Mikey Kelleher

Mikey Kelleher: (1907-1987).  Although born and reared in Quilty, he left for England in 1942, working in Bristol and Nottingham and eventually settling in London.  We recorded him in Deptford, South East London, where he had lived since 1949.  When we met him, he had retired from his work in the building trade; in Ireland Mikey had fished, gathered carrageen (seaweed), built curraghs and done farm work, though he had no land himself.  While he was known locally in Clare as a dancer - a very good one - Mikey had absorbed many of the songs he had heard in his younger days.

Part of the booklet notes, written by Jim Carrol and Pat Mackenzie, to the Musical Traditions Records CDs Around the Hills of Clare (MTCD331-2)