Old-time events in Dublin and elsewhere

Tim Hawkins, who was responsible for the old-time 'happening' in the Oxfam bookshop, Parliament Street, Dublin, on Saturday afternoon, 24 March, to publicise the music available there in various forms.


Tim (fiddle), Cathal Cusack (guitar), and Richard Hawkins (banjo) played old-time breakdowns and waltzes.


Tim's thanks go to the McGrane Family (above, left to right: Noreen, Helen, Bryan, and Jenny) for their programme of old-time songs with guitar, autoharp, and up to four-part harmonies.

All above photos are by Carol Hawkins. Unfortunately, we have no photos of the old-time session that same evening at the Cobblestone, Smithfield, hosted by Bill Whelan and Ben Keogh of the Rough Deal String Band with Liam Kennedy. The packed bar held five fiddlers, two banjo-players, two guitarists, and Liam on mandolin or harmonica, all pouring out tunes and songs like a fountain - a model of what a session should be.

Thanks to Bill Whelan for the news that, as well as the new old-time session in Belfast (see post of 1 April), there is an old-time session in Cork at the Corner House, Coburg Street, every Sunday at 5.00 p.m. including Stephanie Coleman on fiddle. (Dark Road play bluegrass there at 9.00 p.m.)

Bill (generator of innumerable bands) is also bringing the Oxo Project - an old-time band with himself (banjo), Ben Keogh (guitar), and Jamie Ferguson (fiddle) - to operational status to meet those occasions when Tim Rogers may be unavailable.