Post by Ptarmigan on May 11, 2008 18:52:31 GMT
Here is a list of more Local Fiddle Players. Thanks to Ballycastle Historian, Danny Morgan, for the following information. If you can tell either Danny or myself any more about any of these musicians, we'd be very interested to hear from you.
Jamie Benson of Mosside
Wee Jamie, as he was known, lived in a small house at Islandmacallion, near Mosside, and often visited Ballycastle.
Jamie was a full time fiddler, playing at fairs and in people's houses.
He was married, and his wife bred Pomeranians as a source of income.
Jamie also gave Fiddle lessonsin his home, but this wasn't easy, with the barking of the dogs!
The couple had no children.
Jamie is recalled as a well dressed man, who was hard to understand, given his accent.
(Dickie Duffin & Cassie McLernon)
A photo of Jamie appears in "Irish Traditional Music" p 55.
He is shown playing in Ann Street, Ballycastle, 1904.
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Johnny Crawford of Ballinlea (Senior)
Johnny lived at the Brig-End, on the Bushmills line, and was a well known fiddler, who also made a number of fiddles.
Johnny gave fiddle lessons, and the late Frank McCollam received his first lessons from Johnny ( Mary McCurdy, born Moyarget)
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Frank Simpson
Frank was a Mosside postman, a former soldier, and a keen angler.
Frank regularly played the fiddle in Taggart's Bar, Mosside (Ted McMullan).
He retired from service in 1953 after cycling some 187,200 miles! Frank used to keep his Fiddle below the bed & it still has the enlarged F Holes, made when a mouse decided to make use of it, as a home! He was a great friend of the Master Chestnut.
Here's a recent photo I took of Frank's son, Daniel (Doffer) Simpson playing a few tunes on his Dad's Fiddle. The old Fiddle had been forgotten about, in a cupboard under the stairs & both 'F' holes had been widened by a Mouse!
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Jack McDuff
Jack was a native of Ballymoney and worked as a fireman on the Narrow Guage, but retired in June 1950, when the line closed.
He lived on Rathlin Road and was a good fiddler, who is believed to have composed some tunes.
He was also a gifted craftsman who could make a dresser and repair boots (Dickie Duffin & Willie Kirkpatrick).
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Barry Limerick
Barry was a driver on the Narrow Guage line and lived in Ballycastle fopr about five years.
When the line closed in June 1950, Barry transferred to the main line.
He was a noted fiddler and gave lessons on the instrumnent.
Three of his pupils were Dominic McNabb, Mary & Annie Clarke.
The Clarkes had a bar in Anne Street, O'Connors
(D. McNabb & Seamus Clarke).
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Dan Blue
Dan lived at Gortconny, before he emigrated to America, possibly Chicago.
Before leaving, he sold his fiddle to Dan Wilkinson
(Sammy Wilkinson, nephew).
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Dan Wilkinson
Dan was a Ballintoy fiddler, who is said to have played the instrument behind his back on occasion
(Pat McMullan)
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Pat Gillan
Pat had a small holding at Lem-nagh.
It was a good ceilidh house.
His nephew, Pat McMullan still has his fiddle
(P McM.)
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Johnny McAleese
Johnny was a traditional singer and fiddler, who used to accompany a Melodeon player at the cross road dances at Croagh in the 1920's
(Jack Brown).
Johnny was a thatcher who worked for some time in the gas works at Port Glasgow, before returning home.
The late Frank Kane, Islandranny, got many of his songs from Johnny
(Willie Henderson)
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Daniel McGowan
Daniel, a fiddler from Broughgammon, was known as The Poet.
His son Daniel, also called The Poet, was also a fiddler and played at dances in Cloughcorr School
(Cassie McMernon).
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Alex Morgan
Alex (1877 - 1964) was born in Maghera.
He was a fisherman and married May McKillen in 1910.
He was a fiddler, was the grandfather of Danny Morgan, and died, Leyland Road, Ballycastle.
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Willie Morgan
Willie was born in 1900, in Port Glasgow, and his parents returned to Magheracastle, about three years later.
Willie was a fiddler who played at dances in Cloughcorr School.
He emigrated to Los Angeles
(Cassie McLernon)
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Willie McGill
Willie, of Prolusk, died at the age of 32 (C 1912) after a botched appendix opperation, in an American hospital.
He was a well known fiddler, who had been home on holidays just 6 months previously.
(Mary McCurdy)
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John McGill
John, who was also born at Prolusk, was a coach-builder who also made fiddles and banjos as a hobby.
One fiddle was made of celluloid, which had been salvaged from the wreckage of a Canadian plane, which crashed in Glenshesk in Dec. 1943.
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Willie Weir
Willie stayed at Tenaghs, Glenshesk, where he died unmarried.
Willie was a fiddler and a singer, who could imitate bird song.
He was also a good actor who acted in a number of local productions (Mary Lyden).
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Randal McDonnell
Randal was a brother of Jamie McDonnell the contractor.
He used to perform at dances held in Greenans School, Glenshesk.
He played the pipes, melodeon, fiddle and mouth organ
(Joe Lyden)
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Cassie McHenry
Cassie, and her brother Mick McHenry who played the accordion, lived at Torr.
They used to play at the dances on the night of the Torr Regatta, which ceased in the early 1930's.
Lawrence McHenry is a nephew
(Jamie Davidson)
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Johnny McAfee
Johnny was an Armoy fiddler, who used to play in Fisher's Pub in Castle Street, now B. Curry's.
Johnny used to play "The Cargan Lammas Fair".
One night, a drunk who was critical of his playing, took the fiddle from him and smashed it (Dickie Duffin)
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Andy McGoogan
Andy lived at the old Coastguard Station in Ballintoy.
He worked a small quarry and burned Lime at Ballintoy for a period.
He was a fiddler who also made fiddles, and was a native of the Ballyclagh area.
(Pat McMullan).
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Dan Morgan
Dan (1892 - 1947), who was born at Magheraboy, later farmed at Knockagarvan.
He was a fiddler who died single at the Fall Farm and was buried in Ballycastle
(Tessie McMichael).
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Bob Morgan
Bob was a brother of the 'Rascal Magee', and lived at Goukstown, Drumnagessan.
He used to play the fiddle at fairs in Ballycastle, and may also have played the accordion (James McKay, Clegnagh).
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Jaimmy Jennings
Jaimmy Jennings of Ballycastle, was the great uncle of Eileen Brady & he lived in that little old row of cottages opposite Felix Lynn's Garage, at the top of the town.
Jaimmy played the Accordion & the Uilleann Pipes.
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Jean Scally
Jean, a fine singer, used to run wee concerts in 'McHendry's Cellar' on Ann Street, back in the 1920's, where there was singing & dancing & everyone was charged one half Penny to get in.
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Sam McFarlane
Sam was a Ballinlea shoemaker who lived at Straid for a time, but moved back to Ballinlea after he got married.
He was a fiddler and also gave lessons
(Dan McHenry, Kilmahamogue).
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Willie Kerr
Willie Kerr, a farmer who also built Carts, lived in Armoy Glen.
However he was forced to turn his woodworking skills to musical ends after he had an accident with his own Fiddle, when coming home late one night from a house ceilidh.
He tripped crossing a fence & unfortunately broke the neck of his Fiddle, so of course he took all the measurements from this old Fiddle & set out to make a new one.
Now he had no special Fiddle-making tools or woods, so the 'belly' was made from a piece of wide-grained 'plank wood' which he carved using a bit of an old saw!
The back was of Sycamore & they boiled up the Ash sides before setting them.
The sound post was unusual too - made of hollow copper piping.
They had no varnish either so they used Mahogany stain & the whole thing took nine months to make - a labour of love I'd say.
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Andy Kerr
Andy, a nephew of Willie's, is thankfully still with us.
He was born at Turreagh, also in Armoy Glen, & says he could play the Harmonica before he could talk, but he was 15 years old before he took up the Fiddle.
He went to the old 'Breen School' from 1928 to 1935 & had to walk the six miles there & back, daily!
One fine evening, about ten years ago, I visited Andy in Capecastle & had the pleasure of listening to him play a number of his favourite tunes, including the Harvest Home hornpipe on that old Fiddle he helped his uncle make, over 70 years ago, in 1934. He also produced a Harmonica & took great pleasure in racing through that old favourite, the Mason's Apron.
Andy told me that all the Kerrs were musical & many played the Fiddle, including Alec, James & his sister Mrs Crawford. Andy told me they all, including himself, learned their music 'by ear' & Andy in fact still tunes in to Radio Scotland & Robbie Shepherd's weekly programme, which made me wonder if that great Scottish Fiddler, Ron Kerr was any relation?
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Robert Reilly
That day I met Andy, his friend Robert Reilly was there, with his son Alistair & they joined in the fun with Robert on Accordion & Alistair on Tin Whistle.
Robert was a member of the old 'Bush Valley Dance Band' which had John Simpson on Accordion & Tommy O'Neil on Drums. They played for 12 years between 1945 & 1957, playing for dances in Orange Halls, Town Halls & for country Wedding parties in old barns, which usually went on until 4am ........... ah, the good old days!
Both Robert & Andy above, had great admiration for local Armoy man Sean McLaughlin, who they told me was not only an All Ireland Champion Fiddler, but also a very talented artist & Guitar player.
However, they regarded Ballinlea as being the great centre of the local Fiddling tradition with the McNabbs, McGills & Donaghys being the most notable musical families in the area.
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James McKendry
James McKendry who was born, lived & died in Moyarget, was a fine musician who played Flute & Fiddle.
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John ?
John was a keen fiddler who played at many country dances in his younger days.
He died at Ann Street, Ballycastle, in April 1962, aged 81 (Danny McGill, Ballinlea).
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Other Fiddlers of the area
Henry Glass - Ballintoy
Mathew Johnston - Ballintoy
Simon Donnelly - Ballintoy
Daniel Orr - Ballintoy
Felix Lynn - Ballinlea
Charlie McLaughlin - Ballycastle (late C 19th)
Peter Dallat - Ballycastle
Ned Dornan - Greenans
If you can add any interesting information to the limited knowledge of those listed above,
Danny & I would be delighted to recieve it.
Cheers
Ptarmigan
