Recorded in concert at Mitchell Theatre,  Glasgow on 12th January 2001

Track Listing 1. The Four Provinces Ceili Band.       Derryveone/ Aghyaran Crossroads. Composed by Jimmy McHugh 2. Eileen O'Brien, Lar Gavin and Deirdre McSherry.      The Banks of Lough Gowna/ Tom Carthy's 3. Eileen O'Brien.     Sliabh Gheal gCua. 4. Patsy Hanley, Pat Bass, Robert Gleeson, David Kinsella and Pat O'Meara.     The Sligo Maid/ The Duke of Leinster 5. Patsy Hanley.     Ah Surely/ Martin Wynne's 6. Deirdre Scanlan     Ned of the Hill 7. The Four Provinces Ceili Band     Ann McHugh's/ Phillip Sheil's. Composed by Jimmy McHugh 8. Brid Harper, Nuala Hehir, Jody Moran     The Humours of Ballyconnell/ The Humours of Lissadell 9. Pat Bass    The Maid in the Meadow/ Doberman's Wallet 10. EileenO'Brien, Lar Gavin and Deirdre McSherry      The Poppy Leaf/ McIntyre's 11. Brid Harper      Ta Me i Mo Chodladh/ The Happy Man/ Bubbling Wine. Comp by Paddy O'Brien 12. Deirdre Scanlan, Eileen O'Brien and Deirdre McSherry       Down by the Sally Gardens 13. Brid Harper, Nuala Hehir, Jody Moran      Martin Wynne's # 1&2/ The Fisherman's Lilt 14. Tony McHugh      Lament for Liam McCabe. Composed by Jimmy McHugh. 15. David Kinsella      Clashroe/ Tommy People's 16. Brendan and Martin McHugh      Marion Kelly's/ Carey's Cottage. Comp Jimmy McHugh 17. Eileen O'Brien, Lar Gavin and Deirdre McSherry       Cutting the Hay/ The Smiling Lady. Comp Paddy O'Brien 18. Deirdre Scanlan      Down by Blackwaterside 19. Brid Harper, Nuala Hehir, Jody Moran     The Clump of Turf/ The Queen of the Fair/ Apples in Winter 20. Patsy Hanley, Pat Bass, Robert Gleeson, David Kinsella and Pat O'Meara.       My Love is in America/ Rakish Paddy 21. Robert Gleeson      The Pride of the West/ The Girls of Banbridge/       Billy McCormick's. 22. The Four Provinces Ceili Band with Dancers Eileen and Caroline Boyle.      St Crone's/ Colonel Rodney/ The Humours of Westport 23. The Whole Ensemble in Grand Finale.      The Old Copperplate/ The New Copperplate. 24. Jimmy McHugh.       The Pigeon on the Gate Click on underscored titles to hear MP3 sound samples

In January many of Irelands top musicians travelled to Glasgow to pay tribute to their musical friend, the late Jimmy McHugh who had passed away in January 1999.
This was the second Jimmy McHugh weekend. The first captured on video and is available from this web site. Many other musicians travelled from London, Donegal and even Chicago to pay their tribute to the master fiddler. Many of them contributed to this concert and are captured here on disc. For some it is their first recording, but most are well acquainted with the recording process. Tribute must be paid to the sound and recording crews who worked in perfect harmony to bring you some of the wonderful feeling in the hall of true thankfulness for having known such a great Irishman as Jimmy McHugh.

Many of the musicians play tunes composed by Jimmy McHugh, which have long been sought after, especially by fiddlers. This recording will bring some of these titles to awaiting musicians for the first time. This recording contains some of the finest traditional dance music and singing recorded in recent years and will prove an absolute joy to all lovers of pure Irish traditional music

The Artists

The Four Provinces Ceili Band
Jimmy's band which he remained leader until his death. The band now led by two of his sons, Brendan on fiddle and Martin on bodhran. Jimmy's two great musical accomplices, Dinny Boyle on accordion and Danny Duffy on fiddle. The other fiddler being Jimmy's long time friend, Tony McHugh, (no relation). The remaining members are Sharon and Richard Creasey on flute and bouzouki respectively.

Lar Gavin: Accordion. 2 row Paolo Soprano (Red).
Lives in Tulla, Co Clare and is one of the most respected accordionists playing in Ireland, with an enormous repertoire of tunes, many rare and very old tunes which are seldom heard today. The many sessions between Lar and Jimmy were always a delight to lovers of the best in Irish traditional music.Lar often played with the late Paddy O'Brien and now frequently plays music with his daughter, Eileen.

Eileen O'Brien. Fiddle
Eileen and her late father, Paddy were lifelong friends of Jimmy. With Eileen being a frequent visitor to Glasgow to play with Jimmy. She is known the world over for her exquisite fiddle playing.

Deirdre McSherry Piano and Flute.
Deirdre has accompanied many of Ireland's top musicians on concert and recordings. Not only is Deirdre an excellent pianist, she is also an outstanding flute player and enjoyed many sessions with Jimmy.

Deirdre Scanlan. Vocals and fiddle
Deirdre Scanlon is undoubtedly one of the finest singers in Ireland and has won many prizes including the All Ireland singing title. Deirdre was a regular visitor to Glasgow to see Jimmy and many a night was spent listening to tapes and old recordings of songs and singers. Jimmy had a great knowledge of songs and adored Deirdre’s unique style of singing. Deirdre took time out from touring with the group, Solas to appear at this concert.

Patsy Hanley: Flute.
Another of the great flute players hailing from Roscommon, his name is a legend among flute players everywhere. He has toured the world and his many trips to Glasgow invariably led to some memorable sessions of music with Jimmy McHugh.

Pat Bass. Banjo.
Pat comes from a very musical family in Co Wexford and has been a friend of the McHugh family for a number of years. Pat has played all over Ireland and many a session with Jimmy and the family.

David Kinsella. Uilleann Pipes.
David Kinsella is the second member of the Kinsella family to appear at the concert, following his brother James last year. David is a terrific piper in the Wexford tradition and has toured the world playing music and during a stay in Spain played along with renowned piper, Carlos Nunez. Along with the rest of the musical Kinsella family, David always looked forward to Jimmy’s return visits, who always enjoyed the music and the craic in the Kinsella home.

Robert Gleeson. Fiddle.
Robert is a member of the Bridge Ceili Band having played fiddle with them for over 30 years. Robert is the life and soul of any party and contributed greatly to the weekend with his music and craic.

Pat O'Meara. Piano.
Pat O’Meara: is the pianist with the Bridge Ceili Band, who have won the senior All Ireland ceili band competition six times. Pat is one of the founding embers of the band. Recently Pat was pianist during a tour of Spain with a group, which included Jimmy’s two sons, Martin and Brendan.

Brid Harper. Fiddle
Brid Harper: comes from Castlefin in Co Donegal and knew Jimmy since she started playing the fiddle. Brid is one of the most outstanding fiddle players of her generation, winning numerous competitions, including the All Ireland. She has appeared frequently on TV and Radio. Jimmy was a frequent visitor to her home during his holidays in Tyrone and Donegal and they played together many times.

Nuala Hehir.  Two Row Paolo Soprani. (Red)
Great musical confederate of Jimmys, from Cahir, Co Clare. Nuala is an incredible talent and current All Ireland champion. Has been known to miss the flight or two.

Jody Moran. Banjo
From Leeds, Jody is a big friend of the McHugh family and Chairman of Leeds CCE branch. A great man for the session, Jody extended his visit for more music.

Martin and Brendan Hugh. Bodhran and Fiddle.
Two of the finest people on this earth, who are bound to carry on their fathers work and ensure that his legacy is never far from our memories. Every success to all your endeavours, lads. You will find these guys wherever good music is being played and playing their full part.

Tony McHugh. fiddle.
A stalwart of the Glasgow scene for many years, whose playing of slow airs has moistened many an eye.

The concert was further enhanced by the addition of 3 dancers. David Kinsella's wife, Margaret came over especially for the concert and the other dancers were the daughters of Dinny Boyle, Caroline and Eileen and have been dancing with Ann McHugh's Shamrock Academy most of their lives. Thanks you Ladies.
 
 

Irish Dancing Magazine Review
Hundreds of friends of the late Jimmy McHugh speak lovingly of this legend of Irish traditional music.
He came over to Glasgow in 1946, founded the first branch of Comhaltas outside the Republic, then went back over to the Fleadh Cheoil, and walked away as the first senior Fiddle player to take the championship, outside the home country. Shortly afterwards, he married an Irish dancer, Ann, and they had a household of talented boys and girls over the years, many of whom are significantly involved in Irish music and dance today.

Jimmy was the most generous mentor to all-comers interested in learning fiddle, until his untimely death in 1999. Ann continues to teach Irish dancing to this day, and is something of a legend herself, having given over 50 years continual service to Comhdhail and the Shamrock Academy of Glasgow.

And so, when the call came for all their friends to record a live memorial to Jimmy, at the Mitchell Theatre in Glasgow last year, the great and the good flocked to Scotland. The album has fiddler, Eileen O’Brien, daughter of Paddy O’Brien playing a simply beautiful, Sliabh Gheal gCua, piper, David Kinsella (and dancer wife, Margaret), Patsy Hanly, Deirdre Scanlan, Brid Harper, Lar Gavin, Pat Bass, Nuala Hehir, Robert Gleeson, Jody Moran, Deirdre McSherry, Caroline and Eileen Boyle, dancing daughters of the great Dinny, and many other musicians.

It’s a who’s who of the best. Top that off with one of the most famous ceili bands in the UK or Ireland, the Glasgow based, Four Provinces Ceili Band, and you’ve got the makings of one heck of an album. And that it is. 24 tracks some double, of excellent traditional music, some of it by Jimmy himself, a well-respected and prolific composer.

This brilliant album, so keenly priced, is a must on any informed or serious musician’s CD rack.  Donal Lynch.

Irish Dancing  Magazine
Liz and Willie Cowan, Brian Owens and hundreds of friends of the late Jimmy McHugh, speak lovingly of this legend of Irish Traditional music. He came over to Glasgow in 1946, founded the first Comhaltas branch outside the Republic, then went back over to the Fleadh Cheoil, and walked away as the first senior Fiddle player to take the championship, outside the home country. Shortly afterwards, he married an Irish dancer, Ann, and they had a houseful of talented boys and girls over the years, many of whom are significantly involved in Irish music and dance today. Jimmy was the most generous mentor to all-comers interested in learning fiddle, until his untimely death in 1999. Ann continues to teach Irish dancing to this day and is something of a legend herself, having given over 50 years continual service to Comhdháil and the Shamrock Academy of Glasgow. (Lookout for feature article in Irish Dancing Magazine soon).
And so, when the call came for all their friends to record a live memorial to Jimmy, at the Mitchell Theatre in Glasgow last year, the great and the good flocked to Scotland. The album has fiddler Eileen O'Brien, daughter of (Aonach), Paddy O'Brien playing a simply beautiful, 'Sliabh Gheal gCua', piper, David Kinsella (and dancer wife, Margaret), Patsy Hanly, Deirdre Scanlan, Brid Harper, Lar Gavin, Pat Bass, Nuala Hehir, Robert Gleeson, Jody Moran, Deirdre McSherry, Caroline and Eileen Boyle - dancer daughters of the great Dinny, and many other musicians. It's a Who's Who of the best. Top that off with one of the most famous of all Ceili bands in the UK or Eire - the Glasgow based, Four Provinces Ceili Band, and you've got the makings of one heck of an album. And that it is - 24 tracks, some double, of excellent traditional Irish music, some of it by Jimmy himself, a well respected and prolific composer.
This brilliant album, so keenly priced, is a must on any informed or serious musician's CD rack.

Irish Music Magazine  Dec/Jan 02
This sounds like it was a great night, the second memorial concert for the late Jimmy Mc Hugh who passed away in 1999. A native of Tyrone and raised in Donegal, Jimmy moved to Glasgow in 1946 and there became immersed in the local Irish music scene. He was leader of The Four Provinces Ceili Band until his death and so it is suitable that The Four Provinces open this album with a rousing performance of two of Jimmy’s tunes, Derryveone/Aghyaran Crossroads to the solid rhythm of the bodrhan.
Jimmy composed some 40 tunes of which 4 sets feature on this CD, and they are much sought after amongst fiddle players.
The real beauty of this recording is that it captures very special performances by artists such as Brid Harper, Patsy Hanly and Nuala Hehir to mention a few. Patsy’s solo, Ah Surely/ Martin Wynne’s is a real treasure, Eileen O’Brien’s; Sliabh Geal gCua is beautiful. Deirdre Scanlan who shared Jimmy’s love of songs sings Ned of the Hill, Down By The Sally Gardens and Down By Blackwaterside.
The finale of the old and the new Copperplate Reels is a wonderful spirited display and the last track is appropriately a recording of Jimmy himself playing
The Pigeon on the Gate.
Genuine good music stoutly performed and in true traditional style, this is a gorgeous recording, a work to be treasured, and what a memorial to a fine musician. Ita Kelly.

Taplas  Dec/Jan 02 (The Welsh Folk Magazine)
McHugh was a fiddler from Omagh, who emigrated to Glasgow, where over 53 years until his death in 1999 he was tirelessly active in music circles.
This Glasgow concert features almost 20 traditional Irish musicians, including McHugh’s two sons in the spirited Four Provinces Ceili Band, which their father used to lead.
In various combinations including solos, there’s fiddle, banjo, pipes, accordion and flute, plus singer Deirdre Scanlan from Solas. All the participants were friends of Jimmy’s or admirers of his playing.
Clearly everyone had a great time, but what makes the CD worthwhile is the vigour and the consistantly high quality of the performances: there’s not a dud track.
The last one, The Pigeon on the Gate, is a rare recording of McHugh himself. The warmth and subtlety of his playing go some way to explaining the affection he was obviously held in. Nick Passmore

The Sunday Tribune 21.10.01
This celebrates the legacy of Omagh born fiddler who learnt his music as a child from the Donegal Doherty’s and others. His life was lived in Glasgow, where he played with Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal players, a combination of styles celebrated in this album by such fiddlers as Brid Harper, Eileen O’Brien Minogue and Robert Gleeson, and flute players Patsy Hanly and Deirdre McSherry.
A live performance, this is rough in parts, but holds to a great gutsy exuberance that is nowhere better than with Hanly’s liquid, “Ah Surely” and “Martin Wynne’s” and Harper’s biting bow in several sets. A rare chance to hear these, balanced out with high-quality duets and solos that make up an excellent album. Fintan Vallely 4 stars out of 5

The Irish Examiner 25/10/01
Live albums are a hit or miss affair. What seemed wonderful, even magical on the nights seems dull and lifeless in the clear light of day. The imperfections that the brain filters out in a live setting, it amplifies in the recorded version. This album manages to escape many of the pitfalls of the genre.
Sure there is a raggedness in terms of tuning and timing on a couple of tracks, but this is more than compensated for by some great performances and a palpable air of enjoyment. Pat Aherne.

Musical Traditions Web Site Review
A truly exceptional album!  Geoff Wallis - 20.9.01