The Connacht Band Comes to South Boston

by Rick Winterson

Leave it to South Boston’s Branch Library at 646 East Broadway to set a fast pace, arranged and overseen by Branch Librarian Jane Bickford. Last Saturday afternoon, the Branch Library hosted an hour-long miniconcert of Irish music played by the Connacht Band. The only thing Jane couldn’t manage was the weather, so the concert – originally scheduled to be played outdoors on the Branch’s scenic patio – was performed indoors in the Public Room.

No matter! Irish music by the Connacht Band was delightful.

The music was not only just Irish, it was very skillfully performed as well. The Connacht Band is the brainchild of Michael McDonagh, whose father was the leader of the famous Connacht Ceili Band from Boston. On Saturday, Michael used the “cajon” as his drum instead of the more classic Irish drum known as a bodhran. The cajon is a resonating box, which the drummer sits upon. It has two sound levels – tenor and bass and is sometimes called a “sit-on-it”. The cajon originated in Peru, South America (the Irish get around, don’t they?).

And if “cajon” isn’t enough for you wordsmiths out there, think about “ceili”, the Gaelic word for step dance. “Connacht” is one of Ireland’s four historical provinces and is made up of five counties. The best known of these is County Galway.

Joining Michael on Saturday was Johnny Coe, who plays a rhythmic, steel-stringed guitar. He was also the lead singer. Stephen Devaney expertly plays a very melodic concertina, which is sometimes inelegantly referred to as a “squeezebox.”

The Connacht Band really captured Ireland’s musical spirit during the Branch Library concert, with a firm rhythmic beat that was often very rapid. When played, there’s no question that much Irish music is intended for dancing. Irish lyrics are equally moving. They always tell a story – a story that is often about leaving Ireland behind: “Fare Thee Well, My Own True Love (I’m Bound for California)”. And you perhaps have noticed that Irish music, despite its rhythmic joy, frequently has a faint undertone of sadness.

Irish music influences some of American music. What we call “country music” here has both Irish and Scottish roots – a Gaelic sound, in other words. Listen to the music that accompanies “I Wish I Was Back on the Derry” and notice how it echoes Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. And of course, the Connacht Band performed their energetic version of “Black Velvet Band”, which everyone in the U.S. enjoys. There are two other members of the Connacht Band we should mention: Wynter Pingel, who plays the country fiddle and concertina and Stuart Peak on banjo, whistle, and vocals. We certainly hope they all come back to the Branch Library soon.