The Gallowglass Ceili Band

[carol2075]

my dad mick dempsey rip

[SuperJemser]

Love the Sax sound, Well dont Mick Dempsey, I miss your great sax playing and fun and jokes,,,,,,,,,,,, Kelo from the old days in the ASM.

[SuperJemser]

Love the Sax sound, Well dont Mick Dempsey, I miss your great sax playing and fun and jokes,,,,,,,,,,,, Kelo

[baggyray]

There is a dvd available of their presumably last public appearance,called Together for one last reunion,sells for about a fiver,over an hour of wonderful music and Irish dancing,highly recommended !!

[jak2266]

thank you for putting in that tribute, sean. -mary Dempsey (mikes sister)

[thepipesarecalling]

The days when music put a smile on your face and not where a plastic smile tried to hide the fairly poor music on offer.

[robfromstanley]

Fantastic band, went to all the dances where possible in the Dumfries area in the late 50s, (I'm now in my 70s), very friendly people, I quite often played the drums at 1/2 time in their band. When in Dumfries they played in the Assembly Rooms but once they used the Drill Hall and the Band wasn't very pleased because the accustics were terrible and that spoiled the sound of the band, they knew this and as far as I know never been back there. I believe it was Jim Cameron that got them to scotland

[bigj1136]

great but they all look as if they are about to be shot after the dance even the band look in pain is this in the days when you were not allowed to smile

[goinghomesomeday1]

@bigj1136 --- :-) LoL. As far back as I can remember (and that's a long-long time ago) players of Scottish or Irish ceilidh rarely if ever smiled, I don't know why.

[theargueman]

Have you anymore music of this band they are the best I would love to here more from them Thanks for sharing this I love your taste Peter.

[Stargreened]

@theargueman Sorry Peter all i have is what i've uploaded here. It seems actual video footage of this band line up is rare indeed.

[shteamroller]

@theargueman 

[Fergophone]

A very sweet sound, love it.

[firstkiwi]

Scottish dance band at its best

[shteamroller]

@firstkiwi 

[theloudhalo]

At 00:43 - are they brother and sister?

If not - I would be very surprised.

[slimskinshin]

Try that with a burca on

[grahamoxxx]

Very precise playing but I wish they looked as if they enjoyed it . . .

[grandsonsteve]

we enjoyed it,just loved their music

[betulea1]

@grandsonsteve smiling is extra 

[Fr3derick]

Brilliant!!! Beautiful music and dancing. Love it:)

Grandma mary

[tamyk007]

Very nice folk song and music players.

[amarcordeon]

Fantasti dance and music!

[helveticus2000]

very very cool, truly

[sslagwollag]

New Site out there by these guys, you should check it out, Photos and MP3s

[sslagwollag]

For sure and certain the last time this great ceili band played together was May 1998.

[shanefromharlequin]

Peggy Keogh (nee McGarr) (my Granny) founded the Gallowglass. She has always been and remains an inspiration to me. Im most grateful to her for the gift of music she passed down to my mum and ultimately me.

The Gallowglass Ceili Band played to more than 3 million people in their 40-year career.

Actually their final gig was a concert in the National Concert Hall (1995) - a complete sell-out.

Last time she played the violin was in 2004 to 60ish patients at a nursing home where she was resting.

[SALOMEA46]

Przepiękne!!!!!

[micjnoonan]

Very nice! It makes me want to get up and dance the Bluebell Polka. :-)

[groovemaster1988]

davy scott...what a drummer he was back then and still is at nearly 80 years of age!

[derail14]

Ahhh yes very good & a full rythem sec is what makes it. Also very good technique on both accordion players.

[leftclog51]

i love the blue bell polka and so does my cat benny he wags his tail all the time

[sangdelaterra]

Very nice!!!!

[mush1955]

Nice to see the young people keeping the Celtic tradstions alive.........instead of sitting in front of the computer or X box all day

[TheHelen61]

Please excuse me from mentioning this, but when this film was made X boxes had not even been THOUGHT of - never mind invented.

Sorry to spoil your dream.

[CrinkleCutBeatroot]

@mush1955 hey, now, I'm 20 and I do both

[TheHelen61]

The Gallowglass will always remain a vivid memory of my beautiful, safe, happy and joyful childhood. What lovely memories - hearing them on Radio Eirean (hope I spelled this right)

[Punorss]

One word...TREMENDOUS!!!

[dermotsdog]

what a treat i love the bluebell polka one of my favourite jimmy shand numbers i love the gallowglass style of playing the sax adds another dimension to it and the accordion playing is very professional.

[cl7player]

That's the sound of an old, "classic" horn. Different metallurgy and maybe slightly narrower bore than modern horns, definitely an older type of mouthpiece (wide and short as opposed to the modern long and narrow). It almost sounds like C-melody but I think it's still a Bb tenor.

[mattfido1]

i always remember listening to this my dad had it this band on cassette which he used to play in the car. Thanks for sharing

[trappist2]

bless their little cotton socks

[mcbarron23]

oh the memories...always playing in the house growing up. mom from cavan, dad from waterford.

[celtostara]

bless them all ... class act!

[doodydog1]

For your info this was the last time they played together they all got together for one last reunion.The leader Pat Mcgarr is now dead and the lady Peggy Keogh is/was in a nursing home last i heard!

[sslagwollag]

The last time they played together was actually in the National Concert Hall in May 1998 a number of years after this recording. Yes Mrs Keogh is still in a nursing home.

[doodydog1]

Thanks for that info i stand CORRECTED!

[Stargreened]

Thanks. I've updated the video info.

[moonmusical]

Wonderful stuff! I love this music, it reminds me so much of my youth. My Dad used to play it all the time!!

[silverdalesapphires]

Why do they all look so solemn??? Surely they could lighten up a bit. Can't fault the playing, though!

[valzoom]

Gives one the "feel good" factor! I go to a ceilidh every time I get the chance - should be more of them! A lovely tune, a ceilidh would not be complete without this one.

[Bagpipe13]

GOOD TUNE SPOILD BY A CRAP BASS

[jeremiahfodgother]

Dancin is a better way to spend an evenin, than sittin in front of a screen.

Peter was never in rome.

[nicolaj0154]

you also know that code trick, i was trough that i was the only one, that was useing it.

[helen1948]

thank you for the great music the bluebell polka is a great tune.

[grandsonsteve]

makes me feel good everytime i hear it.

[rolandratface]

I hadn't realised there was so much good music on here.

[GORAN1441]

I like the violinist - she will ever be stresset.......

fine tune.

[mrlarge2000]

Fantastic - I'm going to a ceili tomorrow night, I hope it's as good as this - FAB!!

[johnnyshox73]

The best ever ceili band!!!! fantastic

[hdmcintosh]

Many happy memories of listening and dancing to this fabulous band throughout the 60's and 70's

[brownstowngirl]

Can't begin to let you how much this posting means, tears are filling my eyes as I type! Many many.

[JOEDEAN2008]

they deffo got talent

[ANWL]

All people here were there because of their love of the music, not for fame, money or anything else. Thats what makes it so cool.

[modsel]

Ah!! at last some real music... toe tapping stuff...brilliant...Thanks..

[rr111111]

What a lovely video ,superb dancing by the youngsters,and nice tempo. Wish someone in the band would smile.(Not the saxophonist.) The children look very at ease.and very smart.excellent in fact. Well done. Happy new year to all'in shot'.

[crexcrex71]

The Gallowglass - What a great strict tempo band they were and the music they played was great. Mind you they wouldn't be very popular with the purists because they used 'accordions, a saxophone, and a bass guitar.

[Cuchullain10]

IMHO I know this tune as "Siamsa Beirte" with the lyrics of "The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen"

[UISTMAN59]

"Siamsa Beirte" is a dance by Sian and Una Farrell and can be danced to any suitable hornpipe tune. This tune was poularised by Jimmy Shand who had a top 20 hit with it in 1955. It is at least 40 years older than that and also called 'Let Pet(Caledonian Polka)'.

[terencemagee]

Edarra!

[mcbarron23]

the records (a good few) are at my mother's house.

this was the music i grew up with. what great memories

thanks

[nozie1234]

Great Thanks..dancing along more please