In 1987, the Horse and I had the notion to record an album together and this is the only track from that session which featured both of us together (at least within the same grooves). Instead of the full length album, we ended up with a five track EP (extended-play) 33⅓ RPM (revolutions per minute) vinyl record with the intention of completing a full length album with the very Irish notion of “near future”. That near future never happened as the Horse was killed in a work-related accident two years later on February 10, 1989. He had just turned 60 years of age on Christmas Eve, just 48 days before his death and about a month after burying his sister Kathy who died suddenly in January of 1989. 

By chance, I was with the Horse and my mom, Mary (The Kerrywoman) at the funeral mass for my aunt Kathy in Los Angeles. Myself, Mick Moloney, and Robbie O’Connell usually did a west coast tour in January so that is where we were at the time. The Horse and the Kerrywoman came to one of our gigs at The Barn in University of California Riverside. As was always the case with Mick and Robbie — if the Horse was in the audience, he’d be up onstage singing one or two songs that gig. It was the last time he sang in public. 

The song An Sagart O'Domhnaill (The Priest O’Donnell) is one the Horse pulled out of the air one time when I asked him to sing something. He told me it was a song he learned as a kid from his mom Máire but known by all as Maimeó (Mom-o) 

You can hear the Horse sing another version of this without any accordion ruining it on track 136 along with a translation. 

The Lough Key is a great slip jig composed by Larry Redican (1908-1975). Slip jigs are in the 9/8 time signature and one of the more rare classes of jigs within traditional Irish music. There are only fifty-six slip jigs in O’Neill’s Music of Ireland (which contains 1,850 tunes). Slip jigs are sometimes known as hop jigs — but that has faded as micro-brewers started hoarding hops… ;-) 

I’ve always loved this tune since first learning it along with Liz Carroll and Marty Fahey from a 1970 issue of Treoir, a magazine issued by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) which contains tunes, stories, profiles, and news of the Irish music world. While kids our age had Tiger Beat, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, and MAD magazine — we also had Treoir. 

I first recorded the tune in 1986 with Mick Moloney and Robbie O’Connell on the Kilkelly album. You can hear that version on track 81 in this collection — I had forgotten the actual name of the tune, so just called it “Larry Redican’s” at the time — a very common occurrence in traditional Irish music as actual tune names are not often embedded with the tunes. I learned many tunes from other musicians who at the time did not know the name of the tune, so I (along with many others) would reference whom we learnt that particular tune from — such as the case with Larry Redican’s Lough Key. 

April’s Fool is the final tune of this opening track and the first jig I wrote. It was for Liz Carroll, my dear lifelong friend and musical mentor (shh! She still doesn’t know that she is my mentor). Well, why is it called April’s Fool you ask? In late March of 1983, I received a phone call from Liz asking if I’d be interested in playing a good paying gig at a political fundraiser along with herself and Marty Fahey. It was at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. For Bernie Epton who was running as a Republican against Democrat (and soon to be Mayor) Harold Washington. Did I say it was a good paying gig? Did I mention that I was born and raised a Democrat? Did I mention it was a good paying gig? Of course, I said — see you next Friday. April. First. 

After my Ironworker day job at the time, I rushed home, said Hi to my wife Susie, showered, remembered to get the accordion, said Bye to Susie and drove back downtown to the Chicago Hilton and Towers. On Friday. April. First. 

Parked the car and went into the hotel. Headed to the lower level and thought — I must have the wrong floor as there is no one here. No. One. Here. I started walking around looking for someone to ask when all of a sudden I hear my name being paged: Would guest Jimmy Keane please pick up the white courtesy phone? On Friday. April. First. Did I mention that? 

Hello? Hi Jimmy, it's Liz. I’m with the gang at the 6511 Club. Come over for drinks. Oh, and Happy April Fools’ Day!!!!! 

I never did see Marty that night. I don’t think he spoke to Liz for a few months after that. I, of course, headed to the 6511 Club (formerly Frank’s Place, but also known as Flanagan’s after it’s then owner Tom Flanagan) and drank. With my dear friend and mentor Liz Carroll. Did I mention that?