Jackie Daly’s Polkas – Antalya & Co. Derry – Tony’s Musical Journeys

Bill the Weaver (Din Tarrant’s) / Johnny Leary’s / Jim Keefe’s (Polkas)

This is our little tribute to the Co. Cork accordion legend Jackie Daly featuring Sophie Petkevich (melodeon) and Ciaran Kelly (greek bouzouki). I learned this set from a 1990 clip of Jackie’s playing on The Pure Drop programme kindly shared here by Ciaran. It’s one of those sets of polkas Jackie called “The Newmarket Polkas” and you should check out that video to get inspired by his driving, lively style of playing the C#/D box! 33 years later Jackie is still leading concerts and sessions – and this week he’s playing in great company at Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in Castleisland, Co. Kerry.

We recorded this set with Sophie in Antalya’s most welcoming pub The James Joyce where we had a traditional Irish music session running for over a year. Ciaran has then kindly agreed to provide us with his skilful backing on the bouzouki – we couldn’t get enough of it, so I made it a double track!

Fun fact: Jackie recorded this tricky version of the first polka on Patrick Street’s album All In Good Time as part of a different selection, this time calling the set (John) Walsh’s Polkas!

The James Joyce Pub, Antalya, Türkiye, September 2023
Moneymore, Co. Derry, Nothern Ireland, October 2023

Jackie Daly playing these polkas in 1990:
   • Jackie Daly: The Newmarket Polkas  

#SliabhLuachra #Polkas101 #IrishFiddle #IrishAccordeon #IrishMelodeon #IrishPolka #IrishTraditionalMusic #CoCork #CoKerry #ToMuJo