2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey

Subject: Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Vic Smith
Date: 28 Apr 20 - 10:51 AM

His friend Karen Ryan sends this:-

It is with a heavy heart that I share the very sad news that Brendan McGlinchey (my fiddling hero and long time friend) passed away on Saturday, surrounded by his family - he had not been well for some time. ?????? I first met Brendan in the mid 90s - before our paths ever crossed, I was depping for him at gigs he couldn't make, with his great friends Paul Brennan and Kevin Boyle (he was already living near Chichester at this stage, and just coming in to London every now and then) - a year or so later I was delighted to meet him in Monkstown when I was doing the CCÉ Teastas course. During one of the nightly sessions, Brendan sat in - some of the others started playing his compositions, I felt slightly uncomfortable at the idea, but then felt it would be rude not to join in (as if I didn't know them) - everyone who was there, played Splendid Isolation and only a couple of us were left going into 'Mrs Lawrie's' - Brendan stared at my fingerwork throughout the entire tune, I had never felt under more close scrutiny in my life! Thankfully it was the start of a long and warm friendship. I was very fortunate to play a good deal of music with Brendan after that first meeting and learn a heck of a lot in the process. He kindly took over teaching my fiddle classes in London during my PGCE teacher training year when I found the workload too stressful to balance both for a time - he used to stay with us in Holloway each week and it was always a treat to chat and play tunes when he was finished teaching. One of my proudest musical moments was when Kevin Boyle asked us to play a fiddle duet on his album 'Bon Cabbage' as part of the 'Movies Céilí Band' - and another, when Brendan generously wrote a beautiful reel for me :-) I was delighted to arrange various gigs for Brendan, including during the early years of RtCT Festival - his fiddle playing was always so impressive and so moving. Brendan always put a great deal of thought into his playing and his composing while in his own space, with his fiddle hanging up by a ribbon on the wall to grab whenever the mood took him - this care and attention to detail always came across in his stunning tone, gorgeous phrasing and beautiful variations. It is so sad that the elusive 2nd solo album never came to fruition, although it came extremely close a couple of times ... he was a perfectionist! The fiddle and trips to London got less attention as years progressed, but I know he absolutely relished his more recent role of grandfatherhood :-) Sending deepest sympathy, love and strength to Margaret, the girls and their families. Brendan may you rest in peace ?? Kx

He came to play at our folk club at the Royal Oak in Lewes a few times sharing the evening with Oliver Mulligan.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 06:32 AM

Such sad news and the passing of a legend. He used to turn up occasionally and play at the Kilkenny Irish session in Wimbledon that I go to and which Kevin and Paul Brennan attend too.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 07:06 AM

Sorry to hear of this
We booked Brendan at the Singers Club and several others we were involved in araound the same time as another face had appeared on the scene, the fresh faced young and very promising fiddle player Kevin Burke
Kevin became a fried of several of us and one night Pat and I went to see him play in Ealing Town Hall
He met us ont the steps, almost jumping with exceitement; "McGlinchey's here - McGlinchey's here"
Brendan had re-appeared on the scene after a long absence
He agreed to a booking - he even turned up a week earlier to assess his audience - in those days, Solo Irish musicians were't common at folk clubs
He commented on how good it was to have an audience that sat and listened - he was hosted by Oliver Mulligan on that and several other nights
We were proud to be front-runners in getting people like Bobby Casey, Tom McCarthy, Roger Sherlock, Kevin Butrke and PJ Crotty up before those "listening audiences" and we got some good recordings from them
I thought there was one of Brendan on the Clare County Website - you'll just have to remember him via othe playing of one of his friends and admirers
HERE
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 07:14 AM

I was looking for some of Brendan's playing on line - there are a few - all accompanied
We once discussed the question of accompaniment with him - he told u he loved playing solo but he didn't have the confidence to do so in public; he also said he believed that's what audiences preferred
A lovely, obliging man
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 07:47 AM

The West London Folkclub tape has been on-line for a long time via the Ceol Allainn site. I suppose it can still be downloaded from their Russian mirror-server.

The lot of the Ceol Alainn downloads is here . For anyone worried about the downloads, the site is clean, piracy/copyright issues aside.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 08:00 AM

For information about the downloads the original blog : Ceol Alainn

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 08:11 AM

Thanks Peter
I didn't know about that site
Terry Yarnell put his recording of the evening up - we recorded it the same night - it's great to se it still doing the rounds though it appears niot to be downloadable any more
It's a great site
Hope you're keeping safe - both of you
Jim

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 09:07 AM

'[i]it appears niot to be downloadable any more[/i]'

See my first post, the downloads were moved to a mirror site a few years ago and are still there (I just tried).

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 09:19 AM

Thanks Peter
I tried your link and itt appeared dead
- I'll try again
Terry's recording is better than ours - he was nearer the front on a very crowded night
Jim

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 09:19 AM

Thanks Peter
I tried your link and itt appeared dead
- I'll try again
Terry's recording is better than ours - he was nearer the front on a very crowded night
Jim

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 10:32 AM

One I overlooked earlier, also on that site: Breandan McGlinchey's lp Music of a Champion

Download works.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 04:42 PM

One of the greatest traditional Irish musicians ever to draw a string across a bow. Brendan came to perform in memory of his great fiddling friend Jimmy McHugh at the first memorial concert for Jimmy in Glasgow in 2000. Here is his performance of the slow air "The Bonny Bunch Of Roses" :

https://youtu.be/CIrEofdxOnc

I've posted a few more clips from that concert which shouldn't be too hard to find.
A great loss to Irish music. My condolences to his friends and family.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Brendan McGlinchey
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 30 Apr 20 - 11:50 AM

I was sorry to hear this news. I have added Brendan to the "In Memoriam" thread. My condolence to all those who know and love him.

RIP