Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan - They Sailed Away From Dublin Bay

(July 2008) : The Blooming Meadows * George White's Favourite * The Trip Over The Mountain * Paul Brock’s * Paddy O’Brien’s * The Battle Of Aughrim * Travers' * Kathleen Hehir's * Sean Ryan’s * The Good Natured Man * Charlie Lennon's * The Maid Of Mount Cisco * Taylor’s Cross * Paddy Fahy's * They Sailed Away From Dublin Bay * The Holly Bush.

On the Veteran label.

Liam Farrell (banjo), Joe Whelan (accordion), Reg Hall (piano) and James Carty (flute) are an exciting and talented quartet of Irish instrumentalists. They play a lively selection of jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and waltzes.

From the 1940s there was a vibrant Irish music scene in London – with half of Ireland living in exile, the music was a reminder of home. There were sessions in London pubs when Dublin landlords wouldn’t even allow a song to be sung.

Liam Farrell from Tyrone and Joe Whelan from County Offaly went there and stayed, and became mainstays in a burgeoning movement that continues until today, with the grandchildren of the original musicians still playing great music. In the clubs and pubs they played for dances and parties and were members of popular céilí bands.

Liam on banjo and Joe on accordion have provided music for several generations of London Irish, and have also endured hard physical work.

On this album they are joined by James Carty on flute, and accompanied by Reg Hall on piano. Reg, a veteran of the London scene, has written the sleeve notes, and as usual his knowledge is immense.