Al O'Donnell - An Bunnan Bui (The Yellow Bittern)

[Lisnageeragh]

Yes ...66/7 UCD ballad sessions ...Al made a great job of Sammy's Bar...when we all were a bit younger!

[biddybonett]

@Lisnageeragh Dont know where Sammys bar is but listening to this i wish i was there at the time lovely version

[saoirseterri]

@biddybonett

Sammys Bar was a pub in Malta the song was by some english man called Cryne was it?

Al O'Donnel learnt it in his youth when his father was with the Army I think ?.....long time ago Al is now retired from RTE but you can still catch him every now and then still sings Sammy's Bar.

[Lisnageeragh]

@Lisnageeragh Sammy's Bar ..have a look at Google. It was a great time ...ballad revival and all that. The UCD sessions were part of a wider development. Al is still alive and, I think , going strong. Al sings ''Sammys Bar'' on his CD ...which should be available .

[ArkRed1]

The banjo you're playing looks like an old Vega body with a custom long neck. Is it a Whyte Laydie or a Tubaphone?

[BENNY4386]

we have just been transported back to THE OLD SHEILING sunday nights 1969 at the fireplace with BOB LYNCH GERALDINE DOYLE JIM MC CANN and AL thats 41 years ago we were all young then  thanks

[padraigpurseal]

@BENNY4386

Have to admit Benny I go even further, Al was a neighbour in Kenilworthh Park in Harolds Cross, and as a young teenager I have fond memories of him with his banjo in satchel hedding off do somje gig somewhere and us shouting at him give us a bar sammy after one of his songs.

He was friendly with my late brother Dick who brought us to see him in some club in town and he was magic just magic and he sang "Sammy's Bar " just for us now theres a memory.

Paddy P.

[MacheteMick]

AL O' Donnell

CD Launch and Gig

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH 2008

THE COBBLESTONE, SMITHFIELD, DUBLIN

8PM

ADM..............FREE

YES FOLKS THE ALBUM'S IN........... AND WILL BE FOR SALE AT THE GIG. WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL. THE ALBUM WILL BE IN RECORD SHOPS FROM NOVEMBER 24TH AND AVAILABLE ON ITUNES IN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. NIALL TONER PREVIEWED THE ALBUM TO MUCH ACCLAIM ON THE 'ROOTS FREEWAY' SHOW ON RTE RADIO1 LAST NIGHT (11 Nov 2008)

[deejay160]

I hope you grandkids got together.I have one of his albums."LARRY" is brilliant. Just going to play it now

[brendanmanson]

Fans of Al O'Donnell: check out Tommy Makem & Ryan's Fancy Ep.6 pt.1 of 3,see 'Avondale' live. Part 2 of 3 'The Granemore Hare' and in Episode 3 of 3 Al plays 'Lord Inchiquinn'....sublime..what more could we ask for except more.... and (of course) the re-issue of those two albums!!

[Evil70rK]

hey cat i am his grandson too.........

[tromasteve]

Hey. Al was a regular customer in a guitar store I worked in. Didn't realise it was Al O' Donnell at the time, though, if you know what I mean.

Lovely guy, anyway.

[cheyennecrazyhorse]

Great news! New album on the way!

The Cobblestone,

30th August,

Smithfield,

Dublin. I will be there ;))

[infinityplusorminus1]

Thanks Cat, I see he is there on 30th August, booking my flight as we speak. All the best

[infinityplusorminus1]

Hi, has anyone got Al's albums - I've been searching for copies of them for years

[catgotyourtongue08]

ya i do. im his grandson. hes got a new album on the way as well

[infinityplusorminus1]

Hi, He's my hero!! Thanks for the reply - How do I get a copy of his old ones? When/where will his new album be released?

[catgotyourtongue08]

al himself would have problems getting copies of the old ones. his new album will be ready in the next 6 months. he will be selling them at his gigs. he plays the cobblestone quite alot now

[peeps1185]

have had Al 2 on since new - but now have on homemade cd. Contact me for copy.

[infinityplusorminus1]

Hi, thank you very much for the offer but I am now the proud owner of copies of both Al's album courtesy of thetwangman

[cheyennecrazyhorse]

A travesty that there is so little footage of Al anywhere to be found. And, that the two albums I know of (Al O'Donnell 1&2) have never been re issued on CD. Have seen him live a few times over the years and he is infinitely more at ease in a live setting than he appears to be in this TV studio. Twangman, I can't thank you enough for posting this....anymore? :~)

[foggydew27]

This guy is a major talent. First time I heard him sing. I recognize the name from watching the The Performer DVD - Luke Kelly Raglan Road.

[PollyMorphus]

Beautiful.

[brendanmanson]

I have both of his albums on tape, old, worn and in need of replacement. I cannot believe that such a major talent is not available on CD!! Thank you for posting this.