Articles & Reviews

An intelligent disposition of Irish-language song among accordion, flute and whistle dance music done to Liam Ó Maonlaí keyboard and harp, Steve Cooney strings, Andrea Power bodhrán, Con Durham pipes, and Greg Sheehan percussion. Kerry is the place, and accordionist and singer Maidhc Dainín’s own tunes in all styles are solidly good material, notably ‘Codail, a Joe’, a memorial lullaby to Cooley. Son Caoimhín is a terrific sean-nós voice on the local, Corca Dhuibhne lyrics (a pity ‘Cois Chalaithe an Ghóilín’ isn’t sung as a two-hander between the voices), has a clean, rhythm-centred flute style and wonderful pacing on airs. A curio here is ‘Rocks of Aden’, played also (still) by Antrim Orange bands, but then eclecticism and difference are the album’s hallmarks. 4/5

Fintan Vallely, The Sunday Tribune, 23.12.2001.

West Kerry is an unconscionably fertile place, where the musical tradition is more deeply ingrained in the gene pool than eye colour or any of the more usual inheritances of a small community. Maidhc and Caoimhín, father and son, natives of the parish of Moore, north of Dingle, christened their duetting début after the battle cry of the home crowd, and it captures the spirit and smacht of the local music perfectly. Box and flute steer a course through a fine collection of local and not so local tunes, fuelled by Caoimhín’s occasional song, and fleet-footed guest appearances from Liam Ó Maonlaí and Steve Cooney, among others. A snapshot of vibrant times and a welcome reminder of the countless magic sessions the Ó Sé’s have spawned in Tigh Bhric in Ballyferriter and beyond. 3/5

Siobhán Long, The Irish Times, 2.1.2002.

Ó Thuaidh - Ó Chiarraí

' Ó Thuaidh' is the title of a new album from Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé and his son Caoimhín. It’s an album put together more for the record than for any commercial reasons. Ita Kelly reports.

It is a testament to the wealthy tradition not just of Kerry but to that of their native parish of Moore and the town land of Carrachán. 'There are five houses and if they build one more I'll move as it'll be too big!’

Maidhc is a striking personality, with a thick mop of grey hair described as 'ash-blonde' in the album notes and he is one hell of a storyteller. He is in Galway to meet Leaving Certificate students who are studying his book as part of the Irish syllabus. 'A Thig Ná Tit Orm'; was the first book Maidhc Dainín wrote and is highly autobiographical. Full of stories from his life, it opens a window to the past and the changes Maidhc has seen occurring in life particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. Maidhc like many others felt the economic pinch and travelled first to London to work for a year and then to Chicago in the United States where he spent 10 years. He got married in Chicago to Caitlín and his first two children were born there, Caoimhín being the older of the two. Wanting to rear their children in Ireland, they returned to Carrachán in 1969 and Maidhc says it was the best decision he ever made.
Music is something that Maidhc was addicted to from an early age. Both his parents were musical but he didn't realise his father could play the box until he and his brother bought one by mail order when Maidhc was just 7 years old. The excitement was high when the parcel was collected from the post office and Maidhc and his siblings were tearing at the package to open it when his father who had been silently looking on reached over for the box and began to play a tune. "Sure we were set up," says Maidhc.  His father was able to teach him and his brother their first notes, the scale and the first few tunes. Maidhc recalls spending evenings sitting outside a neighbour's window listening to the music when all his friends were playing pitching pennies and buttons. His father took him everywhere and so he was exposed to lots of music through biddy dances, ball nights and in their own village where there were parties and dances regularly.

Maidhc jokes that for him "Once the accordion arrived education went out the window’, except when it came to writing which always came naturally to him. A vivid imagination and a gift with words meant he could meet any writing challenge. Once he was challenged to write 20 pages on the subject of one word, Maidhc offered to write 30 if he was allowed to choose the word. And so he did writing 35 pages on his chosen word 'croí'. His older brother had recently had a heart transplant operation in America and it was about this experience that Maidhc wrote. Subsequently he won a prize at the Oireachtas and a few hundred pounds which was very welcome.
In America Maidhc had his own céilí band 'The Hibernian' and they often competed in Fleadh Ceoils with the céilí band of his great friend Joe Cooley, 'The Glenside', managing to beat them one year after a concerted effort practising and selecting the right tunes. Maidhc speaks reverently about Joe Cooley with whom he played for about four years in Chicago. He talks of the great heart in his music and his ability to perform and how he thrived on an opportunity to play for an audience. In fact when Maidhc got married it was Joe and his brother Séamus with Billy Sodon (Aughrim Slopes) who played at Maidhc's wedding in Chicago. Maidhc dedicates to Joe a beautiful slow air on 'Ó Thuaidh' he composed calling it 'Codail a Joe'. In fact every second track on 'Ó Thuaidh' is newly composed by Maidhc Dainín - this is a gift he only uncovered in the last few years.  He found bits of tunes were coming to him "They ran so natural to me and I was so bloody happy. I caught up the phone to Caoimhín and said listen to this, and I played them into the phone!' he says. Like many composers in traditional music, he had the usual questioning if they were original or 'were something in the back of my head that came forward'. But they proved to be all his own when he played them for Fergus Flaherty in Dingle who 'has more music than any man alive' and that confirmed that indeed the tunes were original.

"When I had them all done and polished I sent a tape to Steve (Cooney) and Liam O Maonlaí, great friends." The two musicians feature strongly on 'Ó Thuaidh'. The names of Maidhc's tunes reflect everyday things in his life, a tune dedicated to the melodeon player Johnny Connolly, 'Stocaí Breaca Johnny na gConnollys' and one to his wife Caitlín 'Kate from Castleisland'; 'The roundabout way to the Church and The Shortcut to the Pub'- 2 polkas that take their names from an old saying in the area; 'Joanie's Lane and The Road to Carrachán' are named after the two lanes closest to Maidhc Dainín's house. 'They may have grass and weeds growing up through the middle of them, but they are a welcome sight after a long day's driving on the main roads of the county,' says Maidhc whose job is driving a milk tanker for the Kerry Group. He was never tempted to play music as a full time career even though he has played all his life and when he returned from the States in 1969, he was offered a place in a band. He thought, "The family or the band, I can't do both and the family comes first. I wouldn't do it for a living' He continues, ' I think it would take away from our music as music and I love to be able to take a rest from it when I want to."
Caoimhín feels much the same about music, enjoying it as a pastime rather than a full time job. He's a Primary School teacher living in Galway for the last ten years and active on the musical scene having enjoyed the Sunday morning session at The Crane for many years and now the occasional visit to Tigh Hughes in Spiddal where he enjoys meeting up with Johnny Connolly. Caoimhín is also a member of the group Maigh Seola who have revived in a show style many of the songs in the 'Amhráin Mhuighe Seola' collection. They hope to record some of their work in the near future. He recently completed and published a thesis on the story telling tradition in Corca Dhuibhne 'Traidisiúin na Scéalaíochta i gCorca Dhuibhne' and both it and Maidhc Dainín's latest book, (his eleventh published to date!) 'Lílí Frainc' were launched along with the CD 'Ó Thuaidh' at the Oireachtas in Dingle in November.

While Maidhc's hearty accordion playing is to the fore on the album so too is Caoimhín's flute and whistle playing, and the combination of father and son and the roots of their music makes 'Ó Thuaidh' a unique sound and unique record. There are two songs amongst the tunes, one sung by each of them. Both are old local songs which would not be well known outside of the region. Maidhc has a strong gravelly voice while Caoimhín's is softer. Maidhc may have been singing all his life, but so too has Caoimhín though not in public until recently, "I always found it easier to play when asked to do something" he says, but now he sings far more.
The duo launched their album in Kerry and in Galway, Spiddal and Dublin, but have no ambitious ambitions plans to tour it. They welcome invitations to play and Caoimhín will join Maidhc for a few weeks during the summer at home in Kerry and in the venues around their home place. Maidhc was described on his first recording as a composite of many characters and it is true, he is a most enthralling storyteller, and a formidable tune and song writer as well as being a classy performer. His tunes and songs are highly original with a broad ‘blas’ of his native Carrachán and Co. Kerry. Caoimhín learnt all he knows from his father and they have been playing together for all his life.  'Ó Thuaidh' is a marking of this unique musical relationship between father and son. Their bilingual website www.dainin.net set up by Caoimhín is well worth a visit too.

Ita Kelly, Irish Music Magazine, February 2002.

Opening the doors of the rambling house

Its not every day that a father and son launch separate books on the same day - but for both men also to release a CD together on the same weekend must be some sort of record. However, that's exactly what happened in West Kerry during the Oireachtas, when Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé and his son Caoimhín launched their respective books before meeting up the following day to launch the album they recorded together.

At the Cúinne Bar in Feothanach last Friday, celebrated story teller Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé launched the eleventh book of his career alongside his son Caoimhín, who was there to launch his debut publication.

And the following day it was on to the Bóthar pub, where both father and son joined together to officially mark the release of their traditional album 'Ó Thuaidh', which features contributions from such acclaimed musicians as Steve Cooney and Hothouse Flower, Liam Ó Maonlaí.

But despite the fact that writing a book would phase most people, let alone most families, Maidhc Dainín sees nothing unusual about it.

'Time management - that's how you do it,' explained the writer, who drives a lorry for Kerry Co-op. 'I've also started another book for older children while there's the possibility of one of my books being translated into Dutch.'

Although both books by father and son are written as Gaeilge (in Gaelic), that's where the similarity between them ends. Maidhc Dainín's novel is a real page turner - packed with scenes of murder, rape and revenge. Entitled Lilí Frainc, the book is set at the turn of the century and involves a corrupt landlord who is determined to evict a young orphaned girl from the land she inherits.

Caoimhín's book, on the other hand, is not a novel but a lively historical account of the storytelling traditions in Corca Dhuibhne. Including accounts of the 'bothántaíocht' or rambling houses that once proliferated in most areas.

Caoimhín's research took him throughout Corca Dhuibhne, during which he interviewed people who recalled the many storytelling and singing sessions which took place at the time.

'It's a social history of the bothántaíocht and of what it meant to the community,' he said. 'I also compare the tradition here to what happened in Connemara and Donegal, and in other places, such as Hungary.'

Both books are published by Coiscéim and further information can be obtained by checking the website: www.dainin.net

Aiden Corkery, The Kerryman, 7.11.2001.

Seoladh albam nua Mhaidhc Dainín Uí Shé

Bhí tigh tábhairne 'An Bóthar' sa Chuas lasmuigh den Daingean lán go doras Dé Sathairn seo caite ag a trí a chlog, do sheoladh albam nua Mhaidhc Dainín Ó Sé agus a mhac Caoimhín. 'Ó Thuaidh!' an t-ainm atá ar an saothar nua seo ón mbeirt agus is é seo an dara albam eisithe ag Maidhc Dainín. Bhí fuílleach bia ar fáil don tslua a bhí bailithe isteach don ócáid.

Ba é Sean Ó hÉalaí ó Raidió na Gaeltachta a sheol an t-albam go hoifigiúil. Ba léir ón moladh a rinne sé ar an albam seo go bhfuil an-mheas aige ar shaothar Mhaidhc Dainín. Cuireadh tús leis an gceol nach mór láithreach ina dhiaidh.

Ba iad Maidhc Dainín féin, ar an mbosca ceoil, Caoimhín Ó Sé, ar an bhfeadóg mhór agus an fheadóg stáin, Andrea Power ar an mbodhrán, Con Durham ar na píobaí a bhí i mbun an cheoil. Chan Eibhlín Ní Bheaglaoich ón gceantar agus Treasa Ní Cheannabháin ó Chonamara cúpla amhrán chomh maith. Bhí taifeadadh á dhéanamh ag Raidió na Gaeltachta ar cheol na hoíche chomh maith.

Bhí an-tacaíocht ann ó mhuintir na háite, bhí cuid de 'na caipíní' i láthair, Pat Ó Conchubhair ina measc. Bhí bean Mhaidhc, Cáit ann chomh maith le hiníon na beirte Marianne. Ba é mac Mhaidhc Danny a bhí ag díol na ndlúthdhioscaí. Chonaic Foinse Seosamh Mac Donncha, iar-uachtarán an Chumainn Lúthchleas Gael, Meaití Joe Shéamais, buaiteoir Chorn Uí Riada na bliana seo, Mícheál Ó Riordáin ó Áras na Gaeilge sa Ghaillimh i measc an tslua.

Ócáidí Odi, Foinse, 10.11.2001

Ceolta 'Ó Thuaidh' Aneas

Chuirfeadh teideal an dlúthdhiosca is deireanaí le Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé agus a mhac Caoimhín dallamullóg ort. Thabharfadh an té a théann i mbun cainte leo fá deara láithreach nach blas an Tuaiscirt atá le mothú ar a gcuid cainte ar chor ar bith. A mhalairt ar fad atá i gceist nó is as deisceart na tíre i nGaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne don bheirt.

Is i bparóiste Mórdhach do Mhaidhc Dainín. Is fear é a bhfuil clú air as a chuid ildánachta. (Dánacht, a déarfadh daoine eile!) Is boscadóir é, dar ndóigh, ach tá cáil air mar údar chomh maith. Is iomaí dalta Ardteiste a léigh faoi eachtraí a shaoil sa leabhar 'A Thig Ná Tit Orm' atá ar shiollabas na hArdteistiméireachta.

Is ar an fheadóg mhór agus ar an fheadóg stáin a bhíonn Caoimhín ag casadh ceoil. Faoi láthair tá sé ag cur faoi i mBearna, Co na Gaillimhe lena bhean chéile agus a gcuid beirt pháistí óga. I measc na gceoltóirí eile a chuireann tionlacan ar fáil tá Stíofán Ó Cuanaigh agus Liam Ó Maonlaí.

Is píosaí atá nuachumtha aige féin na píosaí uilig a sheinneann Maidhc ar an dlúthdhiosca 'Ó Thuaidh'. Léiríonn sé féin agus Caoimhín a gcuid buanna amhránaíochta chomh maith. Tá saibhreas na Gaeilge agus na filíochta sa dá amhrán atá le cluinstin mar atá, Réidhchnoc Mná Duibhe a chasann Caoimhín agus Cois Chalaithe an Ghóilín a cheolann Maidhc. Míníonn Maidhc, ar file é fosta, gurbh é Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin (1785-1845) a chum na focail. 'Is breá liom an fhilíocht atá ann. B'fhiú é a chur san áireamh ar son na filíochta,' a deir sé agus é ag maíomh faoin saibhreas teanga san amhrán.

Cé go bhfuil blas láidir Chiarraí ar chaint Mhaidhc, éiríonn go geal leis an fhilíocht agus an saibhreas seo a luann sé a thabhairt chun solais ar bhealach soiléir mar gheall ar a stíl staccato amhránaíochta agus a chuid foghraíochta binne glaine.

Is beag fliútadóir a bhaineann le ceantar dúchais Chaoimhín agus ní minic a chluintear pólcaí agus sleamhnáin á seinnt ar an uirlis áirithe sin ach an oiread. Míníonn Caoimhín cad é mar a chuir sé spéis sa cheol an chéad uair. 'Is cuimhin liom nuair a bhíos timpeall is deich mbliana d'aois go mbíodh m'athair ag seinnt in Óstán na Sceilge sa Daingean d'eachtrannaigh. Do bhínn féinig ag bualadh ar an mbodhrán ag an am. Do cheannaigh Maidhc feadóg mhór dom agus is mar san a thosnaíos á seinnt.'

De thairbhe gurb iad Maidhc agus Caoimhín féin a chuir an dlúthdhiosca seo i gcrích admhaíonn siad beirt go raibh go leor deacrachtaí acu. Is toradh é ar obair bhliain go leith. 'Bíonn an bheirt againn ag obair go lán-aimseartha agus is muidne atá freagrach as dáiliúchán agus fógraíocht an dlúthdhiosca chomh maith,' a mhíníonn Caoimhín. 'Is múinteoir bunscoile mé féinig agus bíonn Maidhc ag tiomáint leoraí an bhainne sa mbaile. Chomh maith leis sin, bíonn sé ag obair i scoileanna de thairbhe go bhfuil a leabhar ar shiollabas na hArdteiste. Ach bhainfeadh sé den gcraic dá mba rud é go rabhamar ag seinnt cheoil go proifisiúnta. Is mar seo is fearr linn é.'

Bhí ócáidí beomhara ceolmhara ag muintir Uí Shé go dtí seo i gCorca Dhuibhne, i nGaillimh agus ar an Spidéal le poiblíocht a thabhairt dá ndlúthdhiosca nua. Tá sé i gceist acu dul chuig áiteanna éagsúla ar fud na tíre amach anseo, Tigh Matt Molloy i gCathair na Mart agus Tigh Sé i mBaile Átha Cliath ina measc.

Gráinne Ní Ghilín, Foinse, 17.11.2001.

Sean-nós faoi bhláth i bParóiste Múrach!

Dhá chomórtas den chéad scoth ab ea na comórtais amhránaíochta ar an sean-nós a bhí ar bun idir dhá Nollaig i dhá ionad éagsúla sa Ghaeltacht seo - Tigh Kruger i nDún Chaoin agus Tigh Tábhairne an Bhreathnaigh ar an mBóthar. Triúr ó Pharóiste Mórdhach a thug na príomhdhuaiseanna leo i dTigh Kruger - go deimhin is féidir a rá gur ó Pharóiste Mórdhach ab ea cúigear as an seisear a thug duaiseanna leo idir an dá chomórtas! Is é Caoimhín Dainín Ó Sé, ó Charrachán, a thug an chraobh leis, tháinig comharsa béal dorais leis, Éilís Ní Chinnéide ó Bhaile an Mhúraigh ina tánaiste agus ba é Iarla Ó Murchú, ó Bhaile Átha Cliath ach gurb ó Bhaile Dháith a mhuintir a tháinig sa treas áit.

Fear eile ó Pharóiste Mórdhach, Tom Mhaurice Ó Súilleabháin, a thug an chraobh leis ar an mBóthar agus is é Seosamh Ó Flaithearta ó Chloichear, i bParóiste an Fheirtéaraigh, a thug an dara áit leis agus tháinig Tomás Ó Sé, col ceathrar do Chaoimhín, sa tríú áit.

Ceoltóir cumasach is ea Caoimhín agus mac leis an údar Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé.

I gConamara atá cónaí air faoi láthair. Fágann a bhua i dTigh Kruger go bhfuil an-bhliain curtha isteach ag Caoimhín Dainín Ó Sé mar do sheol sé leabhar agus dlúthchéirnín (in éineacht lena athair) le linn an Oireachtais anuraidh.

Foinse, 6.1.2002.

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