The Mike Rafferty Speed 78 Tour

 

Mike Rafferty  Flute, Uillean Pipes
Mike was born in 1926. Mike is an outstanding exponent of the East Galway style of flute playing. Recently, he was named Irish Echo's Traditional Musician of the Year.

 

Mike Rafferty was born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway. His father was a well-known flute player in the area. His name was Tom 'Barrell' Rafferty, Barrell being his nickname to distinguish the family from the other six Rafferty families, living in the area. According to Mike his father got his nickname because he got such a great tone from the flute, the locals reckoned that he could fill a barrel with his breath! Tom lost his sight when Mike was very young and Mike

learned the flute by watching his father’s fingers.

His other great influences were the local musicians of the Ballinakill Céilí Band, in particular Jack Coughlan. Mike emigrated to the US in 1949 and settled in New York. At first he didn't play much but after a while he met up with fellow flute players in New York, Mike Preston and Jack Coen.

He made a CD in 1998 with his daughter Mary. The title of the CD was Mike and Mary Rafferty, The Old Fireside Music. Mary Rafferty spent some years recording and playing with the well-known American all women group Cherish the Ladies.

 

Mary Raffery, Accordion, Flute & Whistles
Mary was born in New Jersey. Mike provided an environment that nurtured Mary to learn the music almost by osmosis. She has attained a remarkable level of virtuosity on flute, tin whistle and accordion placing her in the rare category of Irish musicians who excel on multiple unrelated instruments.  Mary is known for her association with Irish super-group Cherish The Ladies with whom she spent seven years touring and recording.

 

In addition to three recordings with her father, she has  her first solo recording "Hand-Me-Downs". This recording features Mary on accordion, whistle, flute & concertina and was produced by her husband Dónal Clancy.

 

 

Dónal Clancy, Guitar & Bouzouki
Dónal grew up in the Ring Gaeltacht of Co. Waterford, a place steeped in traditional music and song. Being born into a musical family (his father Liam, being one of the legendary Clancy Brothers) he was exposed to Irish music from an early age. He has recorded two albums with his father Liam and cousin Robbie O'Connell and also has appeared on many other recordings by artists such as Kevin Crawford, Martin Murray, Aoife Clancy, Cherish The Ladies, Eileen Ivers Band and Solas. He is currently on tour with the group Danú.

Mike and Mary Rafferty are one of those father-daughter duos behind the band Cherish the Ladies:  Mary plays button box and Mike plays flute and pipes, now they've made an album together called "The Dangerous Reel" (Kells Music KM-9509), and it's a mixture of traditional Irish and East Coast US tunes. Mary and Mike have recorded three albums together; "The Dangerous Reel", "The Old Fireside Music", which features members of their musical family and their latest release "The Road from Ballinakill", with special guests Willie Kelly, Dónal Clancy, Kathleen Glynn, Michael Rafferty & Gerry Conroy.