Celtic Music: Music at Matt Molloy's

Normally, Matt Molloy doesn't allow recording equipment in his pub. Sometimes the idea of being recorded puts musicians off. This time, though, the musicians gathered knowing they'd be recorded. Molloy decided that first and foremost he wanted the musicians to be comfortable, meaning the technology side of things would have to play second fiddle (or flute?) to that consideration.

He got his friend, fiddler and sound engineer Martin Murray to set up his rig in the front room over the pub, with wires snaking down to the musicians' table below. Brendan O'Shea, with mike and headphones, was stationed near the musicians to alert Martin when it looked like the musicians were about to start a set of tunes. Everything was recorded to DAT - Digital Audio Tape - and there was to be no remixing later.

The first night, that all went out the window. The musicians gathered at another table, avoiding the mikes. So the sound guys had to dismantle things and hang the mikes inconspicuously from the ceiling. Scratch the first night, but after that, things went much smoother.

Over the course of the four days, enough music, complete with the typical background sounds of a small pub, were captured. At the end, when Murray had switched off the machines and come downstairs for a well-earned pint, he naturally had to pick up his own fiddle, and everyone present was off for another go at the music. "Oh, where are the mikes now?" Molloy sighed.

Fiddles: Sean Smyth, Cora Smyth, Breda Smyth, John McHugh, Terry Crehan, Mick O Grady, Kevin McHugh, Jimmy Murphy, Peter Horan, Liam Grealis

Flutes: Matt Molloy, Paul McGrattan, Michael Conboy, Frank Jordan, Olcan Masterson, Jimmy Murray, Peter Horan

Guitars: Arty McGlynn, Pat and Becky Egan

Bouzoukis: Noel O Grady, Paul Doyle, Maria Lynn

Whistles: Breda Smyth, Martin Hession, Olcan Masterson

Banjo: Padraic Morrell

Accordions: Peter Gallagher, Tom Doherty, Pat Friel

Mandolin: Johnny Curtis

Vocals: Iarla O Lionaird, Mick O Grady, Pat and Becky Egan, Mick Lavelle

Dancing: John Joe Geraghty on Track 10, uncredited dancers on Track 20