Year 1 No 1 October 1977
Stranraer and District Accordion and Fiddle Club has now entered its fourth year. From humble beginnings (first night three accordions, David Ross, guest artist, and an audience of 14) the club grew in stature. The first move was to the Strand Bar where there was a great improvement, much if it due to Jock Loch, Straiton Club. Eventually the Strand Bar was too small so the venue was switched to the North West Castle Hotel.
There have been some magic moments to relish, such as the young Currie Brothers, Arthur Spink, Sandy Coghill, Jim Cassidy, Jimmy Yeaman, Willie Duff Trio and a host of others.
We are fortunate in having Charlie Cowie and Isobel Griffin with us. Charlie with his famous fiddle andIsobel, a charmer on the accordion. She also teaches, and informs us that there are over thirty youngsters all over the district learning the accordion, so it has all been worthwhile.
The Club held their first meeting of the new season in North West Castle Hotel. A capacity crowd attended. The following local artistes entertained with some fine marches, jigs, reels, strathspeys etc : Heather Plunkett, Anne Plunkett, Elizabeth Jardine, Karen Jardine, Shirley Love (Dunragit), Sally Cochrane (Glenluce), Kirsteen McFarlane (Stranraer), Ian and Maureen Farroll (Leswalt), David Helm (Portwilliam), Isobel Griffin and Jimmy Helm (duet) and Charlie Cowie (fiddle).
The guest artistes for the evening were the Sean Maguire Trio, Ireland’s top traditional group, comprising Sean Maguire (fiddle), his wife Josie on piano, and Joe Burke (button ket melodeon). They fairly set the crowd’s feet tapping and gave a great performance of Irish traditional music.
The next meeting is on 10th October, when the guest artiste will be Ian Holmes (piano accordion) from Dumfries.
Stranraer and District Accordion and Fiddle Club has now entered its fourth year. From humble beginnings (first night three accordions, David Ross, guest artist, and an audience of 14) the club grew in stature. The first move was to the Strand Bar where there was a great improvement, much if it due to Jock Loch, Straiton Club. Eventually the Strand Bar was too small so the venue was switched to the North West Castle Hotel.
There have been some magic moments to relish, such as the young Currie Brothers, Arthur Spink, Sandy Coghill, Jim Cassidy, Jimmy Yeaman, Willie Duff Trio and a host of others.
We are fortunate in having Charlie Cowie and Isobel Griffin with us. Charlie with his famous fiddle andIsobel, a charmer on the accordion. She also teaches, and informs us that there are over thirty youngsters all over the district learning the accordion, so it has all been worthwhile.
The Club held their first meeting of the new season in North West Castle Hotel. A capacity crowd attended. The following local artistes entertained with some fine marches, jigs, reels, strathspeys etc : Heather Plunkett, Anne Plunkett, Elizabeth Jardine, Karen Jardine, Shirley Love (Dunragit), Sally Cochrane (Glenluce), Kirsteen McFarlane (Stranraer), Ian and Maureen Farroll (Leswalt), David Helm (Portwilliam), Isobel Griffin and Jimmy Helm (duet) and Charlie Cowie (fiddle).
The guest artistes for the evening were the Sean Maguire Trio, Ireland’s top traditional group, comprising Sean Maguire (fiddle), his wife Josie on piano, and Joe Burke (button ket melodeon). They fairly set the crowd’s feet tapping and gave a great performance of Irish traditional music.
The next meeting is on 10th October, when the guest artiste will be Ian Holmes (piano accordion) from Dumfries.