Music, inspired by some of the Irish folk music sessions that were once held in many pubs across the island, have been published in a new book by a Manx musicians and writer.

’A Fine Selection of over 200 Irish Traditional Tunes for Sessions’ has been put together by the island folk musician David Speers.

The collection is a revised look at a book of songs put together by the well-known local session players Sean Craig and Tony Hopson, and originally appeared under the name ’Sean Craig’s Tunebook’.

The songs were originally collected by Sean, along with other local players, during visits to Ireland, where they would learn tunes and bring them back to the Isle of Man to play.

Sean and Tony were regular players, along with David, at the many Manx music sessions that took place in the Central Hotel, and later the Whitehouse, in Peel during the 1980s and 90s.

’Also around that time there was a lively Irish music scene which Tony would join in with, as did I and other local musicians,’ said David.

’A few of the Irish musicians, such as Sean Craig, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Francy Hughes, along with some locals, amongst them Clive Kneale, Paul Leibedjinski and Tony, would go on trips to Ireland to visit music festivals and it was while at these festivals that Sean would tape record music sessions.

’This was really for his own use, to hear and learn new tunes, but he would also lend them to others. Tony borrowed them and transcribed 200 or so, and they finally ended up being published in "Sean Craig’s Tunebook".

’I’ve been working on a new edition for some time now, and I’ve got a bit more material from Sean which will be in the new edition, almost exactly 20 years later.

’The book is therefore a testament to both Sean and Tony’s efforts in collecting and publishing this music.’

David believes that, although the music in the book is Irish, it is still relevant to Manx folk heritage.

’Having researched the composers of some of these tunes it’s clear that some of them originated in England and Scotland, said David. ’Individual tunes tend to settle where they are liked, and played in whatever style is used there.

’Music collected in the Isle of Man in the 19th and early 20th centuries contained quite a few tunes we’d regard as Irish, but music doesn’t really know about ’national’ boundaries.

’So there is a precedent for "Irish" music being accepted and played in the island long before it became a political issue.’

The legendary Irish fiddle player Matt Cranitch, formerly of the group Na Filí, has written a forward for the collection.

The book is available from the publisher, Callag Press, at [email protected], priced £14.

by Mike Wade

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