This series is divided into two subseries ‘Solo and orchestral performance’ and ‘The Chieftains’. This reflects the two diverse aspects of Bell’s career in music. The series contains material relating to the organisation of rehearsals, performances, tours and recordings. Also includes performance related ephemera such as programmes, posters and flyers as well as memorabilia and awards. There are many newspaper and magazine articles about Derek Bell and The Chieftains in this series.
This series contains letters and ephemera which were originally in an envelope marked 'S. Reid’. Seán Reid was a fiddler and an uilleann piper, born in Castlefin, Co. Donegal he moved to Ennis in Co. Clare in 1937 and lived there for forty years. Along with Breandán Breathnach he was founder member of Na Píobairí Uilleann and played an important part in its evolution. The series contains five letters from the famous Irish American music collector, Francis O'Neill, (O'Neill, Francis, 1848-1936) to the uilleann piper William Halpin. Also included are letters, the majority written in 1937 and 1938, from various friends and relatives to Seán Reid (Reid, Seán, 1907-1978). Some letters are personal in nature, for example those from his mother and sister, ‘Kathleen’, but the majority include many references to music, musicians and uilleann piping in 1930s Ireland. There are also a number of items of ephemera relating to feiseanna & Irish music events.
