Many fine musicians have played with Máirtín's groups down the years, musicians of the calibre of Garry O'Bhriain, Jimmy Faulkner, Ken Edge, James Blennerhasset, Danny Byrt, Liam Bradley, Martin Murray, Micheal O'Dhomhnaill, Maire Breathneach, Dessie Wilkinson and many others.
Slideshow images by Monika Schmettow Nurnberg 2008.
The trio of Máirtín, Cathal and Seamie first performed live together at a gig in Sligo town organised in memory of Dervish soundman Fin Corrigan. The rapport with each other and the audience was immediate and since then, the three have successfully played gigs in Ireland, Britain, mainland Europe and Australia where they played as part of the Masters of The Irish Tradition concert along with Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Steve Cooney, Iarla O'Lionáird and piper David Power. The concert sold out two nights in Sydney Opera House and received a rapturous reception.
They have just released a long awaited album entitled 'Crossroads' that has already received critical acclaim.
The Irish Echo in New York has placed it in their top three Irish CD releases. The album captures the live essence of three musicians that have built both a personal and professional rapport with each other as well as with an ever increasing audience.
Since about 2001 the current line-up of the Máirtín O’Connor Band has been steadily evolving into a cohesive musical entity.
They have built a formidable musical relationship over the last few years, gigging together frequently as well as collaborating in the studio. The catalyst for this was Máirtín when he invited the others to play on his ground-breaking Road West album, and again later on the Rain of Light album, much of which went down live such was the musical and personal rapport that had developed between them. Individually, they have built solid reputations as musicians in terms of ability and versatility.
Máirtín was one of the main musical forces behind the now legendary Riverdance phenomenon, having previously, through his work with De Dannan, Midnight Well, Skylark and as a solo artist, quite simply gone where no Irish accordion player had gone before. He is one of the most respected and best loved musicians ever to emerge from the country.
Cathal Hayden needs no introduction to anyone even remotely familiar with traditional Irish music. A multiple All-Ireland Championship winner, he achieved worldwide recognition as one of the founder members of Four Men and a Dog. He is one of Ireland’s top fiddlers and his solo banjo performances are quite simply 'show stopping'.
Seamie O’Dowd’s musical abilities have become increasingly familiar at international level in recent years. Rooted deeply in the traditional music of Sligo, he has played in many genres of acoustic and electric music. He toured the world for a number of years with Sligo trad legends Dervish and recently has played at home and abroad with Liam O’Flynn, Matt Molloy and Meteor Award nominee Mary Mc Partlan.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MÁIRTÍN, CATHAL, GARRY AND SEAMIE
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS;
THE TRIO'S WEBSITE
www.taramusic.com/biogs/mocbg.htm
www.tradcentre.com/cathal/
www.seamieodowd.com
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..?
Au programme : Duo Artense , Duo Coudroy / Tanghe , Somi de Granadas , Duo Roche / Breugnot , Duo Vincendeau / Felder , Duo Barbar, Zorozora mais aussi Stage de violon animé par Thomas Felder, Stage d'accordéon animé par Martin Coudroy , Stage de bourrées trois temps animé par Sarah Serec , Stage de danses de bal animé par Françoise Farenc-Vieussens , Tok Apéros en terrasse, Scènes ouvertes , Castells , Cobla , Boeufs , Concours...
Hi Mairtin, I also have fantastic memories of that house and all musicians who joined to.Antoni lives in Dublin,and I'm coming the last ten days of july.Hope we'll meet you soon!ring him if you pass through Dublin..lots of love to you and your family!
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.
Hi there, thanks for being friends on myspace. I enjoyed your gig at the Albert Einstein Forum in Kaarst last friday very much - great music and a lot of fun. All the best, Greetings from Bochum, Andreas
