The concertina has enjoyed a remarkable revival in recent years, making these archive recordings all the more valuable. Drawn from two collections donated to ITMA, this month’s playlist highlights memorable performances by legendary concertina players at a time—from the 1950s to the 1970s—when relatively few musicians were recorded on the instrument. 

Among Larry Redican’s collection is a tape he received from the Pipers Club in Dublin around 1958, featuring Mrs Elizabeth Crotty of Kilrush. Regarded in her lifetime as the doyenne of the concertina, Mrs Crotty continues to inspire generations of musicians. In these recordings, she displays her distinctive style both as a solo player and in duet with her old friend Mrs. Kathleen Harrington on fiddle. 

The collection of Sue and Eric Thompson, originally from California, offers another vivid window into Clare music in the early 1970s. During their time in Co Clare in 1972–73, the Thompsons visited Paddy Murphy at his home in Connolly and recorded more than 17 sets of tunes, capturing the fluency and virtuosity of his playing. 

Sonny Murray was also a well-known and highly regarded figure in Co Clare. His three sets of reels, recorded in Ennis in 1972, offer a fine example of the Clare concertina style, with its lift, clarity, and rhythmic drive. In Doolin, Packie Russell, of the well known Russell family, plays a plaintive air. 

Tommy McCarthy was a West Clare musician who spent much of his life in London, where he became central to the city’s vibrant Irish music scene. Though widely admired as a piper, he also excelled on the concertina, and the Thompsons were fortunate to capture his performance that night, including a duet with his old friend Bobby Casey. 

Enjoy,
Pádraic