Derry and Inishowen fiddlers on BBC show

In 1979, a unique compilation of music, photos and interviews acknowledging the maestros of fiddle playing from south Donegal and Tyrone was published by Allen Feldman and Éamonn O’Doherty.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 13th Mar 2020, 10:27 BST

The seminal book, ‘The Northern Fiddler’ focused on the distinctive style of the fiddle players from the area that included performers of the calibre of John and Simey Doherty, John Loughran, Con Cassidy and Francie and Mickey Byrne. Forty years after its publication the concept of ‘The Northern Fiddler’ is explored in a new BBC Gaeilge film with interviews and performances with contemporary musicians including Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maggie Maguire and Dermy Diamond.

An Fhidil Bheo – Ceol an Northern Fiddler, produced by Dearcán Media for BBC Gaeilge with support from NI Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, is on BBC Two on Sunday at 10pm.

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The programme explores the fiddle tradition of the area, why it was distinctive and the important legacy of the book and the influence it had, and continues to have, on today’s musicians from Ulster and beyond.

A host of performers tell how the book – and the players and the music on its pages - influenced their musical journeys including: Roisin McGrory from Inishowen, Dermot McLaughlin from Derry, Laura Kerr, Armagh, Maurice Bradley, south Derry, Ellie Níc Fhionnlaigh, Glencolmcille, Dónal McCague, Monaghan, Conor Caldwell, Belfast, Sinéad McKenna, Tyrone and Paddy Glackin from Dublin.

They discuss the influence these giants of the northern tradition had on them when they met or were under their scholarship.

Related topics:BBCDerryInishowenDonegal