The Irish Phonograph – Irish Traditional Music from EMI 78s. EMI GAE 1003: Side 1, Track 2 features the jig selection Lark on the Strand/Idle Road/Paddy’s Return Recorded July 3rd 1956 (HMV IP 1148-OE: 1087-1).

This record is of great interest because it features, among others, the Dublin Metropolitan Garda Céilí Band, The Austin Stack Céilí Band, The Lough Gill Quartet, Gardiners Sligo Traditional Trio, and The Belhavel Trio, all of which made great contributions to the development of the present day céilí band. The five original ‘78’s were:

No. IP 1147 Reels: The Donegal/George Whites Favourite/The Copper Plate (coupled with) Hornpipes: Tim the Turncoat/The Quarrelsome Piper.

No. IP 1148 Reels: Dillon’s Fancy/Bird in the Bush/The Silver Spear (coupled with) Jigs: Lark on the Strand/The Idle Road/Paddy’s Return

No. IP 1149 Reels: Sally Gardens/Bay of Potatoes/The Congress (coupled with) Hornpipes: The Friendly Visit/Bantry Bay.

No. IP 1150 Reels: Jacksons/Buckley’s Fancy (coupled with) Jigs: The Lark in the Morning/Macs Fancy/Prestons.

No. IP 1151 Reels: The Woman of the House/Limerick Lasses/Come West Along the Road (coupled with) Medley of Polkas.

The Tulla Céilí Band – All Ireland Champions ’57 (recorded in New York in 1958 for DUBLIN RECORDS) is available on the SHAMROCK label no SLP 903.

The three Albums recorded for EMI are still available and are listed here with their present catalogue numbers:
The Claddagh Ring: EMI Music of Ireland Series: STAL (1) 1002.
Ireland Green: EMI Music of Ireland Series: STAL (1) 1029
Sweetheart in the Spring: EMI Ireland Aran Records ISLE 3004.

P. Joe Hayes can be heard with Paddy Canny, Peter O’Loughlin and Bridie Lafferty (piano) on a very fine record with somewhat formal title:
All Ireland Champions – Violin: Shamrock Records HARP 10.

Martin Hayes can be heard playing 4 tracks on:
An Fhidil – Sraith 1: Gael Linn records CEF 068 recroded in 1978 and featuring also Maurice Lennon, Sean Montgomery, Seamus Thompson and Seamus Glackin.

The following records are recommended for the purpose of comparison and make interesting listening:

The Kilfenora Céilí Band: Shamrock records SLP 904. Originally released on Dublin Records, it forms a companion piece with the Tulla Band recording. The Kilfenora Céilí Band: Pickwick records HPE 609. Originally recorded for Transatlantic Records at the West County Inn, Ennis on January 4 1974.

The Laictin Naofa Céilí Band: Shamrock Records HARP 8. A memorable recording of this West Clare céilí band featuring Willie Clancy, Martin Talty and J.C. Talty, who have all played with the Tulla Band, plus Micael Falsey, Junior Crehan, Jimmy Ward, Paddy Galvin and others.

The Castle Céilí Band: Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Records CL5. Recorded in 1974 from musicians based in Dublin and featuring among others Clare fiddle players John Kelly and Joe Ryan plus flute player Michael Turbidy from Kilrush.

Finally a record which contains a selection of Irish bands recorded in the thirties:
Ceol Tíre: Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Records Cl 12. Mainly centred around the talented Gardiner family from Ballymote, Co. Sligo, this includes recordings of the Kincora Céilí Band, The Gardiner Traditional Trio and Belhavel Trio.