Regional Resource Centre

 

Lár-ionad Achmhuine Réigiúnda

 

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CARTLANN RÉGIÚNDA

Regional Archive
 
 

The Cois na hAbhna Regional Archive is a resource centre and a library of Irish traditional music, song, dance, and folklore relating to the Meitheal region of Galway,Clare, Limerick and Kerry. The Archive serves as a focus of research in the local styles of the Munster area. While the Archive is a comparatively new venture, it already contains a large collection of material. This material exists in the following forms:

  Sound Recordings: records, 78s, LPs, EPs, Reel to Reel tapes, Audio Cassettes and  CDs.
  Printed Material: ballad sheets, sheet music, instrument tutors, song books, dance studies, music studies, histories, periodicals, programmes, catalogues, magazines, leaflets, posters and newspaper clippings.
  Visual: paintings, prints, photographs, video cassettes and DVDs. We also have a collection of old instruments and other interesting artefacts.
   

Major Collections
 

These collections form the majority of the Archive's holdings:

  The Culturlann Archive Collection. This consists of audio recordings made and collected by Seamus McMathuna, Timire Cheoil C.C.E., covering a period from the late 1950s to the 1970s.
  The Vaughan Collection. Private audio recordings made by Joe Vaughan from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare during the 1960s.
  The McNamara Collection. Recording made by Martin McNamara from Scariff, Co. Clare in the 1960s and 1970s.
  The Hassett Collection. Recording made by John Joe Hassett  from O'Callaghans Mills, Co. Clare in the 1960s and 1970s.
    The Frawley Collection. Recording made by Jimmy Frawley   from Lough, Doolin, Co. Clare in the 1960s.
 

The Murphy Collection. Recording made by Jack Murphy from Tulla in the 1960s.

 

Meet the Musician Schools Project 1999 & 2000.  A school based project involving the collection of music, song and Irish social history . This innovative venture was devised by Cois na hAbhna Traditional Music Archive in conjunction with the Clare Education Centre. It entailed the presentation of a project on the life and music/songs of a chosen musician or singer. "Meet the Musician" encouraged participants to undertake a study on a traditional musician or singer in their locality and to present collected data in project form. Each project contained two main elements – an audio-visual element and a written element. Interviews were recorded on Audio Tape & video. Then a mini life story or biography of the performer was presented in written format.

  Field Recordings. Volunteers have been gathering additional material around Co. Clare since 1991.Our recording programme is now extended to the Counties of Galway, Limerick and Kerry.
   

Facilities in the Archive
 

 

Fully equipped audio-visual stations provide the public with the most up-to-date means of extracting and researching material. A computer index and cataloguing programme are presently under way which will further enhance the service provided. There is also a sound recording room to be fully equipped with recording devices. The Archive policy is to make the collection as accessible as possible to the public, consistent with needs to insure the preservation of the material. None of the material in the collection is available for loan. A small research fee may apply and services such as photocopying will be at a minimal rate.

The archive has also produced a number of publications, CDs and DVDs:

    Ceol an Chláir - a book of tunes by noted composer Paddy O'Donoghue, Ballycunneen, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare.
    Come to An Irish Dance Party - CD by The Laichtín Naofa Céilí Band from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. A re-issue of the historic recording of 1959
    John Joe Casey - CD-a recording of the great concertina & fiddle player from Clarecastle, Co. Clare
    The Fleadh Down in Ennis 1956 - a DVD commemorating that famous event
    On Malbay's Shore - CD- Songs and music of Michael Mahony  from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
    Keepers Of Tradition - Concertina players of Co. Clare.This is a rare recording of 28 different styles of concertina playing from around Co. Clare.
     

Also available are several other Comhaltas titles including the Clare Prizewinners at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2006 DVD, 'The Rambles of Kitty' CD, Foinn Seisiún book and CD Vol.1,2&3,(Brian Prior) and numerous Comhaltas tour CDs. To purchase any of the above titles, please contact Cois na hAbhna at 065-6824267.                 E-Mail ceoltrad@eircom.net.

 

 

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