Neillidh Boyle

Neillidh Boyle

was born in 1889 in Pennsylvania , USA, to immigrant parents who had a great interest in maintaining their family’s links to all aspects of Irish culture.

They Boyles returned home to Donegal by the time that Neillidh was eight years old and set up home in Cronashallog, near Dungloe in northwest Donegal. Neillidh’s neighbours and schoolmaster were amazed at his fluency in both the Irish language and music as he had just arrived from America.

In later life Neillidh attributed much of his music to the lilting of his Mother when he was a child. He came to be regarded as a fiddler of unheard of mastery among the fiddlers of Donegal. Neillidh had mastered playing in all keys and position playing.

He worked for a time with a travelling picture show. The group would set up in local halls in west and north Donegal. Normally a piano would provide suitable music for the various scenes in the film, however, in Donegal it was Neillidh and his fiddle. He also played with a jazz band for a brief time.

The biggest impact that he made was in his radio broadcasts. Not every house had a radio at the time, so people used to gather in houses in order to hear traditional music broadcasts as they were publicised in advance in the newspapers.

He also travelled widely around the small halls all around Donegal which hosted musical events.

Neillidh recorded a few tunes on three recordings for the Regal Zonophone label in the days of 78’s as well as a few tracks for The Folklore Commission and for B.B.C. collectors.

His son Paddy played the fiddle, as do at least three of his Grandchildren

James Byrne (1946 – 2008)

JAMES BYRNE
(4th January 1946 – 8th November 2008)

(4th January 1946 – 8th November 2008)  

Without doubt, James Byrne (An Bheirneach) of Mín na Croise was one of the finest traditional fiddle players in Ireland. Along with his musical talent, he had great background knowledge of both the tunes and the musicians in south-west Donegal. As a boy, James learned from and played with many of the older players in his locality in particular John Phadaí Chonchobhair, Paddy Hiúdaí Byrne and of course his own father, John. The playing of the travelling fiddler and tinsmith John Doherty may also have influenced his style of playing. James as a young boy of eight years first saw Doherty play on stage in Halla Mhuire in An Caiseal.

The family tradition of fiddle playing looks set to continue as he has passed on the music to his partner Connie and their family. Many other fiddlers have also benefited from James’ teaching of music and the lore associated with it. As well as teaching many local children, most of todays finest exponents of the Donegal fiddle tradition gratefully acknowledge James’ important influence on their musical development.

Some of James’ music is available on the CD’s

The Brass Fiddle – Claddagh – (CC44CD) – Compilation

The Road to Glenlough – Claddagh – (CC52CD) – solo (with guests)

The Fiddle Music of Donegal Vol 2 – Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí (CNF002)

Ríl Mhín na Saileach  Performed by James Byrne

The Campbells

Campbells

The Campbells, from near Glenties Co Donegal, are a very well known musical family. As a partnership, brothers Vincent and Jimmy were very active fiddlers and were always in great demand until Vincent’s passing in December, 2018. Another brother, Columba, remains a very highly regarded fiddle player, though he doesn’t play much these days. Today, Jimmy and his son, Peter play regularly in the Glenties area, throughout Donegal and further afield.

Vincent Campbell (1938 – 2018)

Vincent Campbell

Just a year younger than his brother Jimmy, Vincent grew up in a house that was steeped in Donegal fiddle music. Their father, Peter (1900 – 1995), was a well known fiddle player as was his father , James. Their home was a regular venue for musicians to come to visit and play music. As if they weren’t lucky enough in terms of growing up and learning to play the fiddle in this environment , their house was a place where both John and Mickey Doherty regularly called and spent time.

Vincent and Jimmy were keen to learn the fiddle when they were young boys. When both parents would be out of the house, they would take turns at playing their father’s fiddle while the other kept watch. This was a risky business as there were strict orders in the house that no one was to play around with the father’s fiddle. Money was very scarce in those days and if you had a fiddle (which not every fiddle player had !) it would be well looked after as it would not be easily replaced if it was broken.

Like many in the area Vincent had to leave home to find work. He spent some time in Scotland and England, and after returning to Ireland he spent some years in Co. Meath. He returned home to Glenties to rear a family, combining working a small hill farm and working at building.

Vincent Campbell’s fiddle playing was truly wonderful as it had a real old time sound to it. His repertoire was huge with much being derived directly from the famous Doherty brothers John and Mickey. He had many tunes and special versions that no one else has. His bowing, fingering and droning were often quite spectacular. Listeners often wondered how just one fiddle player could be doing so much all at the same time. Vincent was born in 1938 and passed away in December, 2018.

Recordings of Vincent Campbell are featured on The Brass Fiddle and on The Fiddle Music of Donegal Vol 2. CDs

Jimmy Campbell

Like Vincent, Jimmy thankfully managed to sneak enough time on his father’s fiddle to learn how to play. In his young days at home before he emigrated for work, house dances were still very popular in the area and Jimmy was a popular fiddler at these. Jimmy left home at a young age and went to Scotland to work digging tunnels (as did Vincent). After this, Jimmy went to England and spent a number of years around London working at building. Jimmy settled down around London and reared his family.

All the while he kept up his interest in the music. Some of his regular playing partners were other Irish exiles who worked in London, such as Brendan McGlinchey, Brian Rooney and another mighty Donegal fiddle player, Danny Meehan. One of Jimmy’s children , Peter, has taken on the music. Peter, of course, was familiar with the music at home and in Glenties when the family came back to Donegal on holidays.

Jimmy has returned to Donegal to live some years ago and has been a great addition to the local musical life there. For some years, Peter was constantly travelling back to Donegal from England. He eventually decided to stay and has been living in Glenties now for some years. Some of Jimmy’s daughters have also followed him home and now live around Glenties.

Recordings of Jimmy Campbell are featured on The Fiddle Music of Donegal CD series Vols. 1 & 3

Peter Campbell

Jimmy Campbell’s son, Peter, was born and raised in England. He has now returned to his family’s home place and lives in Glenties. Peter is much in demand as a solo fiddle player.

Peter and Jimmy are also in great demand as duet players and with local dance teachers Connie Mc Kelvey and Ann Conaghan with whom they travel widely with to deliver dance workshops and performances.

Recordings of Peter Campbell are on The Fiddle Music of Donegal CD series Vol. 3

Josie Campbell

The youngest of the Campbell brothers is Josie. He had a go at the fiddle when he was a boy but did not stay at it for long. As the youngest, by the time he came around to trying it, the older brothers had already made great progress. Having a good ear, he realised that compared to them he didn’t sound so good at all, so sadly he didn’t stay at it. Josie, and many like him in rural Donegal communities, have an important role to play in the music scene given their knowledge of the folklore and the tunes. It is not unkown to happen that if the other lads are stuck for the start of a tune or the name, they simply ask Josie and he will know it.

Some years ago the Campbells were always saying that they thought that Mickey Doherty had never gotten the public acclaim and recognition for his high standard of fiddling. John was the fiddler of the Dohertys who got the public attention. Their level of respect and regard for John’s playing abilities is without question, but they thought that Mickey should be honoured in some way. So they and a few of their neighbours who were great friends of the Dohertys built a monument to remember Mickey Doherty. This monument is built in the shape of the gable end of a traditional cottage and is built on the site of a locally famous incident where Mickey had a close brush with death. Before Ireland gained Independence from Britain the Black and Tans were patrolling the area and a very strict military curfew was in force. Mickey was out on the road since he made his living as a travelling tinsmith. He timed things rather badly that night though and was caught out after curfew. He heard the Black and Tan’s truck on the road and figured out who it must be and hid in a culvert under the road. The Black and Tans spotted him however and pulled him out from his hiding place. He protested his innocence of any wrongdoing and since a tinsmith on the face of it did not seem to be a threat to the British Empire, they told him to prove who he was. So on the spot Mickey got out his toolkit and made a tin mug or pandai as they are called locally. This monument to Mickey Doherty is built on the spot where this incident happened. Josie Campbell has carved a stone fiddle which is set into this tribute to a local musical hero.