcollins! Was home for the funeral last weekend so saw it - will deposit it to you over Christmas - home for a LOOONG spell!
My mother has the hat to drop over to your house - I left you my own one cause the new one I bought which is identical just smaller I'd say wouldnt fit your big ceann!
Ummm.... possibly!! Ok YES!!! - Your OWN hat!! So you can stop nickin' mine! It's a bit smaller round the ceann so hope it'll fit ya but sure you can stretch it? It should fit or I'll give you my own & take the smaller one if it doesn't.... but mine has some mileage/memories - well looked cared for though!! :-) We'll sort something out - I have one for you - that's the main thing!!! L
you are always all work and no play (this is why you take 2 week vacations). so things are going well with the new cd (still don't believe it exists) or are you hitting the festival(s)? how's your poptart?
Hey buddy, I'm home for the weekend & have a little surprise for you..... Will save you nickin' mine!!! Let me know if you're around Listowel or Brosna - otherwise I'll drop it to your Ma & Da's .... L
you weren't the only one...glad to see that you are alive! beginning to think another plane crashed in spain. so how was it? and things in chicargo are yuck
