The Sligo Tunesmith

A  programme on the music of fiddle player James ‘Lad’ O’Beirne has been produced by the Fred Finn Branch. The programme, titled “The Sligo Tunesmith” will be broadcast on New Year’s Eve, 31st December at 9pm (Irish time) on the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Facebook page. Direct link is: https://www.facebook.com/fleadhcheoil  

The Sligo Tunesmith’, features musicians from both sides of the Atlantic playing many of the tunes composed and made famous by Lad O’Beirne. O’Beirne was born in Sligo in 1911 and lived his adult life in New York. Because his arrival Stateside in 1928 coincided with the start of the Great Depression, the recording industry soon ground to a halt. Thus, unlike his fellow Sligomen Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran, O’Beirne’s solo performances were not recorded professionally and so, he has remained something of a musical mystery. That said, he has been accorded almost mythical status by those who knew him, played in his company and learned his many compositions. He is equally revered by contemporary musicians and followers of traditional music.

The music of Lad O’Beirne was recorded, albeit mainly on basic domestic recording equipment. Nonetheless his credentials as a gifted and skilled musician shine through even in these recordings. And while Michael Coleman remains the doyen of traditional Irish fiddle playing in the ‘Sligo Style’, Lad O’Beirne was, in the opinion of many who knew him, very much the equal of Coleman. O’Beirne’s added creativity as a composer of many tunes popular amongst today’s musicians is further confirmation of his accomplishments and his legacy. Such tunes form the core of this musical homage.