"I have never left his company not feeling better for having been there" Tommy Peoples "Danny Meehan was born in Drimalost, a couple of mile from Mountcharles, that village just west of Donegal Town, on 24th Sept, 1940. He left there aged sixteen, went to England, where he lived and worke mostly in London, until his return in June 2007.1 first met Danny at a fleadl in Listowel in 1970.1 was twenty- two then. We've discussed many ointmei for ailments and swapped many tunes since. I have never left his company r feeling better for being there. Danny is a rare mix of historian, folklorist, philosopher and humorist. Add to that, magically musical. Through his fiddle, he can convey the strong, honestly courageous notes of the warrior; call forth the pathos of loss; pron the sweet, gentle to passionate notes of the lover. He can also shock the listener and glorify the tune with an inimitable subtlety that must only bespeak a compassionate soul. Danny makes music with, and will find music in, what might seem to be a simple, dismissable melody, dispelling the fallacy, breathing new life into the tired tune. In his hands, head and heart, that somewhat depressed melody, accepting the care, chiselcraft, minutely detailed embellishment and encouragement of the keenly-sensed and intuitive master craftsman, undergoes metamorphism to emerge strikingly beautiful.I think that the fiddle chose Danny. It recognised in that noble athletic giant, of wondrous appearance and personality, a soul and spirit needing the freedoms of the fingerboard and bow, and the space from those strings to sounds, to allow that unfettered imagination, pay musical tribute to his God; to the mountains, scenes, memories and people of Donegal; and to the many past and present musicians, poets, patriots and people of Ireland and further afield, who influenced, affected, or eased his journey, whilst inspiring and giving heart to all who share his company". Tommy Peoples. September 2011

Track Listing: CD 1. 1. The Slieve League/Tobin's. Slip Jigs 2. The Tinware Lass. Air and Hornpipe 3. The Sailors Hornpipe/The Sailor on the Rock. Hornpipe and Reel 4. Rocking the Cradle. Air and Jig 5. James Gannon's/The Belle of the Ball. Barndances 6. Biddy from Muckross. Reel 7. Danny talks about Sunday's at home. Talk 8. The Snowy Breasted Pearl/Kate Dalrymple. Air & Reel. 9. Jacksons Morning Brush/The Mouse in the Cupboard. Jigs 10. The Godfather/The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Reels 11. Polly Pluck.Talk 12. Polly Pluck/Bonnie Kate // Polka and Reel 13. Return to Laghey. Barndance 14. Orange and Blue/The Fairy Reel. Highland & Reel 15. Rory O'More. Jig 16. The Tarbolton. Reel 17. Bold Robert Emmet/The Blackbird. Air & Set Dance 18. Johnny Gorman's. Barndance 19. When Pat Came Over the Hill/The Lisheen. Slides (2.07) 20, Tandem Reefer Randy/Paddy's Trip to Scotland. Polka & Reel (2.13) 21. Micheal Cherry's. Highland (1-45) 22. Lament for Napoleon/George Williamson's. Lament & Jig (3-40) 23. The Curly Haired Boy. Reel (1.09) 24. Paidin O Raifeartaigh. Jig (1.28) 25. Tommy Hill's Favourite/O Beirne's. Hornpipes (2.03) 26. The Sunshine Hornpipe // Hornpipe 27. An Cailm Deas Cruite na mBo/The Bonfire in the Border/The Mug of Brown Ale. Air & Jigs ) 28. Clark's Highland Fling. Highland 29. The Job of Journeywork. Set Dance 30. Danny remembers his Granny Susie. Talk 31 Long German. German (2.03) 32. Johnny Cope. Hornpipe (1.24) 33. Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be/Father O'Flynn. Jigs (2.42) 34. The Flax in Bloom. Reel (2.09) 35. Whirl the Bucket about. Jig (2.51) Total playing time - 76 mins CD 2 1. Tom Ward's Downfall/The Reel of Mullinavat. Reels 2. Paddy the Cooper's/Dublin Porter. Highland &Reel 3. The West's Awake/The Banks. Air & Hornpipe 4. The Wheels of the World. Reel 5. Talk about Me Dyer. Talk 6. Anthony Kelly's. Highland 7. The Wexford Carol/Dowd's Favourite. Carol & Reel 8. Maggie Pickie. Maggie Pickie 9. The Irish Washerwoman. Jig 10. The Ewe with the Crooked Horn/The Rakes of Kildare // Highland & Jig 11. Danny talks about finding music in London. Talk 12. The Maid that Dare not Tell. Reel 13. William McGonagall's Barndance/ The Shaskeen. Barndance & Reel 14. The Dean Brig O' Edinburgh/ Highland/Hand me Down the Tackle. Air, Highland & Reel 15. Charlie Lennon's/The Duke of Leinster's Wife. Barndance & Reel 16. Danny Talks about his Father. Talk 17. Killyburn Brae/Jackson's Fancy. Jigs 18. Could you Want any More/My Love is in America. Jig & Reel 19. The Wren's Jig. Jig 20. Danny talks about hearing Coleman. Talk (0.54) 21. The Japanese Hornpipe. Hornpipe (1.23) 22. The Geese in the Bog. Jig (1.23) 23. The Bunch of Green Rushes. Reel (1.23) 24. Talk about influences. Talk (00-47) 25. Rocking the Cradle. Air & Jig (2.33) 26. Nora Crionna/Reel.Jig & Reel (1.22) 27. The Moving Bog. Reel (1.35) 28. The Dear Irish Boy. Air (2-53) 29. The Cat that Kittled in Jamies Wig. Highland (1.42) 31. Johnny Meehan sending a message home 33. Fisherman's Island. Reel (1.08) 34. Morrisons/Sixpenny Money. Jigs (2.31) 35. That's Not the Way Paddy Played That! Talk (0.53) 36. Molly Brannigan. Air (2.10) 37. Paddy from Portlaw/Jackson's Fancy. Jigs (2.55) 38. The Teatotaller and The Duke of Leinster's Wife. Reels (2.53) Total playing time - 74 mins Click on underlined titles to hear and see sound samples on You Tube and MP3

We are delighted to announce our release of this double CD set.

Drimalost and Beyond
Danny Meehan
CNF008
TRADITIONAL FIDDLE MUSIC FROM DONEGAL

Danny Meehan, Master Fiddler, was born in Mountcharles, just outside Donegal town around 1940. He has dedicated just about all of his life to music. He emigrated to London, UK, sometime in the mid 1950's and spent all his working life there. Danny made a good living as a master paver, laying some of the most ornate and interesting paving work in London. It is probably as a fiddler that Danny is best known. He plays a track on the famous "Paddy in the Smoke" record, (Topic 1969) with his friend Bobby Casey and he is described as a promising young player. Most would say he has fulfilled that promise in abundance. He was a member of the London based Irish Band, "Le Cheile" along with Raymond Rowland, Liam Farrell, Kevin Boyle, John Rowe and P.J. Crotty, some of Londons finest Irish musicians. In a long career Danny has played with everyone, too numerous to record all here, but Bobby Casey and Jimmy Power would stand out among his great friends in London. Now retired to his native Donegal Danny is playing more music than ever and is in demand to play at festivals everywhere. He is a big generous man. He will share his music, his larger than life personality and a pint or three with anyone who cares to make his aquaintance.

"Danny Meehan is the most unique person I have ever met. There is only one Danny Meehan, a total original! A friend for over 40 years and London is and a sadder place since his return to his native Donegal. I remember him giving me a lift home and the back of his beloved Ford Anglia was covered with loose pages from O'Neills 1850 collection. It is fitting that his recording came into Copperplate the same day as his hero, Michael Coleman! Danny is obsessed with music and gets very excited when talking about music, so much so that he often punches you to drive home his point. I will never forget the week he discovered an extra note in Coleman's Farrell O'Gara, I was covered in bruises. I also remember the funeral of our mutual friend Kevin Taylor R.I.P. when he dropped the counter flap on my hand, he is a dangerous man to know. Danny in his younger days was a very promising amateur boxer, and you can still hear him breathing heavily through his nose during his playing, he also when playing is very active and engrossed that I have seen him move across a room while playing a reel. Now I believe Danny sees a lot of similarities in playing music and boxing, it is a contest to deliver the best version you possibly can. Danny puts so much into a tune that he leaves the tune empty, that he has taken all the life out of it. Unlike many of today's highly rated fiddlers Danny takes delight in delivering the difficult notes, and most difficult of tunes. He fills them with dynamics and bowing definition. For a man of his size and hands like bunches of bananas, he is the nimblist of fiddlers. As in most things Danny defies the ordinary and the mundane.
His music is defined by his beloved Donegal, the land which hewed him, windswept, dangerous and exciting. So with this CD set you will meet a man you won't meet everyday, a musician so original he should be a national treasure. Long may he thrive. There is only one Danny Meehan". Copperplate

Also by Danny and available from Copperplate:
Danny Meehan: The Navvy on the Line
Le Cheile: Out of the West


There is lots of Danny on UTUBE here is a link to him playing at his own home fireside. Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlm0YyvI1zw

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