LONDON'S 24TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE

MAGAZINE
www.returntolondontown.org • www.irishmusicinlondon.org

FRIDAY 28TH – MONDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2022

CONCERTS, SESSIONS, ALBUM LAUNCH, CÉILÍS,
WORKSHOPS AND MORE
The Crown Hotel plus other local Cricklewood and Kilburn venues

FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME INSIDE FREE

 CONTENTS

CONTENTS FESTIVAL VENUES

For venue maps see page 4.

WELCOME THE CROWN HOTEL ASHFORD PLACE

142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, 60 Ashford Road
London NW2 3ED Cricklewood NW2 6TU
03 DIRECTOR'S Main Festival spaces at The Crown MAZENOD SOCIAL CLUB
WELCOME Hotel are: Ivy Suite (basement), Mazenod Avenue
Lounge by Ivy Suite (basement) London NW6 4LS
04 MAIN FESTIVAL Sala Room (first floor), Mezzanine
SIR COLIN CAMPBELL
(first floor), Living Room (ground
VENUES floor), Crown Pub (ground floor), 264-266 Kilburn High Road
Brent Room (ground floor) and London NW6 2BY
LISTINGS Camden Room (ground floor) LUCKY 7
ST AGNES’ PARISH 7 Cricklewood Lane
06 FESTIVAL CENTRE London NW2 1ET
LISTINGS 22 Caddington Road BARRETT’S FREEHOUSE
London NW2 1DQ 239 Cricklewood Broadway
16 FULL EVENT London NW2 3HP

PROGRAMME
18 FESTIVAL
LISTINGS TICKETS
All tickets for festival events can be purchased at:
www.returntolondontown.org
DIRECTOR: KAREN RYAN
IMDL ORGANISING GROUP:
SPECIAL OFFER COMBINATION TICKETS
MARGARET REILLY, JAMES
All-inclusive tickets for Friday, Saturday and Monday concerts at The
CARTY, SAM SCREENE
Crown Hotel, plus Saturday and Sunday Set Dancing Céilís at the
DESIGN: ANTONIA BAILEY Mazenod Social Club and Sunday Evening 'Céilí for All’ at The Crown
PRINTED BY: STUDIO DESIGN AND Hotel, are just £40, from: www.returntolondontown.org
PRINT LTD [+44 (0)20 8361 2233]

London’s Annual Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance

is presented by ‘Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL)’, for more
information about year round events and to sign up to our mailing list
see: www.irishmusicinlondon.org

2 RtLT2022
WELCOME
W
hen we rebranded and relocated
London’s annual Festival of traditional
Irish music, song and dance in 2019,
we felt we were doing something very special –
rewarding our regular audience with a new, bigger
venue (with the option of staying overnight on site
or locally) and giving our much loved event the
capacity for further growth, to welcome more visitors
from further afield. After the most difficult of Covid
19 times (where we strove to keep our audiences
connected to traditional Irish culture in the best
way we could), our ‘near normal’ 2021 Festival was
warmly received by the London Irish community. Now
we can detect signs that the further growth of the
Festival which we were keen to facilitate, is starting
to happen in 2022 – with more rooms booked for
Festival goers at the venue’s host hotel, musicians
planning to ‘Return to London Town’ to spend time
with the community they immersed themselves in
when they lived here, and more lovers of Irish music
planning first time visits to the Festival from abroad.
Big changes inevitably come with teething problems
– the IMDL team are grateful to the London Irish
music community for feeding back in a positive and
constructive way to help shape logistics and more at
our new host venue since 2019. IMDL and the ‘Return to
London Town Festival’ Organising Group are enjoying
working with the new AG Hotels management team,
who recently acquired The Crown Hotel London (June
'22) from the previous owners (Clayton Hotels/ Dalata
Group). The new management are very excited about
hosting our event and look forward to welcoming you.
We have a wonderfully impressive array of artists due
to arrive in Cricklewood from Friday 28th – Monday
31st October 2022. These brilliant musicians and singers
from Ireland, alongside a large number of our own
London based artists will be involved in concerts, céilís,
workshops, sessions and more. Most events will take
place in the numerous spaces available at The Crown
Hotel London, some at Cricklewood’s Ashford Place
and local public houses. Set Dancing events will take
place in Kilburn’s renowned Mazenod Social Club.
Artists include: Bríd Harper, Dermot Byrne, Steve
Cooney/ The Kane Sisters and John Blake/ Jackie
Daly and Matt Cranitch/ Máire Ní Cathasaigh,
Chris Newman/ Sorcha Costello and Elaine
O'Reilly/ Tommy Fitzharris and Dónal McCague/
Bróna McVittie/ Diarmuid Ó Meachair, James
Carty and Jonas Fromseier/ In Good Company/
Paddy Egan, Mick O’Connor, John Devine and
Mick Bailey/ Parish Céilí Band and more.
RtLT Festival will continue to feature tutor led
sessions (a great success during RtLT 2021) in
our programme. Two new Festival innovations
this year will include céilí dancing and singing
workshops specifically for children. We are keen to
make sure people of all ages in attendance come
away with an ‘up close and personal experience’
of traditional Irish culture after the weekend.
In addition to 4 major concerts, 2 set dancing céilís,
1 céilí for all, 20 instrumental/ singing workshops
and a huge programme of sessions, RtLT Festival
will be hosting a triple bill album launch on the
evening of Sunday 30th October, highlighting new
releases from Wicklow concertina player, Paddy
Egan – Galway’s The Kane Sisters (celebrating
the music of Paddy Fahey) and West Cork
accordionist and singer: Diarmuid Ó Meachair.
We would like to express our huge thanks to
IMDL’s partners, sponsors and funders, without
whom we simply could not bring all this magic
to you! – Emigrant Support Programme, Culture
Ireland, Flannery Hire Ltd, Ashford Place, The Irish
World, Ardmore Group, The Irish Post, Ireland Funds
of Great Britain and Irish Youth Foundation.
I would like to personally thank my close knit and hard
working IMDL Organising Group: James Carty, Margaret
Reilly and Sam Screene as well as the large numbers of
fantastically dedicated Festival volunteers for all their
great work – you truly are the backbone of what we do!
One of the positive things to have come out of
the pandemic, is the absolute appreciation of our
London Irish community and the opportunities
to celebrate our traditional Irish culture – I feel it is
something that we will never take for granted in the
future, and I love that we are planning to come out
in force to revel in all its wonders this October.
Come and join us! Wishing you all a fabulous Festival!
www.returntolondontown.org 3
 VENUES

FESTIVAL VENUES
CRICKLEWOOD: THE CROWN HOTEL
152 Cricklewood Broadway, London

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Main Festival spaces at the The Crown

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• Ivy Suite (basement)

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• Sala Room (first floor)
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• Mezzanine (first floor)

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BARRETT’S FREEHOUSE CRICKLEWOOD
• Brent Room (ground floor)
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• Camden Room (ground floor)

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60 Ashford Road, London NW2 6TU

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LUCKY 7
KILBURN: 7 Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2 1ET

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL

MAZENOD SOCIAL CLUB

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Mazenod Avenue, London NW6 4LS

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SIR COLIN CAMPBELL

264-266 Kilburn High Road, London
NW6 2BY
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NOTICE RE PARKING IA
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Please note that there is free on street parking on a large number of roads on the Cricklewood Lane side of
Cricklewood Broadway, from Friday after 6.30pm, all day Saturday and all day Sunday (excluding Elm, Oak,
Yew and Ash Groves). There is a limited amount of metered parking on the Chichele Road side of Cricklewood
Broadway (please read signs carefully). There are 38 parking spaces in the underground car park at The Crown
Hotel (charges apply).
Buses to Kilburn: 16, 32, 189, 316, 332

4 RtLT2022
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN
PROGRAMME LISTINGS

www.returntolondontown.org 5
 LISTINGS
FRIDAY 28TH OCTOBER
EVENING CONCERT
• JACKIE DALY AND MATT CRANITCH
• BRÓNA MCVITTIE
• SORCHA COSTELLO, ELAINE REILLY, JOHN BLAKE
7:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £20/£6 under 18s
JACKIE DALY AND
MATT CRANITCH
For many years, Jackie Daly
(accordion) and Matt Cranitch
(fiddle) have been among the
foremost interpreters of the
rich Sliabh Luachra tradition of
instrumental music. They have
travelled extensively throughout
many countries, performing
individually, with various groups,
and together. In 2011, they featured
on two tours in the US as part
of Imagine Ireland, the year-long
celebration of Irish arts in the US.
Their CD The Living Stream issued
in 2010, draws very much from
the Sliabh Luachra tradition,
and features fourteen tracks,
mostly unaccompanied.
6 RtLT2022
Jackie Daly (accordion)
Described in the New York Times as
‘probably the best accordionist in
Ireland’, Jackie was born in Kanturk,
Co. Cork. One of the greatest
influences on his early musical
development was Ballydesmond
fiddle-player, Jim Keeffe, a pupil
of the renowned Sliabh Luachra
fiddle-master, Pádraig O’Keeffe.
Over the years, Jackie’s lifelong
affinity with fiddle-music has
resulted in highly-acclaimed albums
featuring fiddle and accordion –
with the late Cork-based musician
Séamus Creagh, with Kevin Burke,
and now with Matt Cranitch.
He was a central figure in De
Danann, Patrick Street, Buttons
and Bows, Arcady, Reel Union and
Kinvara. He has toured extensively
throughout the world, and has
also presented workshops and
classes. In 2005, Jackie received
the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician
of the Year Award, and in 2009,
the Kanturk Arts Festival Award.
Matt Cranitch (fiddle)
Matt Cranitch is renowned as
a fiddle-player and teacher,
performing extensively
internationally. He has presented
lectures, master-classes and
workshops on various aspects of
Irish music, won All-Ireland Fleadh
Cheoil titles, as well as The Fiddler
of Dooney and Oireachtas Crotty
Cup. He is author of The Irish Fiddle
Book, first published in 1988. Matt
has made various albums, including
those with Na Filí, Any Old Time
and Sliabh Notes, in addition to
Éistigh Seal which consists entirely
of slow airs. He received a PhD from
the University of Limerick for his
study on Sliabh Luachra fiddle-
playing. A long-time consultant
for the Geantraí series on TG4, he
is a former advisor to the Irish Arts
Council scheme for the traditional
arts, and has served on the board
of the Irish Traditional Music
Archive. In 2003, he received the
Hall of Fame Award from University
College Cork where he has taught
courses in Irish traditional music.
 Sorcha Costello Elaine Reilly

BRÓNA MCVITTIE SORCHA COSTELLO influenced by musicians such as

(SINGER/HARP)
A member of The London Lasses
for many years Bróna McVittie
returns to London as a solo artist
in 2022. Now splitting her time
between Co. Down and Spain she
has launched a stellar solo career
with her own nature-inspired
songs alongside a rich mix of folk
and electronic instruments.
Brona’s music is regularly featured
on BBC radio while her second
album The Man in the Mountain,
released in September 2020,
immediately scored the much-
coveted Folk Album of the
Month spot in The Guardian.
In 2019 she performed with her
trio at Dublin’s National Concert
Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall,
London’s Kings Place and WOMAD.
Bróna has recently released her 3rd
solo album Woman in the Moon.
AND ELAINE REILLY
Sorcha Costello and Elaine Reilly
are highly accomplished musicians
in their own right. Having played
together in concert for the first time
in February 2022 as part of the new
Ardán project, the musicians have
been in high demand since, playing
at many festivals and concerts both
nationally and internationally.
Awarded with the prestigious
Gradam Ceoil TG4 Young Musician
of the Year 2021, Sorcha Costello
is a traditional Irish fiddle player
from Tulla Co. Clare and hails from a
family immersed in traditional Irish
music. Musical collaborations have
included a duet with her mother,
Mary MacNamara. While Sorcha’s
style of fiddle playing is rooted in
East Clare, she has been strongly
Frankie Gavin, Bryan Rooney, and
Tommy Potts. She is now practising
as a qualified Music Therapist
but also continues to perform
and teach traditional music.
From Granard, Co Longford, Elaine
Reilly is one of the foremost tenor
banjo players of her generation.
She has taught at many events
including The Willie Clancy Summer
School and Scoil Éigse and has
toured extensively in Ireland,
Britain and North America. In 2020,
Elaine was chosen as one of 20
musicians for Trad Ireland’s 20/20
visionaries project and recently
recorded with fellow Longford
banjo player, Angelina Carberry.
Sorcha and Elaine will be joined
this evening by London born
accompanist, John Blake on piano.

SESSIONS
5pm The Crown Hotel (Mezzanine) • Michael Sweeney, Colman Connolly,
Peter McAlinden • Free
8pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Ali and Phillipe Barnes, Joe Bardwell • Free
11pm The Crown Hotel (Lounge by Ivy Suite) • Rita Farrell, Fiachra Mulligan,
Declan Gilmartin • Free
Please note: drinks can be purchased from the Front Bar (ground floor, immediately opposite the Hotel
Reception), also from The Ivy Suite bar (basement) during programmed events. Front Bar public licence until
12am, Ivy Suite bar public licence until 2am, Residents Bar licence until 4am.

www.returntolondontown.org 7
 LISTINGS

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER

WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AFTERNOON
AND EVENING CONCERTS
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive at workshop venue 30 minutes before start
time to allow for registration. Tickets may be purchased on the door, but advance booking is recommended as
workshops are very popular and places are limited.

WORKSHOPS
FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH SORCHA COSTELLO
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
BANJO WORKSHOP WITH ELAINE REILLY
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH ALEX KELLY
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH JOHN RYNNE
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH RITA FARRELL
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
HARP WORKSHOP WITH MÁIRE NÍ CHATHASAIGH
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH DERMOT BYRNE
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH JIM MURRAY
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
TIN WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH BROGAN MCAULIFFE
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S CÉILÍ DANCING WORKSHOP WITH ANNE DRURY
1.30pm–2.30pm • Sala Room The Crown Hotel • £5
AFTERNOON SINGING WORKSHOP WITH BRÓNA MCVITTIE
2pm–4pm • Ashford Place • £10

INSTRUMENTAL WORKSHOP TUTORS:

See Concert listings for Sorcha Costello, Elaine Reilly, Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Dermot Byrne, Jim Murray,
Bróna McVittie

8 RtLT2022
 www.irishpost.com

CONNECTING
IRISH PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD
/TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost

www.returntolondontown.org 9
LISTINGS
ALEX KELLY
County Sligo concertina player, Alex
Kelly, comes from a very musical
family. He was a member of the
national award-winning Sligo
group: Tog a hOcht. He has been
a highly valued member of the
traditional Irish session scene here
in London ever since he moved
over in recent years – first playing
JOHN RYNNE
Renowned Clare flute player, John
Rynne has long been a key member
of the Ennis and now London
session scene. He founded and
organised the celebrated Ennis
Trad Festival for many years, before
moving to London, where he
now runs the city’s new mecca for
RITA FARRELL
Rita Farrell is a London born Uilleann
piper, traditional flute and piano
player with family roots firmly in
Co. Leitrim. Rita is a prominent
figure in the traditional Irish
music and session scenes here,
organising the Annual International
Uilleann Piping Day in London. In
2021, she was appointed to the
board of Na Piobaire Uilleann.
BROGAN MCAULIFFE
Brogan McAuliffe’s parents hail from
Killarney, Co. Kerry. She was raised
in a musical household and taught
the tin whistle by her mother,
Fidelma. At the age of 10 Brogan
took up the concertina under the
tutelage of Maureen Linane.
Brogan holds 4 All-Ireland titles
and has performed as a band
member with The London Lasses
10 RtLT2022
sessions in West London with
Dublin accordionist, Conal Cuttle
and fiddler, Deirdre Glynn. In 2019
he was involved in performances
of the De Cuéllar Suite which was
composed by Michael Rooney
and pays tribute to the Spanish
Armada. Alex works in the capital
as a secondary school teacher.
traditional Irish music – Highgate’s
music and gastro pub Brendan the
Navigator. John has played with
many of Ireland’s finest Céilí bands
at various points, including the
Kilfenora, Tulla and Shaskeen. He
has extensive teaching experience
both in Ireland and London.
Over the years, Rita has played at
many traditional music festivals,
including numerous concerts at
Willie Clancy Summer School,
where she taught earlier this year.
More recently, she appeared
on The Graham Norton Show,
playing alongside Robbie Williams.
Rita is a founding member
of The Parish Céilí Band.
for 10 years. She has played at
world class venues including the
Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican
Centre and Trafalgar Square. Also
a member of the Parish Céilí Band,
Brogan is an active member of
the thriving London music scene.
Brogan enjoys teaching both
whistle and concertina in London
and at various workshops and
festivals throughout Ireland.
AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S CÉILÍ
DANCING WORKSHOP
• ANNE DRURY
1:30pm–2:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • £5
A fun introduction to Céilí Dancing for Children with experienced primary school and dance teacher – Anne Drury.
dancing and sean nós – having No experience is needed for
learnt herself from dancing masters this workshop, footwork will be
across Ireland. Anne’s knowledge shown – partner not needed.
spans a variety of styles with This workshop is open to
different formations and numbers. children and young participants
She also has knowledge of footwork up to the age of 18. Children
for particular dance styles. We under 12 years of age must
ANNE DRURY are delighted to welcome Anne be accompanied by an adult
Anne Drury has 30 years experience back to teaching at the Festival, (parents/ guardians are welcome
in teaching and learning various having hosted midweek dance to join if they wish). Children
forms of Irish dances – céilí, set workshops during the early years. with special needs welcome.
Programmed Music Sessions from 1pm until late: The Crown Hotel, plus other Cricklewood and Kilburn venues – FREE

SESSIONS
12pm The Crown Hotel (Mezzanine) • Ben and Ella Connolly, Katie and Annie Quinn,
Oisín McGinley, Tom Campbell, Pete Quinn • Free
1pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • John Bowe, Mark Moloney, Terence O'Flaherty
• Free
1pm Lucky 7 • Noreen Cullen, Adrian Burns, Eoin Griffin, Catherine McGoldrick • Free
2pm The Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • John Rynne, Martin Quinn, Tad Sargent • Free
3pm 
The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) Tutor Led Session • Sorcha Costello, Alex Kelly,
Peter McAlinden
4pm Lucky 7 • James Carty (Flute), Ollie Farrelly, Francis Gaffney • Free
5pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Kathy Walton, Joe Joe McCann, Rachel Isherwood
• Free
6pm The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) Singing Session hosted by Pat Connolly with guests
Bróna McVittie and Chan Reid • Free
6pm 
The Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • Kevin Boyle, Eoin Toher, Liam Nolan • Free
8pm 
Sir Colin Campbell • Caroline Kunzler, Marie McCormack, Niall Farrelly • Free
9pm 
The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Mark Conyard, Kevin O’Connor, Eli Howard • Free
11pm The Crown Hotel (Lounge by Ivy Suite) • Brogan McAuliffe, Elaine Reilly, Pete Quinn
• Free
Please note: drinks can be purchased from the Front Bar (ground floor, immediately opposite the Hotel
Reception), also from The Ivy Suite bar (basement) during programmed events. Front Bar public licence until
12am, Ivy Suite bar public licence until 2am, Residents Bar licence until 4am.

www.returntolondontown.org 11
LISTINGS

60 Ashford Road - Cricklewood - NW2 6TU

tel: 020 8208 8590 email: info@ashfordplace.org.uk
www.ashfordplace.org.uk

information, advice and guidance for the Irish community

what can we do for you?
housing benefit assistance
homelessness prevention
resettlement support
supported accommodation
PIP claim support
pension assistance

community events in our Wellbeing Hub

involvement with the Cricklewood Town
Team Regeneration project
therapy spaces
rooms and outdoor space for hire

mental health mentoring

befriending in the community
improving healthcare access
dementia cafe support groups
wellbeing activities, walks and support
groups
Fit + Well physical wellbeing program
independent living guidance
crisis prevention
cafe and 3 course lunch available to all
digital inclusion and training
paperwork and form assistance

Patrons: Ben Bailey Smith, Diarmuid Gavin, Fergal Keane

Registered Charity: 1097475
Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and
Wales: 04407339

12 RtLT2022
AFTERNOON CONCERT
Please note that all advertised concert times are door opening times. Performances will commence 30 minutes after
doors open.

• DÓNAL MCCAGUE, TOMMY FITZHARRIS, JOHN BLAKE

• DIARMUID Ó MEACHAIR, JAMES CARTY, JONAS FROMSEIER
• IN GOOD COMPANY
2pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • Tickets £10/£6 under 18s

Dónal McCague, Tommy Fitzharris John Blake

DÓNAL MCCAGUE, He has featured on various albums Performance at the University of

TOMMY FITZHARRIS,
JOHN BLAKE
Described by Matt Molloy as
‘a remarkable musician, Dónal
McCague from Co. Monaghan
was awarded TG4 Gradam Ceoil
Young Musician of the Year in 2013.
In 2011 he released his debut solo
CD entitled Bits’n’Pieces. Dónal has
performed on Irish TV: Béaloideas
Beo, Geantraí and Imeall as well
as on RTÉ's Fleadh Programme.
Dónal has won awards at Fiddler of
Dooney and Fiddler of Oriel. He grew
up listening to and learning from
many great fiddle players including
Tommy Peoples, Séamus Quinn,
Bryan Rooney and Frankie Gavin.
over the past few years including
Michael McCague's The Waylaid
Man and Seán McElwain's Our
Dear Dark Mountain with the
Sky Over It album of Monaghan
music – an album which was
awarded the Collaboration Award
at Gradam Ceoil TG4, 2016.
Multi-instrumentalist Tommy
Fitzharris, hails from Co Laois, and
has been playing traditional Irish
Music since the age of seven. He
comes from a musical family and is
self-taught on the flute, concertina
and whistle. Tommy is an All Ireland
Senior champion on both flute and
concertina. He has been a tutor on
the BA in Irish Music and Dance and
on the MA in Traditional Irish Music
Limerick since 2009. He also teaches
at various traditional music festivals
nationally and internationally.
Tommy has toured Europe, the
United States and Asia extensively
with the band Ciorras. He has
performed in some the world’s
most prestigious music venues
including The Forbidden City
Concert Hall Beijing, The National
Concert Hall in Dublin and the
Munich Philharmonic Concert Hall.
Dónal and Tommy released their
critically acclaimed fiddle and
flute duet album entitled The
Bank of Turf in 2018. They will be
joined by John Blake on piano
in concert this afternoon.

www.returntolondontown.org 13
 LISTINGS
Diarmuid Ó Meachair James Carty
DIARMUID
Ó MEACHAIR, JAMES
CARTY, JONAS
FROMSEIER
Diarmuid Ó Meachair is one of the
most exciting traditional musicians
of his generation. Equally proficient
in BC and C#D accordian styles as
well as 10 key melodeon, Diarmuid
hails from Cúil Aodha in West
Cork. He was recently awarded the
prestigious Young Musician of the
year award from TG4 for 2022.
In 2016, Diarmuid won the Senior
All Ireland melodeon title at the
Fleadh in Ennis at 19 years of age.
He also has won many sean nós
IN GOOD COMPANY
In Good Company, a 20-strong
group of traditional Irish musicians
and singers based in London,
first came together as the ‘Fair Plé
Ladies of London’ to perform at the
prestigious Cadogan Hall in June
TUTOR LED SESSION
• SORCHA COSTELLO, ALEX KELLY, PETER MCALINDEN
3pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free
14 RtLT2022
Jonas Fromseier
singing competitions including
the Oireachtas na Samhna.
Diarmuid is set to launch his debut
album Siúl na Slí at the Festival.
Joining Diarmuid as a guest is
James Carty (fiddle). Originally
from Boyle in Co Roscommon,
James has been living in London for
the past 7 years. He has a particular
interest in the Sligo style of fiddle
music, and has been influenced
by the great players of the 1920s
as well as his father John, Bryan
Rooney and Seáinín McDonagh.
Completing the lineup will be
Jonas Fromseier on Bouzouki.
2018. The Fair Plé movement was
started in Ireland by internationally
renowned singer/songwriter Karan
Casey to raise awareness about
and promote gender equality in
traditional and folk music (www.
fairple.com). The Group went on
Originally from Denmark, Jonas
took up the banjo in his teens. Born
on a small island, he would travel
to the mainland every month to go
the nearest session in Copenhagen
and learn tunes from the local
players, both Irish and Danish. At
twenty-one Jonas moved to Ireland
to play music full-time and spent
seven years there, meeting and
playing with numerous legends
of Irish music, taking up bouzouki
and guitar. He joined Arcady 3,
formed the band Mórga, and has
toured extensively in Europe and
the US in different combinations.
Most recently Jonas recorded a
duo album with David Munnelly,
and featured on John and James
Carty's The Wavy Bow Collection.
to perform at the 20th Return
to Camden Town Festival as
well as performances at the Irish
Cultural Centre in Hammersmith
and again at Cadogan Hall.
Founded by Dublin accordion
player, Paula Hanley and
London fiddler, Karen Ryan,
each performance features a
representation from the 80 female
musicians and singers who are
committed to the project, and
accompaniment by The London
Lasses pianist, Pete Quinn.
Return to London IW 2022.qxp_Layout 1 09/10/2022 21:28 Page 1

@theirishworld

SCAN TO START
READING THE
IRISH WORLD ON
YOUR SMART
DEVICE

MUSIC
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www.theirishworld.com the paper for the Irish in Britain 10-16 August 2022 • Issue No.1837 • £1.70

WEDNESDAY IN ALL PLAYING MUSIC

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The week that was in has the best Werner it can, if done in the wrong spirit. In his book Effortless
Mastery, Werner explains how musicians, and indeed anyone,
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Cheoil na in the Catch of the Day, overwhelm themselves and end up dreading even taking their

Feel good
instrument out of the case.
hÉireann, world the Dingle-set play, And how much should we practice anyway? Three to five
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Summer
habits that premier

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practice - you can’t possibly do it until you’ve read the entire
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event

LIKE HOME
ourselves in the short term and quitting altogther because it’s
...and living just too much to bear.
longer | 12-13 Werner, a professional musician who has just released his
follow-up book Becoming The Instrument which has been
lauded by music legend Quincy Jones – says that what drives
this dysfunction in practicing is fear that we don’t sound perfect,

Inside DOUZE POINTS FOR NI CITY

or that we’ll look silly when we play in public; that fear robs music

traditional Irish music

of all its strength. So because of your fear of playing badly, you

IRISH EUROVISION
play badly. Gah! [slaps head].
I’ll leave you with one remedy, of many, that Werner offers in his
excellent book: “Just before I play, I like to feel that no one has
ever played the piano before [and] that every note I play is the
most beautiful sound I ever heard.”
For more where that came from, check out his books. But no
pressure...

WINNERS PITCH and the Return to London

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www.returntolondontown.org 15
 LISTINGS

FULL EVENT PROGRAMME

ALL MUSIC AND SONG EVENTS FOR UNDER 18s: £6
Festival tickets available from: www.returntolondontown.org
SPECIAL OFFER TICKETS: £40 All Inclusive Concerts and Céilís
Spaces at the The Crown Hotel: Ivy Suite (basement), Lounge by Ivy Suite (basement), Mezzanine (first floor), Sala
Room (first floor), Living Room (ground floor), Crown Pub (ground floor), Brent Room (ground floor), Camden Room
(ground floor).
FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER 2022
5pm Session Michael Sweeney, Colman Connolly, Peter The Crown Hotel Free
McAlinden (Mezzanine)
7.30pm Evening Concert Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch/ Bróna McVittie/ The Crown Hotel (Ivy £20/ £6 U18
Sorcha Costello, Elaine Reilly and John Blake Suite)
8pm Session Ali and Phillipe Barnes, Joe Bardwell The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
11pm Session Rita Farrell, Fiachra Mulligan, Declan Gilmartin The Crown Hotel Free
(Lounge by Ivy Suite)
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ground Floor public bar open until 12am, Ivy Suite public bar open until 2am – Residents Bar open until 4am
SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2022
Please arrive at instrumental workshop venue to register at 10.30am
11am-1pm Fiddle Workshop Sorcha Costello Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Banjo Workshop Elaine Reilly Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Concertina Alex Kelly Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Flute Workshop John Rynne Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Uilleann Pipes Rita Farrell Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Button Accordion Dermot Byrne The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Whistle Workshop Brogan McAuliffe The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Harp Workshop Máire Ní Chathasaigh The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Accompaniment Jim Murray The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
12pm Session Ben and Ella Connolly, Katie and Annie Quinn, The Crown Hotel Free
Oisín McGinley, Tom Campbell, Pete Quinn (Mezzanine)
1pm Session John Bowe, Mark Moloney, Terence O’Flaherty The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
1pm Session Noreen Cullen, Adrian Burns, Eoin Griffin, Lucky 7 Free
Catherine McGoldrick
1.30pm Children’s Céilí Dancing – no experience required, Tutor: The Crown Hotel £5
Afternoon Anne Drury (Sala Room)
Workshop
2pm Afternoon Concert Tommy Fitzharris, Dónal Mc Cague and John The Crown Hotel (Ivy £10/ £6 U18s
Blake/ Diarmuid Ó Meachair, James Carty and Suite)
Jonas Fromseier/ In Good Company
2-4pm Singing Workshop Bróna McVittie Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
2pm Session John Rynne, Martin Quinn, Tad Sargent The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
3pm Tutor Led Session Sorcha Costello, Alex Kelly, Peter McAlinden The Crown Hotel Free
(Sala Room)
4-7pm Set Dancing Céilí Parish Céilí Band with Tom Kelleher Mazenod Social Club £12/ U18s
free when
accompanied by
paying adult
4pm Session James Carty (Flute), Ollie Farrelly, Francis Gaffney Lucky 7 Free
5pm Session Kathy Walton, Joe Joe McCann, Rachel Isherwood The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)

16 RtLT2022
6pm Singing Session Singing Session hosted by Pat Connolly with The Crown Hotel Free
guests Bróna McVittie and Chan Reid (Sala Room)
6pm Session Eoin Toher, Liam Nolan, Kevin Boyle The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
7.30pm Evening Concert Bríd Harper, Dermot Byrne and Jim Murray/ Máire The Crown Hotel (Ivy £20/ £6 U18s
Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman/ The Kane Suite)
Sisters and John Blake
8pm Session Marie McCormack, Caroline Kunzler, Niall Farrelly Sir Colin Campbell Free
9pm Session Mark Conyard, Kevin O’Connor, Eli Howard The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
11pm Session Brogan McAuliffe, Elaine Reilly, Pete Quinn The Crown Hotel Free
(Lounge by Ivy Suite)
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ground Floor public bar open until 12am, Ivy Suite public bar open until 2am – Residents Bar open until 4am
SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 2022
Please arrive at instrumental workshop venue to register at 10.30am
11am-1pm Fiddle Workshop Bríd Harper Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Banjo Workshop Jonas Fromseier Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Button Accordion Diarmuid Ó Meachair Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Concertina Paddy Egan Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Flute Workshop Tommy Fitzharris Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Whistle Workshop Peter McAlinden Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Accompaniment John Blake The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
12pm Session Sinéad Linane, Mick O’Connor, Reg Hall The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
1.30- Children’s Singing, Tutor: Chan Reid St Agnes’ Centre £5
2.30pm Afternoon
Workshop
2-5pm Set Dancing Céilí Parish Céilí Band with Tom Kelleher Mazenod Social Club £12/ U18s
free when
accompanied by
a paying adult
2pm Session Dermot Byrne, Mick Mulvey, Robb Webb The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
3pm Tutor Led Session Tommy Fitzharris, Bríd Harper, Peter McAlinden The Crown Hotel Free
(Sala Room)
4pm Session Dónal McCague, Mairead Hurley, James Carty Barrett’s Freehouse Free
(fiddle)
5pm Session Alan O’Leary, Rosie O’Leary, Brendan McAuley The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
6pm Session Noel, Sharon and Conor Whelton The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
7pm Album Launch The Kane Sisters/ Paddy Egan/ Diarmuid Ó The Crown Hotel Free
Event Meachair (Sala Room)
8-10.30pm Céilí for All Music by McCool Trad, Caller: William Macken The Crown Hotel (Ivy £5
Suite)
8pm Session Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan and friends Sir Colin Campbell Free
9pm Session Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Jonas Fromseier, Niall The Crown Hotel Free
Farrelly (Living Room)
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ground Floor public bar open until 12am, Ivy Suite public bar open until 11pm.
MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2022
2pm Afternoon Concert Dermot Byrne and Bríd Harper/ Paddy Egan, Mick Clayton Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
O’Connor, John Devine and Mick Bailey/ London (Ivy Suite)
Irish Pensioners Choir
• THE CROWN HOTEL 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3ED
• ASHFORD PLACE 60 Ashford Road, London NW2 6TU
• ST AGNES’ PARISH CENTRE 22 Caddington Road (corner of Gillingham Road), London NW2 1DQ
• BARRETT’S FREEHOUSE 239 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3HP
• LUCKY 7 7 Cricklewood Lane, London NW2 1ET
• MAZENOD SOCIAL CLUB Mazenod Avenue (near Junction with Quex Road), Kilburn, London NW6 4LS
• SIR COLIN CAMPBELL 264-266 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 2BY
www.returntolondontown.org 17
 LISTINGS
SET DANCING CÉILÍ
• WITH TOM KELLEHER, MUSIC BY THE PARISH CÉILÍ BAND
4pm–7pm • Mazenod Social Club, Kilburn • Tickets £12, free for under 18s
accompanied by an adult)
The Parish Céilí Band were formed place in The Parish pub, Wembley.
in 2019, borne out of a Friday Founding members included Chris
night session that used to take Maguire, Rita Farrell, Jack Boyle,
EVENING CONCERT
In Association with
• DERMOT BYRNE, BRÍD HARPER AND JIM MURRAY
• MÁIRE NÍ CHATHASAIGH AND CHRIS NEWMAN
• THE KANE SISTERS AND JOHN BLAKE
7:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £20/£6 under 18s
DERMOT BYRNE, BRÍD
HARPER, JIM MURRAY
Traditional Musician of the
Year in 2013 Dermot Byrne hails
from Buncrana in the Inishowen
Peninsula. He played accordion
from a young age with his father
the inspirational Tomás O’Beirne,
an enthusiastic promoter of
the tradition. Dermot has had
the good fortune to meet all
the greats of Donegal music,
including Johnny Doherty, Con
Cassidy and Tommy Peoples. A
long-time anchor of Altan, Byrne’s
18 RtLT2022
Órlaith and Brogan McAuliffe.
The band won the All Britain
Senior Céilí Band title in the first
year. They continue to be in high
demand for céilís and concerts
and are able to call on a number of
London’s community of musicians
to perform when needed. This will
be their third appearance at the
Return to London Town Festival.
subtlety as an accordion player
has always marked him apart.  In
between he has found time to
collaborate with Parisian harpist
Floriane Blancke, Brendan O’Regan,
Dezi Donnelly and Jim Murray.
His eponymous solo recording
received great critical acclaim and
has recently been followed up
with the release of The Donegal
Melodeon with Steve Cooney.
Bríd Harper is regarded as one of
the leading Irish traditional fiddle
players of the last 40 years. She
grew up close to the East Donegal
village of Castlefinn. Bríd began
playing the fiddle aged 9. Her
grandfather, Stephen Harper and
her uncle Frank Kelly both played
fiddle. She went on to take lessons
from Pat McCabe and won all the
underage competitions in the All
Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. In 1988 she
won Senior All Ireland, Fiddler of
Dooney and Oireachtas na Gaeilge.
Bríd is an MA graduate of the Irish
World Academy of Music and
Dance (University of Limerick), is a
MÁIRE NÍ
CATHASAIGH,
CHRIS NEWMAN
The award-winning virtuoso
partnership of harper/singer
Máire Ní Chathasaigh and
guitarist/ singer Chris Newman
highly respected performer and
teacher, having tutored throughout
Ireland, the UK, the USA, Canada,
mainland Europe, New Zealand
and Australia. She has toured
extensively and performed with
Tony O’Connell, Arty McGlynn,
Nollaig Casey, Maeve Donnelly,
Harry Bradley, John Doyle and
more. Bríd recently released her
second solo fiddle album Inis.
Jim Murray is one of Ireland’s
leading guitar players, he has
has toured in twenty-three
countries to venues ranging
from the tiniest of village halls
and historic European churches
to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul,
London’s Barbican, Sydney Town
Hall and Cologne´s Philharmonie;
www.returntolondontown.org 19
combined a wide range of music
and influences to create a unique
and exciting modern sound in
guitar accompaniment. For over
twenty years Jim has been touring,
performing and recording with
artists such as Sharon Shannon,
Sinéad O’Connor, Steve Earl, Shane
McGowan, Séamus Begley, Mike
McGoldrick, Altan and Mary Black.
recorded nine CDs; and given
TV and radio performances
on five continents. They play a
blend of traditional Irish music,
hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque,
spiced with new compositions.
Recent headlining festival
performances have taken place in
Australia, New Zealand, the USA,
Canada, Italy, France, Denmark,
Sweden, the UK and Ireland.
In the Live Ireland Music Awards
2019, a recent Chicago performance
was awarded Concert of the Year and
Chris was named Male Musician of
the Year. (Máire had been named
Female Musician of the Year in the
Live Ireland Music Awards 2016.)
THE KANE SISTERS
AND JOHN BLAKE
From North Connemara, Liz and
Yvonne Kane are much respected
musicians and educators. They
were taught music by the great
Sligo musician and music teacher,
Mary Finn and by their grandfather,
Jimmy Mullen. From a young age,
they have been very influenced
by the traditional music of Sligo
and East Galway, in particular the
music of the master composer
and fiddle player Paddy Fahey.
 LISTINGS
Liz and Yvonne first came to
national and international
prominence during the three
year period in which they toured
with accordion player, Sharon
Shannon as members of her
band, The Woodchoppers.
The Kane Sisters have released
three albums The Well Tempered
Bow (2002), Under the Diamond
(2004) and Side by Side (2010).
In 2022 they release their fourth
album In Memory of Paddy Fahey
Ardmore, 6 Wharf Studios, 28 Wharf Road, London N1 7GR
20 RtLT2022
featuring 15 of his compositions
as well as newly written tunes
from both Liz and Yvonne.
They will be joined by regular
collaborator and one of
Ireland’s most sought after
musicians John Blake.
London born Blake is a flute player,
guitarist and pianist. An ex-member
of traditional group Téada, John has
performed and recorded with the
cream of Irish musicians including
Paddy Glackin, Noel Hill, Liam
O’Flynn, John Carty, Jesse Smith,
Harry Bradley, Colm Gannon, The
Kane Sisters and James Kelly. He was
tutored by famed teacher Brendan
Mulkere. He moved to Ireland in
1998 and developed a reputation
as an accompanist of note. John
released his debut solo album The
Narrow Edge in December 2013,
and continues to record, produce
and play on many albums of note
including The Truckley Howl along
with his wife Mairéad Hurley and
Wisconsin native Nathan Gourley.
SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER
WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AFTERNOON
CÉILÍ AND ALBUM LAUNCH CONCERT
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive at workshop venue 30 minutes before start
time to allow for registration. Tickets may be purchased on the door, but advance booking is recommended as
workshops are very popular and places are limited.

WORKSHOPS
FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH BRÍD HARPER
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
BANJO WORKSHOP WITH JONAS FROMSEIER
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH TOMMY FITZHARRIS
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH DIARMUID Ó MEACHAIR
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH PADDY EGAN
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
TIN WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH PETER MCALINDEN
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BLAKE
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
CHILDREN’S SINGING WORKSHOP WITH CHAN REID
1:30pm–2:30pm • St. Agnes Parish Centre • £5

FLASHBACK: Mary Conroy, Eileen O'Brien, Anne Conroy Burke and Deirdre McSherry – Tribute to Joe Burke
Concert, Kings Place, 4 May 2022 (photo by Karen Ryan) and Music Network Tour – Mark Redmond, Mairéad Ní
Mhaonaigh, Cormac De Barra – Irish Cultural Centre, 18 September 2022 (photo by Caitlin Mannion)

www.returntolondontown.org 21
 LISTINGS

SESSIONS
12pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Sinéad Linane, Mick O’Connor, Reg Hall • Free
2pm The Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • Dermot Byrne, Mick Mulvey, Robb Webb • Free
3pm The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) Tutor Led Session • Tommy Fitzharris,
Bríd Harper, Peter McAlinden • Free
4pm B
 arrett’s Freehouse • Dónal McCague, Mairead Hurley, James Carty (fiddle)
• Free
5pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Alan O’Leary, Rosie O’Leary, Brendan McAuley
• Free
6pm The Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • Noel, Sharon and Conor Whelton • Free
7pm Sir Colin Campbell • Mick O’Connor and Caroline Regan • Free
9pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Jonas Fromseier,
Niall Farrelly • Free

SET DANCING CÉILÍ

In Association with

• MUSIC BY THE PARISH CÉILÍ BAND

2pm–5pm • Mazenod Social Club, Kilburn • £12, free for under 18s
accompanied by an adult

TUTOR LED SESSION

• TOMMY FITZHARRIS, BRÍD HARPER, PETER MCALINDEN
3pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free

22 RtLT2022
 CAMDEN IRISH SET DANCING
at The London Irish Centre
The original home of Irish Set Dancing in London
for over 30 years
Weekly classes at the London Irish Centre, Thursdays 7:30pm (£5)
Partner not required. All ages. All welcome.
Contact: Tom Kelleher – 07816 052 481
Set Dancing Céilís – First Sunday of each month
2-5pm (£12) Live music every month

SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER (2–5pm)

First Sunday of the Month Set
Dancing Céilí
London Irish Centre
With Tom Kelleher, Music by
Colette O’Leary, Teresa Connolly and
Peter McAlinden
SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER (2–5PM)
First Sunday of the Month Set Dancing Céilí
Southgate Club
With Tom Kelleher, Music by Andy Martyn and Friends
SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 2023
First Sunday of the Month Set Dancing Céilí
Venue tba
With Tom Kelleher, Music by Gleann Catha Céilí Band

Supported by:

www.returntolondontown.org 23
 LISTINGS

ALBUM LAUNCH EVENT

• THE KANE SISTERS WITH JOHN BLAKE – A TRIBUTE TO
PADDY FAHEY
• PADDY EGAN – TOBAR GAN TRÁ
• DIARMUID Ó MEACHAIR – SÚIL NA SLÍ
7pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free
For information about the Kane Sisters and John Blake, please see page 19.
For information about Diarmuid Ó Meachair – Siúl na Slí, please see page 14.

PADDY EGAN Faoláin on bouzouki, Johnny 'Ringo'

Originally from county Wicklow,
formerly of London, and now living
in Cork city, concertinist Paddy
Egan returns to launch his new
debut solo album entitled Tobar
gan trá. The recording features
guest appearances by Macdara Ó
MacDonagh on bodhrán, Paddy's
wife Nicola Uí Aodhgáin on uilleann
pipes, London's Dan Beimborn
on tenor guitar, as well as the
excellent guitar accompaniment
of Cork's Conor O'Sullivan.

EVENING CÉILÍ FOR ALL

• MC COOL TRAD
DANCE CALLER: WILLIAM MACKEN
8pm–10:30pm • The Crown Hotel • £5

The Evening Céilí for All was one
of the highlights from last years
festival with all ages taking to
the dance floor for a wonderful
celebration at the end of a magical
weekend. McCool Trad return once
again to provide the music. They are
made up of Joe O´Connor, a fiddle
player from County Tyrone, London
born accordionist Elaine Finn
Davis and Finbarr Walsh, a piano
accordionist from County Down.
The three met at the Ennis Trad
Festival, County Clare in 2017
and were immediately attracted
to each other’s strong style of
playing. Influenced by music
from the northern counties of
Ireland. Their concerts are a mix
of Irish traditional music and
popular songs from the fifties
and sixties sung by Finbarr.
No experience required – all
dances will be explained by
our caller, William Macken.

24 RtLT2022
 THE LONDON LASSES
25TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM – LONDON LAUNCH

FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER
CONWAY HALL
25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL (nearest tube: Holborn)

Featuring current, past and next generation band members:

Karen Ryan (fiddle, banjo, mandola, whistle), Elaine Conwell (fiddle), Elma McElligott
(flute, saxophone, whistle), Brogan McAuliffe (concertina), Bróna McVittie (vocal, harp),
Pete Quinn (piano), Dee Havlin (flute), Maureen Linane Hankins (accordion), Bernie
Conneely (banjo), Chris O’Malley (piano), Teresa Connolly (fiddle), Annie Quinn (uilleann
pipes, flute), Katie Quinn (accordion), Rachel Isherwood (fiddle), James and Orla
Earnshaw (fiddles)

Concert Tickets (which includes purchase of the new album) available at:
www.irishmusicinlondon.org

The London Lasses are looking forward to launching their Anniversary album at a
number of dates throughout 2023.

For more details about these dates and how to purchase the album as they come
available, see: www.londonlasses.net thelondonlasses

www.returntolondontown.org 25
 LISTINGS
MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER
AFTERNOON CONCERT
In association with Irish Elderly Advice Network
• DERMOT BYRNE AND BRÍD HARPER
• PADDY EGAN, MICK O’CONNOR, JOHN DEVINE AND
MICK BAILEY
• LONDON IRISH PENSIONERS CHOIR
2pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £10/£6 under 18s
For information about Dermot Byrne and Bríd Harper, please see page 18.
PADDY EGAN,
MICK O’CONNOR,
JOHN DEVINE AND
MICK BAILEY
London’s own Mick O’Connor, All
Ireland winner on the tenor banjo
in 1971, has been playing since 1967
and is a veteran of the great days of
the London Irish music scene of the
1960s, 70s and 80s. In 2013, he was
honoured by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Éireann, which bestowed its Bardic
26 RtLT2022
Leitrim man Séamus O’Rourke. He
has just released his latest album
Notions which features a seamless
mix of music from a number
of genres alongside poetry.
Paddy Egan, a regular on the
London session scene for many
years before returning to live in
Ireland, has performed numerous
times with John as part of The
Devines and also with Mick and
Mick in various guises. Paddy
Award on him for his ‘exceptional
will be fresh after launching his
contribution to the promotion
new album the day previously!
of Ireland’s cultural traditions’.
Born in Yorkshire in 1954, Mick
John Devine is a multi
Bailey is a trained as a classical
instrumentalist born in
pianist and taught himself the
Hertfordshire with Leitrim roots,
guitar. He formed the band
who is a very popular musician
Wraggle Taggle in 1978 and
on the London scene today.
they remain in demand ever
With a wide range of influences,
since. Mick can regularly be
John performs regularly with The
found playing sessions with Mick
Devines along with his wife Caz
O’Connor on the circuit today.
and son Joe. He also performs with

THE LONDON IRISH
PENSIONERS CHOIR
The London Irish Pensioners Choir
brings together more than 30 older
Irish people, most in their 70s and
80s. They come from all over Ireland
and have made their homes here
in London over many decades. The
FLASHBACK:
'IRISH HOOLEY AT THE BLOOMSBURY' ON THURSDAY 30TH JUNE 2022
choir was founded over 10 years
ago. Although an independent
group, it has been supported
by the Irish Elderly Advice
Network throughout this time.
The choir has performed for
audiences of tens of thousands
including at London’s St Patrick’s
www.returntolondontown.org 27
Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square
for several years, and as part of
the Irish community choir in the
Royal Albert Hall in honour of
President Michael D Higgin’s state
visit to Britain in 2014. They have
sung on UK television, including
for Sir Terry Wogan on ITV and
on the BBC’s The One Show. They
have performed on RTĖ Radio and
Television, and are regularly played
by Donncha Ó Dúlaing on the very
popular Fáilte Isteach (10pm on
Saturday evenings on RTÉ Radio 1.)
The choir has recorded a beautiful
album of old Irish songs, Songs
of Love and Emigration, which
has been very popular with
the Irish community, both
in London and in Ireland.
LISTINGS

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE!

Good quality t-shirts, hoodies, long sleeved tops in a variety

of colours and styles – with this year's Festival logo featured.
Also new to our merchandise range: Stickers, Mugs, Canvas
Tote Bags and Coasters.

All available online through our websites:

www.returntolondontown.org
www.irishmusicinlondon.org
or directly from: www.mudchutney.co.uk/collections/return-to-
london-town-festival-2022-clothing

ABOUT MUDCHUTNEY: All our clothing is printed on demand so there's

no waste, no boxes of odd colours and sizes hanging around collecting dust.
It does mean our shipping times are longer than Amazon, but we think it's
worth it for the quality products we produce. Profits are shared with
'Return to London Town Festival'.

28 RtLT2022
A5 ADVERT LAST PAGE.qxp_GRD Ireland 2006 PRO.qxt 16/10/2019 10:11 Page 19

I
rish Traditional Music is at the heart of the Irish culture
and history, never as a static antiquity, the tradition is
alive and vital, open to change yet conservative of its
core values. The essence of Irish Music Magazine is to
reflect what is happening in Irish music in contemporary society.
From the commercial recordings of traditional tunes, to experimentation
with other musical cultures, Irish Music Magazine keeps readers informed
about upcoming tours, events and festivals from the diverse world of
Irish and Celtic acoustic music.
Irish Music Magazine, strives to inform readers and musicians alike,
keeping you abreast of all major developments in the Irish Traditional
Music community. It is this vital human contact which is at the heart of
the music experience and is the reason why Irish Music Magazine is
the leading independent voice on Irish music in the world.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS

www.returntolondontown.org 29
 LISTINGS

REGULAR SESSIONS 2022

Join our mailing list

to receive regular
newsletters about Irish
music events in London.
Subscribe here: www.
irishmusicinlondon.org

Some weekly
sessions happening
around London:

TUESDAY PRINCE ALBERT (8.30PM) SIR COLIN CAMPBELL (8PM)

THE LAMB TAVERN (8.30PM)
54 Holloway Rd, London
N7 – Tel: 020 7609 0253
SOUTH LONDON IRISH
ASSOCIATION CLUB (9PM)
138-140 Hartfield Rd,
Merton, London SW19 3TG
– Tel: 020 8543 0608
WEDNESDAY
LONDON IRISH CENTRE (7.30PM)
50-52 Camden Square, London
NW1 9XB - Tel: 020 7916 2222
THE NIGHTINGALE (8.30PM)
51 Nightingale Lane,
Wanstead, London E11 2EY
– Tel: 020 8530 4540
WHELAN’S (8PM)
135 High Street, Uxbridge, UB8
1JX – Tel: 01895 713 908
ABERCORN ARMS (7.30PM)
76-78 Church Road, Teddington,
TW11 8EY – Tel: 020 3730 6602
MCGOVERN'S (8PM)
60 High Rd, London NW10
2PU - Tel. 020 8830 4981
THURSDAY
GARDEN GATE PUB IN
HAMPSTEAD (7.30PM)
(first Thursday of the month) 14
South End Road, Hampstead
NW3 2QE – Tel: 020 7435 4938
54-56 Hounslow Road,
Whitton, Twickenham TW2
7EX – Tel: 020 8898 1871
HERSCHEL ARMS SLOUGH (8PM)
(fortnightly)
22 Park Street, Slough SL1
1PS – Tel: 0190 410 756
BLYTHE HILL TAVERN (8.30PM)
319 Stanstead Road, London
SE23 1JB – Tel. 020 8690 5176
FRIDAY
BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR (8PM)
90 Highgate Hill, London N19 5NQ
– Email: brendanthenavigator@
outlook.com
CONNOLLY’S (10PM)
450 Chiswick High Rd, London
W4 5TT – Tel: 020 8994 3980
IRISH CULTURAL CENTRE
5 Black’s Road, Hammersmith W6
9DT (5.30pm) – Tel: 020 8563 8232
SOUTH LONDON IRISH
ASSOCIATION CLUB (9PM)
(Last Friday of the Month)
138-140 Hartfield Rd,
Merton, London SW19 3TG
– Tel: 020 8543 0608
SATURDAY
HOWL AT THE MOON (3-5PM)
178 Hoxton St, London N1
5LH – Tel. 020 7688 1970
264-266 Kilburn High Road, London
NW6 2BY – Tel. 020 7693 5443
SUNDAY
HOWL AT THE MOON (3PM)
178 Hoxton St, London N1
5LH – Tel: 020 7739 9221
THE RAMBLE INN
223 Mitcham Rd, Tooting, London
SW17 9JG – Tel: 020 8767 4040
SIR COLIN CAMPBELL (7PM)
264-266 Kilburn High Road, London
NW6 2BY – Tel: 020 7693 5443
BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR (4PM)
90 Highgate Hill, London N19 5NQ
Email: brendanthenavigator@
outlook.com
CORNER HOUSE (6.30PM)
2 Slough Lane, Kingsbury NW9
8QL – Tel: 020 8205 7762
THE OLD WHEATSHEAF (7.30PM)
3 Windmill Hill, Enfield EN2
6SE – Tel: 020 8367 4167
THE LAMB (8PM)
54 Holloway Road, London N7
8JL – Tel. 020 7609 0253
THE COBDEN, (6.30PM)
28-30 Camden High Street,
London NW1 0JH

30 RtLT2022
FLASHBACK: RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2021
Photos by: Caitlin Mannion, Sue Banks and Karen Ryan

www.returntolondontown.org 31
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FOUNDED 2014

www.returntolondontown.org
facebook.com/IMDLEvents
@IMDLEvents
irishmusicdanceinlondon
E: irishmusicinlondon@gmail.com
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presents London's 24th Festival of traditional Irish music, song and

dance 'Return to London Town' and would like to thank its 2022
partners and funders: