This is the melodic tune index that Breandán Breathnach used during his professional life as a civil servant with responsibility for music. Clár na bPort Gaelach (CPG) is written on 6545 index cards, each 3 x 5 inches in size.
The O'Connell Collection containing 212 tunes was sourced from Pat O'Connell (known locally as Patin, pronounced locally as Patch-een) Connell (without the O') a small farmer from the townland of Cordal. Patin was a pupil of Pádraig and kept his mss in two biscuit tins in the kitchen. He was a near neighbour of Pádraig and remembered him with great affection. He lent Caoimhín his collection in full which Caoimhín took away to Cork where he was living at the time. Caoimhín was not able to photocopy them but copied each one meticulously using stencils and Rotring drafting pens. The tablature was copied in this way and the transcriptions into staff notation were made subsequently. As Caoimhín finished off a batch of 20 or so mss he would post the originals back to Patin who received all in full in return.
Copy of a letter from Séamus Gallagher, Students Representative Council (S.C.R), College of Technology, Bolton St, Dublin 1 to Len Clifford, Gael Linn, Grafton St, Dublin 2; draft & original correspondence from Len Clifford (Leon Ó Clúmháin) to musicians and singers including Seán Mac Donncha (Mac Donncha, Seán, 1919-1996), Willie Clancy (Clancy, Willie, 1918-1973), Tony Mac Mahon and Seán Ó Ceallaigh; list of 60 dancers, singers, harpists, box players and pianists; poster of cancelled concert ‘An Evening with Sean Ó Riada, Easter Friday 16th April.’ Letter from Séamus Gallagher to Len Clifford cancelling ‘proposed O Riada concert which we had hoped to sponsor.’ The reason he gives for this cancellation is that ’it appears our organisation is grossly inefficient.’ Further correspondence between Clifford and musicians and singers informing them of the cancellation and notifying them of a new concert ‘at the same fee’ on the 5 March 1971 in UCD. Further letters detailing travel and rehearsal arrangements for the rescheduled concert.
Included in an envelope marked, ‘Féis Cheoil piping comptn’, are draft & original correspondence between Turlough [Terry] Moylan, honorary secretary of Na Píobairí Uilleann and two members of the Feis Ceoil committee, Mrs M. E. Atock and Miss J. Hunter; a letter from Terry Moylan to Breandán Breathnach; and a copy of the Feis Ceoil ‘Syllabus of prize competitions … 1971.’ The correspondence relates to a request by Na Píobairí Uilleann for the ‘re-inclusion of piping competitions in the 1972 Feis Ceoil’ (22 Jul 1971). Na Píobairí Uilleann’s suggestion ‘received very favourable consideration’ at the Feis Ceoil committee meeting (17 Sep 1971) the issue of who would provide and finance prizes and adjudicators is raised; Na Píobairí Uilleann offer to provide plaques and three adjudicators ‘at no expense’ (30 Sep 1971); there is a disagreement about the number of adjudicators needed, the Feis Ceoil committee comment that ‘in all Feis Ceoil competitions only one adjudicator is employed … this condition must be complied with in the piping classes’ (12 Nov 1971); Na Píobairí Uilleann is ‘taken aback at the unyielding attitude’ displayed by the Feis Ceoil committee, Na Píobairí Uilleann feel they are the ‘best judges’ as to how a piping competition should be conducted and accordingly ‘they cannot accede’ to the Feis Ceoil request (18 Jan 1972).
Draft & original correspondence between Len Clifford and two employees of RTÉ, Janet Wynne and Tom McGrath; and two copies of the ‘Report of Chairman of Jury Selecting Songs for the Contest.’ The correspondence relates to the National Song Contest, 1972 and Len Clifford’s role as chairman of the jury. Clifford is paid £40 for the job which ‘usually takes between three and four days.’ He writes to Tom McGrath on the 8 January 1972 enclosing the report of ‘the Panel.’ He says that the task was a ‘gruelling’ one but he very much enjoyed working with the other members of the jury, Frank Dermody, Louis Stewart, Tony Wilson and musician, Noel Kelehan. The report details the ‘Terms of reference’, ‘Procedure Adopted’ and ‘Result.’ The following English and Irish songs were chosen by the jury: ‘Certain Sunday’, Don’t need your Sympathy’, ‘It would take a Miracle’, ‘Tar Liom’, ‘Posadh nó Buaileadh Nos’ and ‘Óró Áine.’ The jury was unanimous in all its choices.
One complete set of handwritten minutes for a meeting held in Ely Place on 24 Oct 1970. ‘A general meeting, Breandán Breathnach presided, about 35 present. The first thing was a minutes silence in respect of the memory of Leo Rowsome’ (Rowsome, Leo, 1903-1970); it also includes an undated fragment of minutes; a letter from Paddy Moloney to Breandán Breathnach offering apologies that he won’t be able to attend meeting on 21 Oct 1972; an original master-copy of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s headed notepaper; a copy of an announcement of the establishment of Na Píobairí Uilleann; and a copy of the society’s rules.
Letters from Seán Reid; Tom Busby; Wilbert Garvin; Paddy Moloney, Managing Director, Claddagh Records; Mícheál Ó Riabhaigh, Cork (Ó Riabhaigh, Mícheál, 1911-1976); Pat McNulty, Glasgow; Barry O’Neill, Ann Arbor, Michigan; John Curry, Williamsburg, Virginia; Roly Brown, Hungerford, Berkshire; Micheál Ó Ciaráin, Cavan; and Tony Engle, Director, Topic Records. An undated letter from Tom Busby [1970] congratulates Breathnach for ‘having the courage to organize such a necessary and wonderful association as Na Píobairí Uilleann’.
Letters from Ronnie Wathen; Brendan Saunders, Derry; David O’Docherty, London; Theodor Podnos; Pat McNulty; John Curry; Willie Reynolds (Reynolds, Willie, 1916-2003); draft letters from Breandán Breathnach to Seán Reid (Reid, Seán, 1907-1978); correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and ‘Mr E. H. Tupling’, London; letters from Patrick Farrell, Dublin 4; Tom Sheridan, London; Roisín White, Warrenpoint, Co Down; Seán McGuire, Cavan. Includes correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and Doirín Clancy [widow of Willie Clancy (Clancy, Willie, 1935-2009)] which refers to tapes of Willie Clancy’s playing and getting copies of these recordings made for various people for a Claddagh Records LP.
Includes non-commercial reel-to-reel recordings of Derek Bell and folk music. Including ‘Seán Ó Riada and Carolan music’ (n.d.); ‘A programme of Romanian folk music’ Romanian RadioTelevision (n.d.); ‘Music for a while Derek Bell listening copy’ (n.d.); ‘The fairies’ lament and dance by Derek Bell’ (24 April 1975); and commercial harp recordings made by Ken Freeman of Harpcraft for Derek Bell (n.d.).
