Halfway house
It’s St Patrick’s Day 2009, a year to the day that my application was received by the Fund.
For the past couple of years I’ve regarded St. Patrick’s Day as the start of my new year. It is a day full of music and memories, it seems to honour the past and herald the future, and in the brilliant sunshine this year the whole week was lit up with celebration and music.
The Sunday nearest to St. Patrick’s Day I attended the Memorial Parade for the Irish Guards. My father is a veteran of the Second World War.
My parents, Margaret and Arthur Hynes.
After the parade we walked up through St. James’s Park to Trafalgar Square where I was due to play in the Tir Na n’Og Tent on the square.
London seems at it’s best on days like these. There was a remarkable atmosphere in the Square, thousands of people but such a peaceful and happy crowd. I’m seeing the best of London I think, as I know I will shortly be leaving. I can’t really imagine what life will be like in Limerick. I wonder where I will be next year on this day.
The Morvan flute had a good play over the week, and I am getting to the point where I can rely on it almost as much as I am used to on my Osten-Brennan. There is a lot to be learned still (I am sure this hand position will be sorted out once I meet my flute teacher at the Academy!)
With J.Eoin at the Irish Cultural Centre during St Patrick’s Week above.
Playing for the Ireland Fund’s charity awards during St Patrick’s week at the Arts Club in Dover Street. (With Katie Crean and her Clasarch harp.)
St Patrick’s Day!
We started the afternoon at the Hemingford Arms where friends and musicians joined us for a few tunes before their gigs for the day began. Oonagh the landlady is a great supporter of Irish music in London. Then off to the White Lion in Barbican where the landlady served fresh oysters, and a monemts rest at the Gore Hotel before gig no. 3 for the irish Business Women’s Network.
Gougane Barra, County Cork, Ireland
The priest of this atmospheric and ancient place of worship was I think ninety-two years of age, and told me he had been present at the end of the irish composer and harpsichord player Seán Ó’Riada’s life and had known him. Ó’Riada’s “Farewell to Music” has been one of the most influential recordings for me this year.
Progress with the pipes (with the help of a few piping friends)
… Pat Stones of the Pipers Club helps sort out the practice set…but he can’t resist checking out the workmanship of the Morvan flute!
Stephen Gara – a leap into the second octave!
Tim Dowd at Hammersmith Pipers Club
Michael Cameron, a highland piper who worked at Dolmetch and gave me two beautiful recorders he made, having a a look at the practise set.
a set of Highland pipes Mike is making
My father makes a new hinge on my pipe case from an old knitting needle of my mothers. In the background are mirrors from his parents pub. They emigrated from Ireland in the 1920′s and ran a miner’s pub in Cannock Chase. It’s strange and exciting to think that in just a few weeks I will be living near to where my Grandmother came from and devoting myself entirely to Irish music.
Posted by Jacquelyn Hynes on March 17th, 2009.
