Episode 93: Jimmy Mullarkey (Accordion)

'I could play reels all night if I knew enough of them.' Country Sligo in the '50s and '60s, to London then Sydney. Father, mother and uncle playing the fiddle, learning at country house dances and 'having a go myself.' Ceili House on Radio Athlone, and looking forward to Friday night house dances. Falling in love with the accordion. Listening to the greats of the London scene; learning the box, digging trenches and labouring; Kentish Town and Holloway Road. Plenty of work in Sydney, and getting out and about playing for dancers. In this episode Jimmy plays: George White's and The Galway Rambler The Haunted House Set The Stone of Destiny The Sally Gardens and The Sligo Maid ('...two of the old favourites I learned when I was growing up...') The picture of Jimmy that we're using for this episode was taken by Ian Stewart - thanks for permission to use it, Ian. The players you can hear on the audio recorded at Tangambalanga are Jimmy, Joe Fitzgerald, Jamie Molloy, Jody Moran, Gerry McKeague, Edel McBride, Kit Joyce, Declan Simpson, John Joe Noonan, Paul Gallagher, Ian Stewart and others. Apologies to anybody I've missed - it was that kind of weekend. To listen, stream or download simply click a link below: Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.com iTunes: https://apple.co/2A6tUPm Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3eIwBFy Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims. -- Become a Patron Saint of the Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast. We want the podcast to be free to listen to for as many people as possible. But without the support from at least some of you we couldn’t keep putting out an episode a week. That’s why we’re asking you to become a Patron (Saint) of the podcast. www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims So, for the price of a pint, or a half pint for that matter, you can help keep this show on the road and be safe in the knowledge you have a halo above your head. For your good deed you will secure your place in traditional Irish music podcast heaven. But most importantly, you’ll have helped pay for the other 99% of listeners that don’t or can’t chip in. And that, my friend, is a hell-of-a-nice thing to do. Darren & Dom www.blarneypilgrims.com www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast