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Cathal Ó Baoill Collection
Cathal Ó Baoill, son of Seán Ó Baoill (better known as Sean O’Boyle - see dedicated collection) was born in Armagh and from early childhood was exposed to traditional songs and tunes that his father collected and brought home. Following his father’s footsteps, Cathal has researched and collected Songs of Co. Down and published them in a book of the same name. Cathal was recorded by the OTMA team in his home in Newcastle Co. Down singing most of the songs he collected. This collection includes all the songs recorded in 2022-2023 as well as an interview and a video the collection launch event.
Sean O’Boyle
Seán Ó Baoill, better known as Sean O’Boyle was a collector from Armagh, with a passion for traditional songs which he collected all his life. The OTMA collection includes vinyl records, typescripts and manuscripts relating to Seán’s research and radio programmes, correspondence and books donated by the Ó Baoill family. The records are non-commercial records used for the radio programme broadcast by the BBC in the ‘50s, reproducing edited material collected by Seán Ó Baoill and Peter Kennedy from 1952 to 1954. These records have been digitised and made available to the public with videos which display all the details available on the record labels. The remainder of the collection is not yet fully available online as the digitisation process is ongoing.
Sarah Makem
Keady singer Sarah Makem, wife of fiddler Peter Makem, mother of musicians Tommy and Jack Makem, as well as daughters as well Mona, Peggy and Nancy, she was a noted singer and tradition bearer of Ulster ballads. Sarah had a remarkable repertoire of songs and her distinctive unaccompanied singing drew the attention of renowned collectors including Sean O' Boyle, Peter Kennedy, Diane Hamilton, Jean Ritchie and Alan Lomax.
Jackie Hearst International Ceili Band
(under development)
Jackie Hearst was an influential Irish traditional musician from Newry. As a virtuosic accordion player, Hearst helped popularize Irish folk music locally, and throughout Ireland in the mid-20th century. His dynamic and nuanced playing style inspired many younger musicians to take up the accordion and other instruments.
His International Céilí Band, probably the best known céilí band in Ireland and Britain during the late 1950s and early 1960s, achieved the ultimate accolade by being chosen to perform the closing ceremony at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann held in Gorey in 1962. They were occasionally billed as Jackie Hearst and his All Star Céilí Band – “The Boys from the County Armagh”. Though he remained based in Newry, Hearst's recordings and live performances elevated the profile of Irish traditional music nationally, cementing the accordion’s role as a central instrument in the genre.
The Long Kesh Ramblers/Crubeen
In August 1971, a group of singers and musicians (Eddie Ruddy, Benny McKay, Billy Fegan, Tommy Hollywood and Paddy Clerkin) from Newry came together to perform at concerts to raise funds for the families of men interned by the Stormont regime that month. Due to their popularity, the individuals coalesced into a group appropriately named the Long Kesh Ramblers. They produced 2 LP's and one single . As the “Troubles” deteriorated and deaths became a daily occurrence, the group felt it was too dangerous to be travelling through British Army and UDR checkpoints as The Long Kesh Ramblers .They relaunched in 1978 as Crubeen. The group continued performing , with changing memberships, up to 2014. Successful tours followed throughout Britain, Ireland, USA, France and Estonia, releasing a further three LPs. They regrouped in 2022 for a special performance for the Oriel Traditional Music Archive, back at the Shamrocks GAA Social Club, where it all started.
Gerry O'Connor
Gerry O’Connor, a fiddle player from Dundalk, Co. Louth, has been involved in researching, teaching and performing for over 50 years, focussing on the music of Oriel. He holds a MA in research on Rev. Luke Donnellan's "Dance Music of Oriel", a collection of local traditional music, part of which was first printed in the Louth Archaeological Journal in 1909, publishing the full collection in book format in 2018. During his professional career, beginning with Comhaltas Seisún performances in 1971, he has released twelve albums as a founder member with bands Skylark, Lá Lugh and Oirialla. He presently tours with legendary folkgroup The Irish Rovers and performs internationally as a solo artist.
Jimmy Quinn
Jimmy Quinn is from Drumaness in Co. Down and has been singing and composing songs all his life. His ability to sing was impacted by health issues and he has since been reciting instead. Jimmy holds no written records of his recitations and his exceptional memory has been the only repository until OTMA recorded him in his home in 2023. The collection includes Jimmy’s own compositions and locally composed songs which have become part of the local tradition.
The Pure Drop, Newry Reporter (2006-10)
The Pure Drop was a weekly column in the Newry Reporter newspaper that focused on Irish traditional music in the south Down and Armagh areas. The column was written by Tommy Fegan, a local author and documentary film and radio producer on Irish traditional music. It provided information and commentary on performances, musicians, and developments in the Irish traditional music local and national scene. The late Mickey Cinnanne said his mother bought the paper ever week just to read the column’s killer two liner music jokes!
No Earthly Estate
No Earthly Estate was a 2025 project funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. It allowed further collection of material by OTMA, and the opportunity for selected professional musicians to spend time researching in the archive, culminating in a concert held in the Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan on 6th September 2025. A varied programme of Oriel music and song was presented and performed by Gerry O'Connor, Co. Louth (fiddle and Stroh violin), Nuala Kennedy, Co. Louth (flute, whistle and voice) and Eilís Lavelle, Co. Monaghan (harp).
Féile na Tána
Féile na Tána is an annual festival which celebrates Irish traditional music, song and arts. It takes place in Carlingford, Co. Louth, in the heart of Oriel and features a great variety of artists from all over Ireland.