Members may know of the destruction by fire of the Crosskeys Inn in Co Antrim in February of this year. Below is the text of a press release and contents list for a CD just released. Cost £9.99

Careful readers will see that several of the members of the lamented Déanta have contributed along with Len Graham and Joe Holmes. The names of Ciaran Kelly and Maurice Bradley should also be known to the discerning. The others are mainly young musicians from the locality and though little known I guarantee their excellence.

The cd can be obtained from the addresses given or from Ulstersongs - further details by e-mail from me.

A poster advertising the cd with a picture of the Inn as was is here.

John Moulden Ulstersongs

TEXT FOLLOWS *********************************************************

PRESS RELEASE

CROSSKEYS INN - LIVE IN THE KITCHEN

A new CD of traditional music and song and story has just been released to raise funds to restore the historic Crosskeys Inn - there are 20 tracks recorded live around a kitchen table by musicians who regularly played in the famous pub. The CD costs £9.99 and all proceeds will go to the newly formed Crosskeys Inn Heritage Trust.

As singer Len Graham says - The Crosskeys Inn near Toome, Co Antrim has long been renowned throughout the world as one of Ireland's most historic traditional pubs.

In February 2000 the three hundred-year old building with its famous thatched roof was badly damaged by fire. Until that tragic accident the Crosskeys Inn had been a céili-house and welcoming sanctuary to people from all of the traditional arts. If the walls could talk, many a tale would be told, tune tapped to and song sung.

Many young musicians, singers and storytellers had their first platform in the Crosskeys. Altan, Boys of the Lough, The Chieftains, Déanta, De Dannan, The Sands Family, Skylark and many others who are now international celebrities have performed in the pub over the years. Numerous national and international radio and television programmes were recorded and broadcast from inside these venerable walls.

Not surprisingly, performers and music enthusiasts from all over the world offered to support the restoration of the Crosskeys Inn to its former glory. One of the first to volunteer help was Belgian muti-media and sound engineer Erik Van den Broeck who has tried to recapture the unique atmosphere of the historic pub by recording a special live session.

This live recording is the first in a series of fund-raising projects and with its purchase people will help ensure that the magic of the Crosskeys Inn can be enjoyed by future generations."

For further information : Joe Diamond, Chair of the Crosskeys Inn Heritage Trust 028 796 43226 Or Liz Weir, Secretary , Crosskeys Inn Heritage Trust 028 217 58451 Email: crosskeystrust@hotmail.com www.crosskeys.clara.net

1. Reels: Unknown Scottish Bagpipe Reel , Lucy Campbell's (John Hendry, Brendan Hendry, Frank Cassidy, Seamus O'Kane) 3:39
2 Hornpipes: Peter Wypers, Dunphy's. (Maurice Bradley, Ciaran Kelly) 4:05
3 Song:Pretty Susan (Granagh Music) (Len Graham) ) 3:04
4. Jigs:Liz Carroll's, Princess Nancy , Michael Mc Goldrick's (Seana Agnew, Cailin Weir, Mairéad Graham, Bronagh Graham, Christopher McGlone) 3:14
5. Reel: Crowley's Reel (Aoibheann Connolly, Deaglan Devlin) 1:37
6. Slides: Gan ainm/Slippery slide/Road to Lisdoonvarna (Claire Creelman, Brian McCart) 2:56
7. Song: The wee lass on the brae (Aileen Weir, Cailin Weir, Sheenagh Weir) 3:12
8.Reels: Josie McDermott's, Maids of Mount Cisco, The Green Groves of Erin...(Mairéad Walls, Seamus O'Kane) 4:07
9.Story: The tight-lipped man (John Campbell) 4:55
10. Unknown Scottish bagpipe air and reel (John & Brendan Hendry, Frank Cassidy, Seamus O'Kane) 3:31
11. Jigs Castlekelly Jig, Gan Aimn (Aileen Weir , Cailin Weir, Sheenagh Weir) 3:22
12. Song: The Flower of Corby Mill (Mairéad Walls , Seamus O'Kane) 1:54
13. Reels: McKenna's, Matt Malloy's (Michael Herron, Eoghan O'Brien) 2:26
14. Jigs: Willy Clancy's, Peter Fahy's (Maurice Bradley, Ciaran Kelly) 2:45
15. Reels The Providence Reel.. (Aileen Weir , Cailin Weir , Sheenagh Weir) 2:34
16. Reels Farrel O'Gara, Gan Ainm, Marion Egan's(Mark Lavery, Brendan Hendry, Kate O'Brien, Paul McSherry , Eoin Mullan) 5:12
17. Mazurkas: Sonny Brogans' mazurkas (Aoibheann Connolly, Deaglan Devlin) 2:20
18. Song: The little pack of tailors (Granagh Music) (Len Graham , John Campbell) 1:15
19. Jigs: Cathal McConnell's, Gillian's Apples.. (Mairéad Walls, Seamus O'Kane) 2:43
20. Reels: Shetland Reel, Loughrea Reel, Beta, Joe Cassidy's (Clodagh Warnock, Geraldine Lyons, Eoghan O'Brien) 4:33