#TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award – Bobby Gardiner Bobby Gardiner is a legendary accordion player and teacher. He was born in the townland of Aughdarra near Lisdoonvarna in north Clare in 1939. There was music in the blood. His mother, Dilly, played a German two- row concertina and from her he learned his first tune – the fling What the devil ails you? His brother introduced him to a new Hohner two-row button accordion and after that, Bobby bought a grey Paolo Soprani accordion. Tá Bobby Gardiner ar dhuine de na boscadóirí is binne agus is geanúla lena linn agus tá a cháil i bhfad is i ngearr agus meas ar leith ag damhsóirí air. Is in Achadh Dara in aice le Lios Dún Bhearna i dtuaisceart an Chláir a rugadh é sa mbliain 1939. Bhí an ceol sa gclann mar gur mhaith í a mháthair, Dilly, ar an gconsairtín agus is uaithi a d’fhoghlaim Bobby óg a chéad phíosa ceoil – port luascach What the devil ails you? Ba ghearr go raibh cairdín Hohner dhá shraith faighte aige óna dheartháir agus go gairid ina dhiaidh sin cheannaigh sé féin bosca ceoil Paolo Soprani. Comharsa ab ea Margie Flanagan agus chuaigh a stíl bhríomhar siúd ar an gconsairtín i bhfeidhm air freisin, faoi mar a chuaigh na taifeadtaí a rinne boscadóir Thiobraid Árann Paddy O’Brien, fear a léirigh máistreacht ar an gcóras B/C ar an mbosca. Dar ndóigh bhí na sean-cheirníní iomráiteacha 78 cloiste aige faoin tráth seo freisin ar a raibh ceol na máistrí móra – Coleman, Killoran, Morrison, John Kimmell, Michael Grogan, an píobaire Patsy Touhy, John McKenna na feadóige móire agus na deartháireacha Flanagan. Bhí an traidisiún beo beathach ina cheantar dúchais agus é ina fhear óg agus is maith is cuimhin leis Lá an Dreoilín agus seisiúin fhada cheoil le leithéidí Miko agus Packie Russell, Paddy Killourihy, Willie Shannon, Gerald O’Loughlin agus Tom Doolan, Micilín Conlon, Tommy Scullane, Murt O’Dwyer, Peter Griffin agus Chris Droney ar an gconsairtín. Bhí meas ar leith aige ar Pattey Flanagan as Dún an Ghabhair i nDúlainn, fear a raibh stór ar leith aige agus leaganacha éagsúla freisin. Sna caogaidí, chaith sé tamall ag seinm le bannaí aitheanta céilí, ina measc banna cáiliúil Chill Fhionnúrach agus banna Mhalachy Sweeney in Ard Mhacha. An elderly concertina player by the name of Margie Flanagan lived near his grandparents’ house and her hearty style also left an impression on young Bobby. Later, he was also influenced by the recordings of Tipperary man Paddy O’Brien’s and his mastery of the B/C system of accordion-playing. He had also heard and greatly admired all the old masters on the 78 gramophone recordings – Coleman, Killoran, Morrison, John Kimmell and box player Michael Grogan. Other influences included the piper Patsy Touhy, flute player John McKenna and the Flanagan Brothers. He remembers vividly playing for mummers’ dances (Wren Boys) which lasted all night. He had many sessions with the Russell brothers, Paddy Killourihy, Willie hannon, Gerald O’Loughlin and Tom Doolan on fiddles, Micilín Conlon, Tommy Scullane, Murt O’Dwyer, and Peter Griffin on accordions and Chris Droney on concertina. Pattey Flanagan of Doonagore, Doolin was another influence as he had a rare collection of tunes, some with different versions. In the 1950s, he joined the Kilfenora Céilí Band and also played with Malachy Sweeney’s Céilí Band from Armagh.

• published: 19 Feb 2015
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