'GRIANAN'

Irish Traditional Music in Uruguay

"The Southern Cross Pipe Band" of Uruguay with instructors Bruce Gandy & Tyler Fry. The Band won the Grade 5 band competition's 2nd Prize at the South Florida Highland Games in Ft Lauderdale Fl, USA. Saturday 2 March 2002

During our USA tour, through Atlanta and Florida, as members of the Southern Cross Pipe Band, in late February - early March 2002; Leandro, Fabian and I had different opportunities to visit various places and meet many interesting people.  

I N D E X

Gerry Forde & Mark Kane

On Thursday 21 February my brother Edward, my wife Elizabeth and myself went to the McCabe's Irish Pub & Grill, 699 Fifth Avenue South Naples, FL. There we had great pleasure meeting County Galway born, Irish singer Gerry Forde. Gerry knew about Uruguayan football but was surprised to learn that Irish blood and traditions were also fostered in this part of the World so far away from  Ireland. Gerry, as well as being an excellent musician himself, is in charge of the artistic management at the McCabe's Pub. He was also involved in the production of the 2nd Celtic Festival of Naples that was held the previous weekend which we regretfully missed. He has performed with many important artists of the genre in Ireland and throughout the United States and Canada. 

Mark Kane, Gerry Forde, Conrad O'Neill & Elizabeth Garland at the McCabe'sPub in Old Naples, FL

He gave us a CD of his own which I very much recommend. "Your Favourite Songs" by Gerry Forde. The cd  features himself in vocals,button accordion, melodeon & tin whistle; Eamonn Dillon plays the uilleann pipes and whistles, Roisin Dillon plays the fiddle, John Schreiber plays guitar, tenor & 5 string banjos, whom we did not know, at that time, we would meet a week later in Ft Lauderdale! Gabriel Donohue plays guitar, keyboards, bass and backing vocals, Aine Ni Ceallaigh plays the Harp; Yasoe Lakanuki the Cello; Hans Von Wanker French horns and James Joyce backing vocals.

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On Thursday 28 February after a long day's bagpipe & drums workshop with tutors Bruce Gandy & Tyler Fry, we were invited by our hosts Art Gill, Jimmy Stewart and the Fort Lauderdale Highlanders, to the Maguire's Hill 16 Irish Pub, in 535 North Andrew's Ave, Ft. Lauderdale FL USA. 

There we had a few pints and heard this great Irish band called "Curfa" (which means "chorus" in gaelic). The band's members are: Paraic Keane (fiddle), Roisin Dillon (fiddle), Eamonn Dillon (uilleann pipes & whistles), John Schreiber (guitar) & Addie O'Connor (vocals & bodhran). We had great pleasure in meeting the band members after their excellent perfomance.

"Curfa"

Eamonn Dillon, Paraic Keane, Addie O'Connor, Roisin Dillon & John Schreiber

"Curfa" singer Addie O'Connor came to our table as soon as she knew about us to find out where we came from and what we were all doing there. After all the acquaintances were made we did not miss the chance to exchange information and experiences with them. Leandro mentioned to Eamonn Dillon about his trip to Vermont to see pipemaker David Quinn in the next days who was waiting with Leandro's new set of uilleann pipes. Eamonn told him that the chanter he was using on his uilleann pipes was made by the same David Quinn. I discussed with, experienced guitar player, John Schreiber about the "pros and cons" of using different guitar tunings for celtic music as the DAGDAD tuning which he trained himself to use for the past two years and with which he now feels very comfortable. He recommended me to try the "Drop D" tuning (DADGBE) as an intermediate step between the conventional EADGBE and the DAGDAD tunings. We mentioned Paraic Keane that Leandro was going to see "The Chieftains" at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington on Monday 11 March. Paraic most kindly offered to try and get backstage passes for Leandro to meet his father: legendary "Chieftain" fiddler Sean Keane and the rest of "The Chieftains" !!!

Paraic Keane, Addie O'Connor, John Schreiber & Eamonn Dillon at the Maguire's Hill 16 Irish Pub in Ft Lauderdale, FL.

Leandro and I acquired one of Eamonn Dillon's "Storm the Kettle" CD each . He plays together with his sister, fiddler Roisin Dillon and guitar/banjo player John Schreiber, both members of "Curfa" as well as with Jim Fidler on keyboards and percussion, Rick West on bodhran and Mike Hanrahan on bousouki. This is an excellent CD produced by John McDermott which we highly recommend. The cd features Eamonn playing different whistles as well as the uilleann pipes with an incredible fingering technique and exquisite style; no doubt, both qualities of an All Ireland Medal winner !  Jim  Fidler's percussion and keyboard arrangements makes this traditional selection of tunes sound very contemporary. The cover design is by Erin Dillon.

Fabian was invited by singer Addie O'Connor to play the bodhran with them on a couple of tunes and so he sat in front of the group and did very well tipping along a few jigs, which we all enjoyed, with our newly made friends. 

Paraic Keane, Fabian Romero, John Schreiber & Eamonn Dillon at the Maguire's Hill 16 Irish Pub in Ft Lauderdale, FL

Later on Leandro, Fabian and myself had the chance to jam a few Irish traditional settings on stage with the excellent company of fiddle player Paraic Keane.  

Paraic Keane, Fabian Romero, Leandro Bonilla & Conrad O'Neill at the Maguire's Hill 16 Irish Pub in Ft Lauderdale, FL

We really did enjoy that incredible Thursday evening as if it was "out of a dream". Many thank's to you all for your kindness and hospitality.

Paraic Keane, Conrad O'Neill & Eamonn Dillon at the "South Florida Highland Games", C.B.Smith Park, Fort Lauderdale FL - Saturday 2 March 2002 

We met Eamonn, his wife Erin and Paraic again two days later at the South Florida Highland Games held at the C.B.Smith Park, Ft. Lauderdale, while we were all enjoying the performance of  the incredible celtic-rock fusion group "Seven Nations".

Eamonn Dillon, Fabian Romero & Leandro Bonilla at the "South Florida Highland Games", C.B.Smith Park, Fort Lauderdale FL - Saturday 2 March 2002 

Photo courtesy: Erin Dillon

 You might like to check "Curfa's" website which I included in our "Links" page. 

Slainte!

Conrad O'Neill

Coming soon : 

Leandro's incredible experiences at the "SOLAS" and "THE CHIEFTAINS" concerts in Washington.... 

Tunes: "Monaghan Twig & The Collier's" Irish Traditional Reels 

Irish Traditional Music