Port na bPúcaí - Tony MacMahon, 1988

Accordion player Tony MacMahon performs ‘Port na bPúcaí’ at a concert celebrating the music of Seán Ó Riada.
In April 1987 RTÉ Television recorded the ‘Ó Riada Retrospective’ which consisted of three concerts at the National Concert Hall. celebrating the work of Irish composer Seán Ó Riada .
The second concert was dedicated to Seán Ó Riada’s traditional output, and featured among others Ceoltóirí Chualann and Cór Chúil Aodha.
Éamonn de Buitléir introduces accordion player Tony MacMahon as a musician for whom Seán Ó Riada had great respect,
Probably one of the most imaginative box players or accordion players.
Tony MacMahon dedicates his performance of the slow air ‘Port na bPúcaí’ to Seán Ó Riada’s memory. The title which can be translated as ‘The Music of the Ghosts’ is described as,
A strange haunting tune which comes from the Blasket Islands.
‘Ó Riada Retrospective : Traditional Night’ was broadcast on 17 March 1988.

[@HAPPYTHELEAF]

I have been to and camped on the great Blasket many many times in the past, pitching my tent in the ruins of O'Criomthain's house, and I can honestly say this piece of music transports me back to those days the rolling sea, the grasses bending in the breeze the sea pink too, the rocks emergent and awash with surf.

[@HAPPYTHELEAF]

The sun now past it highest point for the day The sea birds gliding rising and falling on unbeaten wings In the little harbour of natural rock and beyond the white wave break Alone save for the sound of the sea it's music enough for me On Vickilaun the red deer feed on the rich grasses and rabbits play among stones Norsemen paved a way. But now no more the Púcha sing and howl beyond in the night now left to the shearwater in their flight...

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

The majestic music of Seán Ó Riada played by master musicians

[@conortkeane51]

Tony was a genius. RIP

[@fiddlejohn9305]

No less than Seamus Ennis said that he felt the greatest living slow air player was Tony McMahon, and he is gone - RIP.

[@markprice748]

Superb. Utterly superb.

[@angland]

outstanding, thank you for uploading this.

[@roooroooooooo1091]

Seamus Heaney wrote a poem about this air called "The given note", well worth a listen too

[@vintagebuddha]

[@kylevickers1725]

god, I love this channnel

[@oceantiara]

Ah sure now

[@noelryan6341]

🗣Deirtear gurb é fuaim guth an míol mór 🐋a bhí ann nuair a chuala an t-oileánach an fuaim ciaptha 👻úd. It's said that the haunting sound that the Blasket Islandman heard was actually the call of migrating whales, not ghosts or spirits.