LONDON'S 25TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE

MAGAZINE
www.returntolondontown.org • www.irishmusicinlondon.org

FRIDAY 27TH – MONDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2023

CONCERTS, SESSIONS, ALBUM LAUNCH, CÉILÍS,
WORKSHOPS AND MORE
The Crown Hotel plus other local Cricklewood and Kilburn venues

FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME INSIDE FREE

 CONTENTS
CONTENTS
WELCOME
03 DIRECTOR'S
WELCOME
04 MAIN FESTIVAL
VENUES
LISTINGS
06 FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
16 FULL EVENT
PROGRAMME
18 FESTIVAL
LISTINGS
DIRECTOR: KAREN RYAN
IMDL ORGANISING GROUP:
MARGARET REILLY, JAMES CARTY,
SAMANTHA O'DONOVAN
DESIGN: ANTONIA BAILEY
PRINTED BY: STUDIO DESIGN AND
PRINT LTD [+44 (0)20 8361 2233]
IMDL EXPANDED TEAM: FEE
MCAULIFFE, CAITLIN MANNION,
RACHEL ISHERWOOD, ANNIE
QUINN, DANIEL O’BRIEN, CATHY
GILLARD, SARAH THOMPSON,
EOIN GRIFFIN, HELENA MULLINS,
JACKIE QUIRKE, BROGAN
MCAULIFFE, CORAL HARAN
WEB DESIGN: PADDY EGAN
COVER PHOTO: GEOFF HOLLAND
2 RtLT2023
FESTIVAL VENUES
For venue maps see page 4.
THE CROWN HOTEL ASHFORD PLACE
142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, 60 Ashford Road
London NW2 3ED Cricklewood NW2 6TU
Main Festival spaces at The Crown SIR COLIN CAMPBELL
Hotel are: Ivy Suite (basement),
Lounge by Ivy Suite (basement) 264-266 Kilburn High Road
Sala Room (first floor), Mezzanine London NW6 2BY
(first floor), Living Room (ground LUCKY 7
floor), Crown Pub (ground floor), 7 Cricklewood Lane
Brent Room (ground floor) and London NW2 1ET
Camden Room (ground floor)
BARRETT’S FREEHOUSE
ST AGNES’ PARISH 239 Cricklewood Broadway
CENTRE London NW2 3HP
22 Caddington Road
London NW2 1DQ
TICKETS
All tickets for festival events can be purchased at:
www.returntolondontown.org
SPECIAL OFFER COMBINATION TICKETS
All-inclusive tickets for Friday, Saturday and Monday concerts
at The Crown Hotel, plus all our Céilís at St Agnes', are just
£40, from: www.returntolondontown.org
London’s Annual Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance
is presented by ‘Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL)’, for more
information about year round events and to sign up to our mailing
list see: www.irishmusicinlondon.org
Irish Music and Dance in London would like to thank its generous donor
and sponsors who has supported this year's Festival.
WELCOME
W
hat started out as our attempt to bring the
London Irish music community together
in one place at one time at the turn of the
century (Oct 1999) – a time when many traditional Irish
music, song and dance practitioners and followers
were missing regular opportunities to meet up due to
loss of venues, with landlords/ landladies returning to
Ireland during the ‘Celtic Tiger’ period – has turned into
a determined effort to continue to do this and, we feel,
so much more, over the last 25 years. We do feel this is
cause for celebration! So, to mark the occasion, we’ve
brought together a fantastic programme of wonderful
traditional Irish culture – with 22 artists visiting from
across 14 counties in Ireland and more great musicians
based here, featured in our concert programme alone.
Return to London Town Festival (formerly Return to
Camden Town until 2018) has long been a focal point
for our community, as well as being a high profile,
accessible way for new visitors to experience the music,
song and dance that we love. We are proud that the
Festival has been welcoming new Irish emigrants
and the wider multicultural community to share our
celebration of the best in traditional Irish culture, for a
quarter of a century.
We love that Return to London Town (RtLT) is an
intergenerational affair, Irish music in London has always
been this way. It is wonderful that this year, amongst
the 11 new members of an expanded ‘Irish Music and
Dance in London’ (IMDL) Team, seven of these are
great young musicians (all under the age of 25) who
have grown up with the Festival as an annual fixture in
their lives. Not only are all of our new team members a
welcome support to the core IMDL Organising Group,
but we see their involvement as important investment
in the long-term future of the Festival.
This year’s line-up of concert and album launch artists
is a cornucopia of talent. Many of these will also be
teaching workshops and leading sessions over the
weekend. Our popular session programme will take
place in 6 different spaces across the weekend.
We are looking forward to welcoming children from
near and far to our Céilí Dancing (Sat) and Singing (Sun)
afternoon workshops, with no previous experience
necessary, our tutors: Anne Drury and Chan Reid will
show how it’s done in an easy and fun way.
We are very excited about a new addition to this year’s
programme – our Sunday Traditional Irish Music Quiz
with Quizmaster, Mick Mulvey leading the way in the Ivy
Suite from 5pm. Come and test your knowledge!
This year’s impressive programme, featuring 30 main
events plus a large session programme, will again take
place predominantly in the beautiful 4 Star, The Crown
Hotel on Cricklewood Broadway. In collaboration with
hosts AG Hotels, IMDL will present four days of concerts,
céilís, workshops, album launches, sessions and a quiz,
across seven main spaces. There are restaurants, bars
and plenty of spaces to relax on site.
IMDL are pleased to be partnering again with the
great Ashford Place in Cricklewood to host most of the
Festival’s music workshops – numerous rooms across
three floors will be buzzing with tunes and songs on
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October, and the on-site
café will be keeping tutors, students and visitors alike
going with plenty of snacks and beverages available.
Set Dancing Céilís will be hosted just off Cricklewood
Lane on Saturday and Sunday at St Agnes’ Centre.
Everything is within easy walking distance.
Huge thanks go to the Emigrant Support Programme,
Culture Ireland, Irish Youth Foundation, Flannerys,
Ardmore, The Irish World and The Irish Post, without
whose support, we couldn’t even dream of hosting this
year’s Festival.
A massive thanks goes you my fellow IMDL Organsing
Group members who work hard with me year round:
Margaret Reilly, James Carty and Samantha O’Donovan,
as well as Fidelma McAuliffe. Also, thanks to our new
IMDL Expanded Team members: Annie Quinn, Caitlin
Mannion, Rachel Isherwood, Daniel O’Brien, Eoin Griffin,
Coral Haran, Brogan McAuliffe, Sarah Thompson, Helena
Mullins, Cathy Gillard and Jackie Quirke. Huge thanks, as
always, go to our wonderful RtLT and IMDL volunteers,
who help us deliver events.
All Festival tickets (including the excellent value
£40 weekend ticket) are now available to purchase
via links on www.irishmusicninlondon.org and
www.returntolondontown.org.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to
Cricklewood – hope you have
a fantastic weekend.
www.returntolondontown.org 3
 VENUES

FESTIVAL VENUES
CRICKLEWOOD: THE CROWN HOTEL
152 Cricklewood Broadway, London

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• Brent Room (ground floor)
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LUCKY 7
KILBURN: 7 Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2 1ET

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL
264-266 Kilburn High Road, London
NW6 2BY
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NOTICE RE PARKING RO
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Please note that there is free on street parking on a large number of roads on the Cricklewood Lane side of
VI

Cricklewood Broadway, from Friday after 6.30pm, all day Saturday and all day Sunday (excluding Elm, Oak,
Yew and Ash Groves). There is a limited amount of metered parking on the Chichele Road side of Cricklewood
Broadway (please read signs carefully). There are 38 parking spaces in the underground car park at The Crown
Hotel (charges apply).
Buses to Kilburn: 16, 32, 189, 316, 332

4 RtLT2023
 RETURN TO LONDON TOWN
PROGRAMME LISTINGS
All Inclusive tickets for all ticketed concerts and céilís are available to purchase for the bargain price of
£40! Individual event tickets are also available. All tickets at: www.returntolondontown.org

www.returntolondontown.org 5
 LISTINGS
FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER
EVENING CONCERT
• NOEL HILL AND BRIAN MCGRATH
• THE LONDON LASSES
• THE TRAD GATHERING
7:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £20/£6 under 18s
Noel Hill
NOEL HILL AND
BRIAN MCGRATH
Noel Hill, the doyen of the Irish
concertina, hails from Caherea,
in West Claire. His parents and
grandparents were concertina
players and his playing was
particularly influenced by his
uncle, Padraig A Chnoic.
Noel has played professionally
since the late 1970s. His critically
acclaimed album’s include Noel
Hill and Tony Linane (1979), Í gCnoc
Na Graí (1985), with celebrated
accordionist Tony MacMahon,
6 RtLT2023
Brian McGrath
The Irish Concertina One (1988),
Aislingí Céoil (1993), with Tony
MacMahon and Iarla Ó Lionáird
and The Irish Concertina Two (2005).
Noel has played throughout
Europe, the USA, Canada, China,
Hong Kong and Australia. He
teaches at his own Noel Hill
Irish Concertina Schools in
Ireland and the United States.
Brian McGrath comes from
Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, an
area steeped in traditional music.
Brian’s early professional work was
with Dervish and Four Men And
A Dog. He went on to work with
Noel Hill, Paul Brock and Frankie
Gavin, the Seán Keane Band and
De Dannan. He now plays with At
The Racket and is much sought
after as a session musician on
piano, banjo and mandolin. Brian
has toured extensively, done much
TV and media work, and recorded
on over 300 albums to date.
THE LONDON LASSES
The London Lasses recently
released their 25th anniversary
album, LL25. This is their 6th album,
featuring all new material and
including both past and present
band members (16 musicians in
total). The recording celebrates
the band’s musical journey
over the past quarter-century
and showcases the powerfully
traditional signature sound which
they've become known for.
Since first getting together for an
informal tour of the US in 1997, The
London Lasses have performed
at some of the biggest festivals
and venues in the world including
the Royal Albert Hall in London
at the BBC Proms, Cambridge
Folk Festival, Dublin City Hall, the
Concertgebouw, Philadelphia
Irish Festival and Glastonbury.
THE TRAD GATHERING
IMDL’s London-wide youth project
The Trad Gathering features 30
young traditional Irish musicians
led by Karen Ryan and Pete Quinn.
This evening, members of the
group will perform tunes from
the repertoire of the legendary
London Irish banjo player, Mick
O’Connor. An icon of the traditional
Irish music scene in London since
the 1970s, Mick often played music
here in The Crown down the years.
The Trad Gathering was jointly
commissioned in 2008 by the BBC
Proms and Return to Camden Town
Festival. In recent years, the group
have been celebrating music from
the repertoires of a number of
prominent members of the London
Irish music scene, including: Bryan
Rooney, The McCarthy Family,
Roger Sherlock, Lucy Farr, Danny
Meehan, John Bowe and Julia
Clifford. The group have performed
on stages including: the Royal
Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall,
Kings Place, Cadogan Hall, Mayor
of London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival
(Trafalgar Square stage) and more.

SESSIONS
5pm The Crown Hotel (Mezzanine) • Mick Mulvey, Robert Harvey, Peter McAlinden
• Free
8pm The Crown Hotel (Bar) • Jack Boyle, Martin Hughes, Rob Webb • Free
10pm The Crown Hotel (Living room) • Rita Farrell, Deirdre Hurley • Free
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ivy Suite bar open until 12am, The Crown Pub (ground floor) public bar open until
2am – Residents Bar open until 4am

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photos by Caitlin Mannion

www.returntolondontown.org 7
 LISTINGS

SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER

WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AFTERNOON
AND EVENING CONCERTS
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive at workshop venue 30 minutes before start
time to allow for registration. Tickets may be purchased on the door, but advance booking is recommended as
workshops are very popular and places are limited.

WORKSHOPS
FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH SORCHA COSTELLO
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
BANJO WORKSHOP WITH BERNIE CONNEELY
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH NOEL HILL
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH SEAN GAVIN
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
SEAN NÓS SINGING WORKSHOP WITH SAILEÓG NÍ CHEANNABHÁIN
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
TIN WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH BROGAN MCAULIFFE
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
HARP: TARA VISCARDI
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S CÉILÍ DANCING WORKSHOP WITH ANNE DRURY
1.30pm–2.30pm • Sala Room The Crown Hotel • £6
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH BRIAN MCGRATH
2pm–4pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
(Please bring your own keyboard if possible)

INSTRUMENTAL WORKSHOP TUTORS:

See Concert listings for Noel Hill, Michael McGoldrick, Tara Viscardi, Saileóg Ní Cheannabháin, Sorcha Costello

8 RtLT2023
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www.returntolondontown.org 9
 LISTINGS

Clifden, Co Galway and played in Ireland, Europe and the USA.

BERNIE CONNEELY
Bernie Conneely was born in
Bedford, England; Her father
Mick Snr came from Errislannan,
fiddle, accordion and tin whistle. She played with Templehouse and
Her Mother Lizzie, from Co Tribes Ceili Band. A member of The
Longford, was a beautiful step London Lasses, recorded on the
dancer. Traditional music was debut album released in 1999 and
an integral part of both social on the LL25 anniversary album. She
and family life. Bernie, as well as now lives in Westport Co Mayo.
learning from her father also took
lessons from the legendary Clare
musician and teacher Brendan
Mulkere; as did her siblings
Kathleen, Pauline and Mick Jnr.
Over the years Bernie has
performed, adjudicated and
taught at numerous workshops

BROGAN MCAULIFFE for 10 years. She has played at

Brogan McAuliffe’s parents hail from
Killarney, Co. Kerry. She was raised
in a musical household and taught
the tin whistle by her mother,
Fidelma. At the age of 10 Brogan
took up the concertina under the
tutelage of Maureen Linane.
Brogan holds 4 All-Ireland titles
and has performed as a band
member with The London Lasses
world class venues including the
Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican
Centre and Trafalgar Square. Also
a member of the Parish Céilí Band,
Brogan is an active member of
the thriving London music scene.
Brogan enjoys teaching both
whistle and concertina in London
and at various workshops and
festivals throughout Ireland.

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photo by Caitlin Mannion

10 RtLT2023
AFTERNOON CHILDREN’S CÉILÍ
DANCING WORKSHOP
• ANNE DRURY
1:30pm–2:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • £6
A fun introduction to Céilí Dancing for Children with experienced primary school and dance teacher – Anne Drury.
dancing and sean nós – having No experience is needed for
learnt herself from dancing masters this workshop, footwork will be
across Ireland. Anne’s knowledge shown – partner not needed.
spans a variety of styles with This workshop is open to
different formations and numbers. children and young participants
She also has knowledge of footwork up to the age of 18. Children
for particular dance styles. We under 12 years of age must
are delighted to welcome Anne
ANNE DRURY be accompanied by an adult
back to teaching at the Festival, (parents/ guardians are welcome
Anne Drury has 30 years experience
having hosted midweek dance to join if they wish). Children
in teaching and learning various
workshops during the early years. with special needs welcome.
forms of Irish dances – céilí, set

Programmed Music Sessions from 1pm until late: The Crown Hotel, plus other Cricklewood and
Kilburn venues – FREE

SESSIONS
12pm The Crown Hotel (Mezzanine) • Ben and Ella Connolly, Oisín McGinley,
Tom Campbell, Caitlin Mannion • Free
1pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Sinéad Linane, Maureen Linane Hankins,
Reg Hall • Free
2pm The Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • Seán Gavin Liam Nolan Terence O’Flaherty • Free
3pm The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) Tutor Led Session • Noel Hill, Sorcha Costello,
Peter McAlinden • Free
4pm 
Lucky 7 • Noreen Cullen, Adrian Burns, Eoin Griffin, Catherine McGoldrick,
Kevin O’Connor• Free
5pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room)• Elaine Conwell, Bernie Conneely,
Sharon Whelton • Free
6pm The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Singing Session hosted by Pat Connolly • Free
6pm The Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • Noel Whelton, Elma McElligott, Tad Sargent • Free
7:30pm Sir Colin Campbell • Caroline Kunzler, Marie McCormack, Niall Farrelly • Free
10pm 
The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • John Rynne, Susan Ni Ris, Pete Quinn • Free
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ivy Suite bar open until 12am, The Crown Pub (ground floor) public bar open until 2am –
Residents Bar open until 4am

www.returntolondontown.org 11
LISTINGS

www.irishpost.com

CONNECTING
IRISH PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD
/TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost

12 RtLT2023
AFTERNOON CONCERT
Please note that all advertised concert times are door opening times. Performances will commence 30 minutes
after doors open.
• MAIRÉAD AND DEIRDRE HURLEY WITH JOHN BLAKE
• PÁDRAIC KEANE, PÁRAIC MACDONNCHADHA
AND MACDARA Ó FAOLÁIN
• TARA VISCARDI AND ROBERT HARVEY
2pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • Tickets £10/£6 under 18s
MAIRÉAD AND
DEIRDRE HURLEY
WITH JOHN BLAKE
Sisters Mairéad and Deirdre
Hurley grew up in a musical
household in Ballymote, Co. Sligo,
immersed in the music of their
locality from a young age. Mairéad
has performed on stages and
taught concertina in Ireland, the
UK, across Europe, North America,
Australia and New Zealand. In
2016, Mairéad, John Blake and
Nathan Gourley released a trio
album entitled The Truckley Howl.
Flautist and singer Deirdre has also
performed extensively at home
and abroad, including appearances
in Áras an Uachtaráin, Liberty Hall,
and further afield in Switzerland,
Lithuania and Slovakia. She appears
on The Thursday Sessions album
released by The Cobblestone
Pub. She has been a featured
artist at Cruinniu na bhFlúit, NPU’s
Session with the Pipers, as well
as at the Frank Harte and Sean-
Nós Cois Life singing festivals.
In 2021, Mairéad and Deirdre
were invited to contribute to the
Drawing from the Well series created
by the Irish Traditional Music
Archive (ITMA). Their numerous
television appearances include Slí
na mBeaglaoich on TG4 in 2021,
along with Mairéad’s husband
John Blake on guitar, who joins
them on stage at the Festival.
www.returntolondontown.org 13
PÁDRAIC KEANE
Born into a great musical family,
Uilleann piper Pádraic Keane hails
from Maree, Co. Galway. A tutor at
many music festivals in Ireland and
abroad, in 2011 he was awarded
TG4 Young Musician of the Year
Award. He has toured America as
a soloist with The Irish Chamber
Orchestra and has collaborated with
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, RTÉ Concert
and RTÉ Symphony Orchestras.
Pádraic has toured Europe with the
dance show Ragús and worked with
Galway's theatre and arts groups
– An Taibhdhearc, Branar and
Macnas. Pádraic features on albums
including The Rolling Wave – by Na
Píobairí Uilleann, Tunes in the Church
and Rogha Raelach. In 2022, he
released the highly acclaimed solo
piping album entitled In Full Tune.
 LISTINGS
PÁRAIC
MACDONNCHADHA
The son of renowned Connemara
sean nós singer, Seán Mac
Donnchada, banjo player Páraic
was born in Ahascra, Galway.
Páraic played alongside fellow East
Galway musicians, Paddy Carty
(flute), Conor Tully (fiddle) and Frank
Hogan (bouzouki) for many years
and acknowledges Paddy Fahey,
TARA VISCARDI AND
ROBERT HARVEY
Hailing from the Beara Peninsula
in the South-West of Ireland, Tara
Viscardi is an Irish traditional/
folk, baroque and classical harpist.
Tara has performed and recorded
in venues including Wigmore
Hall and Abbey Road Studios in
London as well as the National
Concert Hall, Áras an Uachtaráin
and the Mansion House in Dublin.
A graduate of the Royal College
14 RtLT2023
Paddy Carty and Conor Tully as the
principal influences on his style.
He is particularly admired for
the subtlety of his playing and
is regarded as one of Ireland’s
finest banjo players. He has held
a long association with the Feakle
Festival, where he released his
debut album, Not Before Time…
39 Years in the Making, in 2018.
of Music London, Civica Scuola
di Musica Claudio Abbado Milan
and TU Dublin Conservatoire,
performances have taken her
across Ireland, the UK, Switzerland,
Germany, Italy, Belgium and Hong
Kong. She has collaborated with
many artists across different genres
and has ongoing projects with
her baroque/folk group Nobody’s
Jig, saxophonist Robert Finegan
and flautist Robert Harvey.
MACDARA Ó FAOLÁIN
MacDara Ó Faoláin is a multi-
instrumentalist and instrument
maker from An Rinn, County
Waterford. On his main instrument,
bouzouki, he has performed and
recorded with some of the best
musicians in Irish Traditional Music
including Páraic MacDonnchadha,
Derek Hickey, The Friel Sisters,
Caoimhín and Seán Ó Fearghail,
Victoria Pierce and Nell Ní Chróinín.
His intimate knowledge of
harmony and gentle instrumental
technique come together to
create his own unique style of
accompaniment on the bouzouki.
Beo is a new, live recorded
album from Pádraic Keane, Páraic
MacDonnchadha and Macdara
Ó Faoláin – inspired by coming
together to play ‘flat tuned’ sessions
at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy.
Robert Harvey is a highly regarded
flautist from Mountrath, Co.
Laois. In 2020, Robert released
his critically acclaimed solo flute
album Feochán. He has toured
internationally with Dónal Lunny’s
band Cíorras, the Traditional Arts
Collective, The Katerina Garcia Band
and The National Folk Orchestra
of Ireland. Robert’s first book,
Feadail, exploring the whistling
tradition in Ireland will be published
in 2023 by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri
Éireann. Robert recently completed
PhD research on Traditional
Composition in the East Galway
Style, is a music lecturer at Trinity
College Dublin and DCU, and is a
well-established teacher of flute,
tin whistle, whistling and lilting.
Robert and Tara’s new BEARA
project features music collected
and composed on the Beara
Peninsula alongside contemporary
compositions inspired by the area.
TUTOR LED SESSION
• SORCHA COSTELLO, NOEL HILL, PETER MCALINDEN
3pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free

SINGING SESSION
• PAT CONNOLLY WITH GUEST: OLIVER MULLIGAN
6pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free

SET DANCING CÉILÍ

• MUSIC BY THE PARISH CÉILÍ BAND, WITH HOST TOM KELLEHER
4pm–7pm • St Agnes' Centre, Cricklewood • Tickets £12, free for under 18s
accompanied by an adult)
The Parish Céilí Band were formed
in 2019, borne out of a Friday
night session that used to take
place in The Parish pub, Wembley.
Founding members included Chris
Maguire, Rita Farrell, Jack Boyle,
Órlaith and Brogan McAuliffe.
The band won the All Britain
Senior Céilí Band title in the first
year. They continue to be in high
demand for céilís and concerts
and are able to call on a number of
London’s community of musicians
to perform when needed. This will
be their fourth appearance at the
Return to London Town Festival.

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photos by Caitlin Mannion

www.returntolondontown.org 15
 LISTINGS

FULL EVENT PROGRAMME

ALL MUSIC AND SONG EVENTS FOR UNDER 18s: £6
Festival tickets available from: www.returntolondontown.org
SPECIAL OFFER TICKETS: £40 All Inclusive Concerts and Céilís
Spaces at the The Crown Hotel: Ivy Suite (basement), Mezzanine (first floor), Sala Room (first floor), Living Room
(ground floor), Crown Pub (ground floor), Brent Room (ground floor), Camden Room (ground floor).
FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER 2023
5pm Session Mick Mulvey, Robert Harvey, Peter McAlinden The Crown Hotel Free
(Mezzanine)
7.30pm Evening Concert Noel Hill and Brian McGrath/ The London Lasses/ The Crown Hotel (Ivy £20/ £6 U18
The Trad Gathering Suite)
8pm Session Jack Boyle, Martin Hughes, Rob Webb The Crown Pub Free
10pm Session Rita Farrell, Deirdre Hurley, Libby McCrohan The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ground Floor public bar open until 12am, Ivy Suite public bar open until 2am – Residents Bar open until 4am
SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2023
Please arrive at instrumental workshop venue to register at 10.30am
11am-1pm Fiddle Workshop Sorcha Costello Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Banjo Workshop Bernie Conneely Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Concertina Noel Hill Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Flute Workshop Michael McGoldrick Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Button Accordion Seán Gavin Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Sean Nós Singing Saileog Ní Cheannabháin Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Whistle Workshop Brogan McAuliffe The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Harp Workshop Tara Viscardi The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
12pm Session Oisín McGinley, Tom Campbell, Caitlin Mannion, The Crown Hotel Free
Ben and Ella Connolly (Mezzanine)
1pm Session Sinéad Linane, Maureen Linane Hankins, Reg Hall The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
1.30pm Children’s Céilí Dancing – no experience required, Tutor: The Crown Hotel £5
Afternoon Anne Drury (Sala Room)
Workshop
2pm Afternoon Concert Mairéad and Deirdre Hurley with John Blake/ The Crown Hotel (Ivy £10/ £6 U18s
Pádraic Keane, Páraic MacDonnchadha and Suite)
MacDara Ó Faoiláin/ Tara Viscardi and Robert
Harvey
2-4pm Piano Brian McGrath Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Accompaniment
Workshop
2pm Session Seán Gavin Liam Nolan Terence O’Flaherty The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
3pm Tutor Led Session Noel Hill, Sorcha Costello, Peter McAlinden The Crown Hotel Free
(Sala Room)
4-7pm Set Dancing Céilí Parish Céilí Band with Tom Kelleher St Agnes’ Centre £12/ U18s
free when
accompanied by
paying adult
4pm Session Noreen Cullen, Adrian Burns, Eoin Griffin, Lucky 7 Free
Catherine McGoldrick, Kevin O’Connor
5pm Session Elaine Conwell, Bernie Conneely, Sharon Whelton The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
6pm Singing Session Singing Session hosted by Pat Connolly with The Crown Hotel Free
guest: Oliver Mulligan (Sala Room)

16 RtLT2023
6pm Session Noel Whelton, Elma McElligott, Tad Sargent The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
7.30pm Evening Concert John Carty, Michael McGoldrick, Matt Griffin, The Crown Hotel (Ivy £20/ £6 U18s
Michael McCague/ Saileóg Ní Cheannabháin and Suite)
Pádraic Keane/ Harry Bradley, James Carty and
Libby McCrohan
7.30pm Session Marie McCormack, Caroline Kunzler, Niall Farrelly Sir Colin Campbell Free
10pm Session John Rynne, Susan Ni Ris, Pete Quinn The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ground Floor public bar open until 12am, Ivy Suite public bar open until 2am – Residents Bar open until 4am
SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER 2023
Please arrive at instrumental workshop venue to register at 10.30am
11am-1pm Concertina Mairéad Hurley Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
11am-1pm Flute Workshop Harry Bradley Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Whistle Workshop Peter McAlinden Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Uilleann Pipes Pádraic Keane Ashford Place £10/ £6 U18s
11am-1pm Accompaniment MacDara Ó Faoiláin The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
Workshop
12pm Session Alan, Rosie and Clare O’Leary The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
2-4pm Children’s Singing, Tutor: Chan Reid The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
Afternoon 2-3pm (aged 6-11)
Workshop 3-4pm (aged 12-18)
2-5pm Set Dancing Céilí Parish Céilí Band with Tom Kelleher St. Agnes’ Centre £12/ U18s
free when
accompanied by
a paying adult
2pm Session Annie Quinn, Katie Quinn, Eneko Lane, Finbar and The Crown Hotel Free
Peter Murphy (Crown Pub)
3pm Tutor Led Session Mairéad Hurley, Deirdre Hurley, Peter Mc Alinden The Crown Hotel Free
(Sala Room)
4pm Session Mick O’Connor, John Bowe, Caroline Regan, Mick The Crown Hotel Free
Bailey (Living Room)
5pm Quiz (teams of 3 -6) ‘Tradiversity Challenge’ Quiz with Host: Mick The Crown Hotel (Ivy Free
Mulvey Suite)
5pm Session Philippe Barnes, Tara McCarthy, Niall Farrelly Barrett’s Freehouse Free
5pm Singing Session Singing Session hosted by Chan Reid The Crown Hotel Free
(Brent Room)
6pm Session John Carty, Michael McGoldrick, Matt Griffin The Crown Hotel Free
(Crown Pub)
7pm Album Launch Sorcha Costello and John Blake/ Pádraic Keane, The Crown Hotel Free
Event Páraic MacDonnchadha and MacDara Ó Faoiláin/ (Sala Room)
Seán Gavin
7pm Session Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan and friends Sir Colin Campbell Free
8-10.30pm Evening Céilí for All Music by McCool Trad, Caller: William Macken The Crown Hotel (Ivy £5
Suite)
9pm Session Harry Bradley, Mairéad Hurley, MacDara Ó Faoláin The Crown Hotel Free
(Living Room)
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ground Floor public bar open until 12am, Ivy Suite public bar open until 11pm.
MONDAY 30 OCTOBER 2023
2pm Afternoon Concert Mary MacNamara, Sorcha Costello and Pete The Crown Hotel £10/ £6 U18s
Quinn/ Seán Gavin, Mick O’Connor and Peter (Ivy Suite)
McAlinden/ London Irish Pensioner’s Choir

• THE CROWN HOTEL 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3ED

• ASHFORD PLACE 60 Ashford Road, London NW2 6TU
• ST AGNES’ PARISH CENTRE 22 Caddington Road (corner of Gillingham Road), London NW2 1DQ
• BARRETT’S FREEHOUSE 239 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3HP
• LUCKY 7 7 Cricklewood Lane, London NW2 1ET
• SIR COLIN CAMPBELL 264-266 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 2BY

www.returntolondontown.org 17
 LISTINGS

EVENING CONCERT
This concert is dedicated to the Memory of Jimmy Philbin

In Association with and

• JOHN CARTY, MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK,

MATT GRIFFIN, MICHAEL MCCAGUE
• SAILEOG NÍ CHEANNABHÁIN AND PÁDRAIC KEANE
• HARRY BRADLEY, JAMES CARTY AND LIBBY MCCROHAN
7:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £20/£6 under 18s

JOHN CARTY
AND MICHAEL
MCGOLDRICK
John Carty is a leading exponent
of the North Connacht style and
has impressive knowledge of the
music of Sligo emigrant musicians.
He was awarded the TG4 Gradam
Ceoil Traditional Music of the Year
in 2003. He has released several
solo albums on fiddle and banjo
and has recorded a number of
duet albums including two with
flute-player Matt Molloy, one with
fiddle-player Brian Rooney, Settle
Out of Court with his daughter,
the singer and banjo player
Maggie Carty and most recently
The Wavy Bow Collection with his
son, fiddle player James Carty.
John has been joined in this musical
exploration by accomplished piper,
Michael McGoldrick. A co-founder
of Flook and Lúnasa, and a linchpin
of Capercaillie’s line-up since 1998.
Manchester-born flute/whistle and
uilleann pipes maestro, Michael has
performed around the globe in ex-
Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler’s
band. Collaborations include
– Youssou N’Dour, Zakir Hussain,
John Cale and the Transatlantic
Sessions. Michael’s trailblazing
work as a player and composer
is showcased on his three solo
albums to date and his live
performances with the exhilarating
Michael McGoldrick Band.
Their new duet album At Our
Leisure explores the exciting and
innovative combination of the
banjo with uilleann pipes, as well
as utilising fiddle, tenor guitar
and flute. They are joined by the
much sought after accompanists,
Michael McCague (bouzouki)
and Matt Griffin (guitar).
SAILEOG NÍ
CHEANNABHÁIN AND
PÁDRAIC KEANE
Saileog Ní Cheannabháin is a
musician, sean nós singer and
composer, who grew up in a musical
family. A native Irish speaker, she has
played traditional and classical music
on piano as well as traditional music
on fiddle and viola from a young age.
She has released two albums to
date, I bhfíor-dheiriú oidche (2012)
and Rothleán (2016), features on
other albums including: Ensemble
Ériu (2011), Tunes in the Church (2013),
Rogha Raelach Volume 1 (2020),
and Úna Monathan’s Aonaracht
(2023). She also contributed to
research work for the Amhráin
Ó Iorrus compilation (2014).
Saileog works with Ailbhe Nic
Dhonncha and Pádraic Keane,
arranging sean nós songs from
Connemara and Rinn Ó gCiamach.
They have recently recorded with
the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

18 RtLT2023

Harry Bradley
Please see page 13 for Pádraic
Keane biog.
HARRY BRADLEY,
JAMES CARTY AND
LIBBY MCCROHAN
Harry Bradley is a flute player
and piper from Belfast and one of
the most influential musicians of
his generation. He has travelled
extensively in Ireland and overseas
both as a flute teacher and as a
performer with groups such as
Cran, Altan and The Taproom
Trio. His distinctive rhythmic
playing style is influenced by early
James Carty
recordings of Irish music, and by
the great flute players of counties
Galway, Sligo and Leitrim. In 2014
he received the Gradam Ceoil TG4
Musician of the Year award for his
contribution to traditional music.
Originally from Boyle, fiddle
player James Carty now lives
in London where he performs
regularly. He recorded his first
solo CD Hiding Daylight in Dark
Corners in 2017 followed by a duet
album The Wavy Bow Collection
in 2020 with his father, John.
James and Harry played regularly
together in sessions in Roscommon
when they both lived in the area
and recorded some duet tracks
on Harry’s solo CD The First of
May in 2013. Inspired by flute and
fiddle greats of Sligo such as Fred
Finn and Peter Horan, they also
recently performed in Brittany.
Libby McCrohan is an Irish
traditional musician from Dublin.
She plays a round back Greek
bouzouki. Her approach to
accompaniment is sensitive,
subtle, and rhythmical, taking
inspiration from the regulator
playing of uilleann pipers. Libby
has performed all over Ireland and
abroad and has featured on two
albums to date – Heard a Long Gone
Song by Lisa O’Neill (2018) and Not
Before Time...39 Years in the Making
by Páraic Mac Donnchadha (2018).

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE!

Good quality t-shirts, hoodies, long sleeved tops in a variety of
colours and styles – with this year's Festival logo featured.
Also new to our merchandise range: Stickers, Mugs, Canvas Tote
Bags and Coasters. All available online through our websites:
www.returntolondontown.org
www.irishmusicinlondon.org
or directly from: www.mudchutney.co.uk/collections/return-to-
london-town-2023

www.returntolondontown.org 19
LISTINGS

Return to London IW 2023.qxp_Layout 1 15/09/2023 17:43 Page 1

@theirishworld

SCAN TO START
READING THE
IRISH WORLD ON
YOUR SMART
DEVICE

MUSIC
makes the
IRISH
WORLD
GO
ROUND! My WEEK
in TRAD
with Helen
ON SALE EVERY Mullen

WEDNESDAY IN ALL FAREWELL,

SEAMUS
GOOD NEWS OUTLETS
LAST WEEK’S Irish World went to press just hours before news

The Irish World newspaper

broke of the untimely passing of trad musician Seamus Begley,
aged just 73.
Which meant that instead of a tribute to the great man, my
column was about the boom in sales of toy accordions thanks
to the Disney film Encanto. This week I get to make up for it.
But uncannily, toy accordions remind me meeting Seamus for
the first time. He was getting ready to perform at the London
Irish Centre for the Return to Camden Town festival, and was
messing around with a toy accordion someone had given him.
He suddenly handed it to me, saying ‘here, see if you can get

is proud to support
anything out of it.’
I played a few bars of Sally Gardens, but he was more
pleased with the fact that I accepted his playful offer, rather
than anything I played.
Any time I saw him perform; at the Return to Camden festival
as well as TradFest in Dublin, The Gathering in Killarney, and the
surprise appearances at the concerts of his friends – of whom
he had many – Seamus was a pure joy to be around. But the
cheeky schoolboy demeanour was a modest front for a man

traditional Irish music

who was a masterful accordion player and singer.
He was encouraging to all young musicians not through lofty
advice, but by treating you as his equal.
His shows were part stand up comedy, part family get-
together - in short, it is how trad music is meant to be enjoyed.
It’s difficult to believe now that there won’t be any more
memorable concerts in his company. His death is a loss, but his
life was a gift, and we will be grateful for his
music for many generations to come.
Sincerest condolences to his family and

and the Return to London

friends.
Lea
Learn
LEARN TO PLAY!
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. to Play!
Button
Accordion
Button
Accordion
IN OUT
TOP ROW
E A G B C D E F G A G B E D G F G A E B

Town Festival
D# G# F# A# B G# D# E F# G# B A # D# C # F # E B G# D # A# F # C#
BOTTOM ROW

'
Dawning of the Day
'
''''''''''''''''''''''!''4'''''5'''5'''''''5''''4'''5''''''/'''/''''6'''''/''5''''''!'''4'''''!''!'''''''''!''''''''''/''
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'

LEARN A TUNE
'
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IN OUR WEEKLY
'
''''''''''''''''6'''''''''/''6'''''!:''''''''5'''''''''4''!'''''''5''''''''/''''''5''''''!:''''5''''''''''4''''''''''''!''4''
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'

TRAD COLUMN
''''''''''''''''5'''''5'''''''5''''''4'''5'''''''/'''/''''''''6'''''''/'''5''''''!''''5''''''''4'''''''!'''''''!'''
''''''''''''''''9''''9'''''''9'''''''8''9''''''''8''8'''''''''9''''''''8'''9''''''7'''''9'''''''8'''''''7''''''''7''''
''

20 RtLT2023
SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER
WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AFTERNOON
CÉILÍ AND ALBUM LAUNCH CONCERT
Please note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are
welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers. Please arrive at workshop venue 30 minutes before start
time to allow for registration. Tickets may be purchased on the door, but advance booking is recommended as
workshops are very popular and places are limited.

WORKSHOPS
TIN WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH PETER MCALINDEN
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH JOHN CARTY
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
BANJO WORKSHOP WITH PÁRAIC MACDONNCHADHA
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH MAIREAD HURLEY
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
UILEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH PÁDRAIC KEANE
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH HARRY BRADLEY
11am–1pm • Ashford Place • £10/£6 under 18s
ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH MACDARA Ó FAOLÁIN
11am–1pm • The Crown Hotel • £10/£6 under 18s
CHILDREN’S SINGING WORKSHOP WITH CHAN REID
2pm–4pm • The Crown Hotel • £6
An introduction to singing Irish Songs with Chan Reid. No experience required. U12s to be accompanied by
an adult. 2-3pm: aged 6–11, 3-4pm: aged 12–18..

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photo by Caitlin Mannion

www.returntolondontown.org 21
LISTINGS

SESSIONS
12pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Alan, Rosie and Clare O’Leary • Free
2pm T
 he Crown Hotel (Crown Pub) • Annie Quinn, Katie Quinn, Eneko Lane, Finbar
and Peter Murphy • Free
3pm The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) Tutor Led Session • Mairéad Hurley,
Deirdre Hurley, Peter Mc Alinden • Free
4pm T
 he Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Mick O’Connor, John Bowe, Caroline Regan,
Mick Bailey • Free
5pm The Crown Hotel (Brent Room) • Singing Session hosted by Chan Reid • Free
5pm Barrett’s Freehouse • Philippe Barnes, Tara McCarthy, Niall Farrelly • Free
6pm T
 he Crown Hotel (Crown Pub)• John Carty, Michael McGoldrick, Matt Griffin
• Free
7pm Sir Colin Campbell • Mick O’Connor, Caroline Regan, Mick Bailey • Free
9pm The Crown Hotel (Living Room) • Harry Bradley, Mairéad Hurley,
MacDara Ó Faoláin • Free
The Crown Hotel Bars: Ivy Suite bar open until 11pm, The Crown Pub (ground floor) public bar open until 12am.

SET DANCING CÉILÍ

• MUSIC BY THE PARISH CÉILÍ BAND WITH HOST TOM KELLEHER
2pm–5pm • St Agnes’ Centre, Cricklewood • £12, free for under 18s
accompanied by an adult

TUTOR LED SESSION

• MAIRÉAD AND DEIRDRE HURLEY, PETER MCALINDEN
3pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free

22 RtLT2023
www.returntolondontown.org 23
 LISTINGS
TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC QUIZ
• WITH HOST: MICK MULVEY
5pm • The Crown Hotel • Free
At RtLT we are constantly looking
for new ideas to entertain our
festival-goers. Remember, during
lockdown, those great online Trad
Quizzes?…well…why not have a
Trad Quiz at the festival?...and why
not make it a table quiz? So are
you a bit of a tradhead? A bit of a
traditional Irish music aficionado?
Well, why not test that claim…
EVENING ALBUM LAUNCH EVENT
• SORCHA COSTELLO AND JOHN BLAKE
• PÁDRAIC KEANE, PÁRAIC MACDONNCHADHA
AND MACDARA Ó FAOILÁIN
• SEÁN GAVIN
7pm • The Crown Hotel (Sala Room) • Free
SORCHA COSTELLO
Awarded with the prestigious
Gradam Ceoil TG4 Young Musician
of the Year 2021, Sorcha Costello is
a traditional Irish fiddle player from
Tulla Co. Clare who hails from a
family immersed in traditional Irish
music. From a young age, Sorcha
has enjoyed performing nationally
and internationally. She is also in
high demand as a teacher of music.
Released in June 2023, Sorcha
Costello’s debut solo fiddle album
The Primrose Lass is deeply rooted
in the East Clare style, yet contains
24 RtLT2023
Ticket can be reserved in advance
Here’s how it works:
• Up to 10 teams of 3-6 people
• 6 rounds of 10 questions
over approximately 1 hour
• You can reserve free tickets in
advance through Eventbrite
or sign up on the day.
Prizes: tickets to Return to London
Town Festival 2024 and a chance
to get your team name of the
perpetual Quiz Trophy!
all her other musical influences
from around the world. Sorcha
will be launching her solo album
at the Festival with highly sought
after accompanist, John Blake, who
plays guitar on the recording.
Pádraic Keane, Páraic
MacDonnchadha and
MacDara Ó Faoiláin – see
pages 13 and 14 for biogs.
SEÁN GAVIN
Seán, Noreen and Frankie Gavin
were born in Corrandulla in County
Galway, where their father, J.J.
If the event is a success and festival
goers like the quiz we might make
it an annual feature of RtLT .
So in between the jigs and reels
and all the other magical events
on Sunday afternoon, if you fancy
a challenge instead of propping
up the bar, get a couple of buddies
and sign up for an hour…
Gavin, ran a small thatched pub. As
children, they remember spending
many a night listening from the top
of the stair to visiting musicians,
such as Eddie Maloney, Tommy
Mulhaire, John Conneely, Jimmy
Hill and Paddy Farrell, playing in
the kitchen after a céilí in the local
parish hall. Music is in their blood.
Seán Gavin, the eldest of the family,
is a senior All Ireland champion on
the button accordion and has toured
extensively. He has performed on
TV and radio and has recorded the
screen music for the hit TV series
‘The Irish RM’. In 2011 he received a
Gradam an Chomhaltas medallion. He
teaches accordion, gives workshops
and master classes. Seán launches
his debut solo album Fisherman’s
Lilt at this year’s Festival. Seán will
be accompanied this evening
by Peter McAlinden on piano.
EVENING CÉILÍ FOR ALL
• MC COOL TRAD
DANCE CALLER: WILLIAM MACKEN
8pm–10:30pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £5

The Evening Ceili for All was one
of the highlights from last year’s
festival with all ages taking to
the dance floor for a wonderful
celebration at the end of a magical
weekend. McCool Trad return once
again to provide the music. They are
made up of Joe O´Connor, a fiddle
player from County Tyrone, London
born accordionist Elaine Finn
Davis and Finbarr Walsh, a piano
accordionist from County Down.
The three met at the Ennis Trad
Festival, County Clare in 2017
and were immediately attracted
to each other’s strong style of
playing. Influenced by music
from the northern counties of
Ireland. Their concerts are a mix
of Irish traditional music and
popular songs from the fifties
and sixties sung by Finbarr.

FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photo by Caitlin Mannion

www.returntolondontown.org 25
 LISTINGS
MONDAY 30TH OCTOBER
AFTERNOON CONCERT
In association with Irish Elderly Advice Network
• MARY MACNAMARA, SORCHA COSTELLO AND PETE QUINN
• SEÁN GAVIN, MICK O’CONNOR AND PETER MCALINDEN
• LONDON IRISH PENSIONERS CHOIR
2pm • The Crown Hotel (Ivy Suite) • £10/£6 under 18s
MARY MACNAMARA
Music was a way of life when Mary
was growing up in East Clare, she
learned much from her mother Ita,
whose discernment in music was
unquestionable, with a musical
pedigree reaching back many
generations. Mary’s musical style
was further honed and perfected
as a young girl sitting by the
fireside in the homes of Mikey
Donoghue in Ballinahinch and P.
Joe Hayes of Maghera and then
Sunday afternoon sessions with
Joe Bane and Bill Malley in Lena’s
Bar in Feakle. This unique musical
nurturing has resulted in Mary
being a highly respected musician
performing at home and abroad
and also one of the most sought-
after teachers of Irish Music today.
London’s own Mick O’Connor,
who plays Tenor Banjo, Mandolin,
inherited a love of Irish music
from his parents who came from
County Kerry and Roscommon
in Ireland. "The Dubliners" banjo
player, Barry McKenna, inspired
26 RtLT2023
Mick to learn the Banjo in 1967.
He learned tunes from the great
London Irish musicians, including
John Bowe, Bobby Casey, Tommy
McCarthy, and Roger Sherlock, and
is particularly influenced by Clare,
Galway and Kerry styles of playing.
All Ireland winner on the tenor
banjo in 1971, Mick has been
playing since 1967 and is a veteran
of the great days of the London
Irish music scene of the 1960s,
70s and 80s. In 2013, he was
honoured by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Éireann, which bestowed its Bardic
Award on him for his ‘exceptional
contribution to the promotion
of Ireland’s cultural traditions’.
See page 24 for Sorcha
Costello’s biog.
See page 24 for Seán Gavin’s biog.
THE LONDON IRISH
PENSIONERS CHOIR
The London Irish Pensioners Choir
brings together more than 30 older
Irish people, most in their 70s and
80s. They come from all over Ireland
and have made their homes here
in London over many decades. The
choir was founded over 10 years
ago. Although an independent
group, it has been supported
by the Irish Elderly Advice
Network throughout this time.
The choir has performed for
audiences of tens of thousands
including at London’s St Patrick’s
Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square
for several years, and as part of
the Irish community choir in the
Royal Albert Hall in honour of
President Michael D Higgin’s state
visit to Britain in 2014. They have
sung on UK television, including
for Sir Terry Wogan on ITV and
on the BBC’s The One Show. They
have performed on RTĖ Radio and
Television, and are regularly played
by Donncha Ó Dúlaing on the very
popular Fáilte Isteach (10pm on
Saturday evenings on RTÉ Radio 1).
The choir has recorded a beautiful
album of old Irish songs, Songs
of Love and Emigration, which
has been very popular with
the Irish community, both
in London and in Ireland.
We are delighted to welcome the
choir back to the Festival after their
recent performance at Dublin's RDS
as part of RTÉ's 'Ireland 100 – An
Old Song Resung', for which they
received a standing ovation.
FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photos by Caitlin Mannion

www.returntolondontown.org 27
LISTINGS

A5 ADVERT LAST PAGE.qxp_GRD Ireland 2006 PRO.qxt 16/10/2019 10:11 Page 19

I
rish Traditional Music is at the heart of the Irish culture
and history, never as a static antiquity, the tradition is
alive and vital, open to change yet conservative of its
core values. The essence of Irish Music Magazine is to
reflect what is happening in Irish music in contemporary society.
From the commercial recordings of traditional tunes, to experimentation
with other musical cultures, Irish Music Magazine keeps readers informed
about upcoming tours, events and festivals from the diverse world of
Irish and Celtic acoustic music.
Irish Music Magazine, strives to inform readers and musicians alike,
keeping you abreast of all major developments in the Irish Traditional
Music community. It is this vital human contact which is at the heart of
the music experience and is the reason why Irish Music Magazine is
the leading independent voice on Irish music in the world.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS

28 RtLT2023
 REGULAR SESSIONS 2023
Join our mailing list
to receive regular
newsletters about Irish
music events in London.
Subscribe here: www.
irishmusicinlondon.org

Some weekly
sessions happening
around London:

TUESDAY GARDEN GATE PUB IN SIR COLIN CAMPBELL (8PM)

THE HANBURY ARMS (7PM) 33
Linton St, London N1 7DU
– Tel: 020 7288 2222
THE LAMB TAVERN (8.30PM)
54 Holloway Rd, London
N7 – Tel: 020 7609 0253
SOUTH LONDON IRISH
ASSOCIATION CLUB (9PM)
138-140 Hartfield Rd,
Merton, London SW19 3TG
– Tel: 020 8543 0608
WEDNESDAY
ABERCORN ARMS (7.30PM)
76-78 Church Road, Teddington,
TW11 8EY - Tel: 020 3730 6602
LONDON IRISH CENTRE (7.30PM)
50-52 Camden Square, London
NW1 9XB - Tel: 020 7916 2222
THE OLD JUSTICE (7PM)
94 Bermondsey Wall East,
London SE16 4TY
MCGOVERN'S (8PM)
60 High Rd, London NW10
2PU - Tel. 020 8830 4981
THE HAND OF GLORY (8PM)
240 Amhurst Road, Lower
Clapton, London E8 2BS
– Tel: 020 7249 7455
MASCARA BAR (8.30PM)
(fortnightly), 72 Stamford
Hill, London N16 6XS –
Tel: 07432 255357
THURSDAY
YE OLDE MONKEN HOLT
193 High Street, Hadley, Barnet
EN5 5SU – Tel: 020 8449 4280
HAMPSTEAD (7.30PM)
(first Thursday of the month) 14
South End Road, Hampstead
NW3 2QE – Tel: 020 7435 4938
PRINCE ALBERT (8.30PM) 54-56
Hounslow Rd, Whitton, Twickenham
TW2 7EX – Tel: 020 8898 1871
THE MAGDALA (8.30PM)
2a South Hill Park, London NW3
2SB – Tel: 020 7433 8322
BLYTHE HILL TAVERN (8.30PM)
319 Stanstead Road, London
SE23 1JB – Tel. 020 8690 5176
FRIDAY
BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR (8PM)
90 Highgate Hill, London N19 5NQ
– Email: brendanthenavigator@
outlook.com
IRISH CULTURAL CENTRE
(5.30PM) 5 Black’s Road,
Hammersmith W6 9DT –
Tel: 020 8563 8232
HOP POLE (8PM)
64 Putney Bridge Road, London
SW18 1HR – Tel: 020 8870 8188
SOUTH LONDON IRISH
ASSOCIATION CLUB (9PM)
(Last Friday of the Month)
138-140 Hartfield Rd,
Merton, London SW19 3TG
– Tel: 020 8543 0608
SATURDAY
HOWL AT THE MOON (3-5PM)
178 Hoxton St, London N1
5LH – Tel. 020 7688 1970
www.returntolondontown.org 29
264-266 Kilburn High Road, London
NW6 2BY – Tel. 020 7693 5443
JAMBOREE
(2nd Friday of the Month),
6 Chad’s Place, London WC1X
9HH – Tel. 020 7693 5443
SUNDAY
HOWL AT THE MOON (3PM)
178 Hoxton St, London N1
5LH – Tel: 020 7739 9221
THE RAMBLE INN
223 Mitcham Rd, Tooting, London
SW17 9JG – Tel: 020 8767 4040
THE SHEEPHAVEN BAY
2 Mornington Crescent, London
NW1 7QD – Tel: 020 7380 1323
SIR COLIN CAMPBELL (7PM)
264-266 Kilburn High Road, London
NW6 2BY – Tel: 020 7693 5443
BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR
(4.30PM) 90 Highgate Hill,
London N19 5NQ Email:
brendanthenavigator@outlook.com
THE LAMB (8PM)
54 Holloway Road, London N7
8JL – Tel. 020 7609 0253
GIBNEYS (6.30PM)
70 City Road, London EC1Y
2BJ – Tel. 020 7404 3000
THE THREE CROWNS
(fortnightly), 9 East Road, London
N1 6DX – Tel. 020 3058 4810
THE ANTELOPE
76 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9NG
– Tel. 020 8672 3888
LISTINGS

60 Ashford Road - Cricklewood - NW2 6TU

tel: 020 8208 8590 email: info@ashfordplace.org.uk
www.ashfordplace.org.uk

information, advice and guidance for the Irish community

what can we do for you?
housing benefit assistance
homelessness prevention
resettlement support
supported accommodation
PIP claim support
pension assistance

community events in our Wellbeing Hub

involvement with the Cricklewood Town
Team Regeneration project
therapy spaces
rooms and outdoor space for hire

mental health mentoring

befriending in the community
improving healthcare access
dementia cafe support groups
wellbeing activities, walks and support
groups
Fit + Well physical wellbeing program
independent living guidance
crisis prevention
cafe and 3 course lunch available to all
digital inclusion and training
paperwork and form assistance

Patrons: Ben Bailey Smith, Diarmuid Gavin, Fergal Keane

Registered Charity: 1097475
Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and
Wales: 04407339

30 RtLT2023
FLASHBACK:
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL 2023 – photo by Caitlin Mannion

www.returntolondontown.org 31
COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY NO. 9031004
FOUNDED 2014

www.returntolondontown.org
facebook.com/IMDLEvents
@IMDLEvents
irishmusicdanceinlondon
E: irishmusicinlondon@gmail.com
www.irishmusicinlondon.org

presents London's 25th Festival of traditional Irish music, song and

dance 'Return to London Town' and would like to thank its 2023
partners and funders: