Cathal McConnell

McConnell came from a musical family in Tonyloman near Bellanaleck, County Fermanagh and plays his music in the traditional Fermanagh style.{{cite book | title=The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle | publisher=Mel Bay Publications | author=Larsen, Grey | year=2011 | pages=400 | isbn=978-1610658898}} His father Sandy was a well known traditional singer and musician in his own right and recorded for the BBC in the 1950s and his younger brother is the musician and songwriter Mickey MacConnell.

McConnell's early musical collaborators in Ireland were fiddler Tommy Gunn and Robin Morton. In 1962 McConnell became All-Ireland champion in both flute and whistle.{{cite book | title=Hidden Fermanagh: Traditional Music and Song from County Fermanagh | publisher=Fermanagh Traditional Music Society | author=Maguire, Cyril | year=2003|isbn=0-9546200-0-3}}

After meeting at a folk festival in Falkirk, Scotland, the group The Boys of the Lough was formed and their first recording was released in 1973. Originally consisting of McConnell on flute, Aly Bain (fiddle),{{cite web |title=Folk duo's birthday bash |url=http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/what-s-on/gigs-music/folk-duo-s-birthday-bash-1-7847100 |website=The Visitor |date=12 April 2016}} Dick Gaughan (vocals and guitar) and Robin Morton (bodhran and vocals).{{Cite news |last=Gilcrist |first=Jim |title=Folk: Boys of the Lough – The New Line |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/music/folk-boys-of-the-lough-the-new-line-1-3837503 |work=The Scotsman |date=22 July 2015}} Although there have now been multiple line-up changes, the group remains active and has 21 studio albums to its name. McConnell is the only remaining founder member.

Outside the Boys of the Lough, Cathal has released two albums of songs and tunes,{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/742872.htm |title=Cathal McConnell – Long Expectant Comes At Last |magazine=The Living Tradition |issue=40 |format=review}} performed in duos with Robin Morton (1939–2021), Scots fiddler Duncan Wood,{{cite news |title=Cathal McConnell: Singing the praises of a lifelong Boy who stayed true to his roots |url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/cathal-mcconnell-singing-the-praises-of-a-lifelong-boy-who-stayed-true-to-his-roots-1-802627 |work=The Scotsman |date=4 May 2010}} singer Len Graham, Irish fiddler Gerry O'Connor,{{cite web |title=Cathal McConnell & Gerry O'Connor – Music and Song of South Ulster |url=http://www.cathalmcconnell.com/mcconnell-o-connor |website=I Have Travelled this Country – Songs of Cathal McConnell}} among others. In 2010 Gerry O'Connor compiled a collection from Cathal's song repertoire, published as I Have Travelled This Country.{{Cite web |title=Cathal McConnell – I Have Travelled This Country CDs & DVDs |url=http://claddaghrecords.com/index.php/cathal-mcconnell-i-have-travelled-this-country.html |website=Claddagh Records}}

In Scotland, where he has lived for many years you will often find Cathal McConnell performing with his friend, Gaelic piper and singer [https://allanmacdonald.com/ Allan MacDonald] or as The Cathal McConnell Trio with Kathryn Nicoll (fiddle and viola) and Karen Marshalsay (harp). He has also performed and recorded with [http://www.michelleburkemusic.com/ Michelle Burke] and with [https://www.nualakennedy.com/ Nuala Kennedy].

1962: McConnell is an All-Ireland champion in both flute and whistle, winning both Senior titles at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann held in Gorey, County Wexford.{{cite book | title=Hidden Fermanagh: Traditional Music and Song from County Fermanagh | publisher=Fermanagh Traditional Music Society | author=Maguire, Cyril | year=2003|isbn=0-9546200-0-3}}

2009: Following a longstanding involvement with the annual Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, the School paid tribute to McConnell with an evening of speeches, music and song dedicated to him in July 2009.{{Cite web |url=https://www.itma.ie/features/playlists/mcconnell-cathal/ |title=Cathal McConnell Tribute, 2009 |website=Irish Traditional Music Archive |date=1 December 2010}}

2010: McConnell was awarded Amhránaí na Bliana/Traditional Singer of the Year at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil awards ceremony in Wexford Opera House.{{cite news |title=And the winners of tonight's TG4 Gradam Ceoil awards are... |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/and-the-winners-of-tonight-s-tg4-gradam-ceoil-awards-are-1.617399 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=4 December 2010}} This honour was acknowledged in Cathal's adopted hometown when [https://www.dfa.ie/irish-consulate/edinburgh/ The Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh] hosted a reception to mark the occasion.

2013: As part of his appearance at Cruinniú na bhFliúit Flute Festival in Baile Bhúirne, West Cork, Cathal was interviewed about his life and music.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQTPTdacZmE |title=Cruinniú na bhFliúit 2013 Cathal McConnell Interview, 2009 |website=YouTube |date=9 April 2021}}

See also The Boys of the Lough discography.

• An Irish Jubilee with Robin Morton – Topic Records (1976)
• On Lough Erne's Shore – Topic Records (1978)
• For the Sake of Old Decency with Len Graham – Sage Arts Records (1993)
• Long Expectant Comes at Last – Compass Records (2000)
• Auld Springs Gies Nae Price with Duncan Wood – Carnyx Productions (2010)
• Old Recordings of Slow Airs (2021)

Other recordings include:

• a series of whistle recordings included with the tutor book Irish Pennywhistle Taught By Cathal McConnell published by Homespun Tapes.
• an extensive series of recordings documenting Cathal's song repertoire included with the book I Have Travelled This Country.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite magazine | url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart483.htm | title=The Hand of Cathal | magazine=The Living Tradition | last=Heywood | first=Pete | issue=31 | access-date=31 May 2016 | archive-date=5 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405034313/http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart483.htm | url-status=dead }}
• {{cite web | url=https://www.itma.ie/features/playlists/mcconnell-cathal | title=Cathal McConnell Tribute, 2009 | publisher=Irish Traditional Music Archive }}

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Category:Folk musicians from Northern Ireland

Category:Musicians from County Fermanagh

Category:Living people

Category:Male flautists from Northern Ireland

Category:The Boys of the Lough members

Category:1944 births

Category:Topic Records artists

Category:20th-century Irish flautists

Category:21st-century Irish flautists

Category:20th-century male musicians from Northern Ireland

Category:21st-century male musicians from Northern Ireland