Box and Fiddle
Year 19 No 05
February 1996
Kevin McCann M.D., D.P.H.
Stephenville, Newfoundland
by Ron Ramsay
DR Kevin McCann M.D., D.P.H. was born in Galway City, C. Galway, 75 years ago. His mother, Margaret Hession, was a native Gaelic speaker and a very good singer of traditional Gaelic songs, winning an All Ireland Gaelic singing competition in 1907.
His father, also a Gaelic speaker and fiddler, was from Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland and was firstly a school teacher then a physician.
Gaelic was the spoken language in the home, as was Kevin’s primary and secondary education. He entered medical school in Dublin in 1936. After qualifying, in 1941, Kevin worked in rural areas in Ireland, England and Canada.
He learned to play the violin at the age of 10 and B/C button accordion at 14 years of age. He played both instruments in groups or bands in all three countries, Scottish and Irish music, as he still does.
Kevin met Jimmy Shand twice during Jimmy’s Irish tours in the 50’s, also Will Starr twice in Ireland and once in Stephenville (his present address), when Will Starr was touring with ‘The Breath of Scotland’ in 1965.
Kevin was one of the founder members of Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann, (Association of Irish Musicians or CCE) in 1950. This organisation now has branches in Ireland, Britain, Australia, North America and saved traditional Irish music from extinction. It is his proudest achievement.
Kevin still plays fiddle and accordion with musical friends of Scottish and French origins. Their source books are O’Neill’s (Irish), Kerrs and Niel Gow’s Collections (Scottish).
He has taught many adults and children over the years, both fiddle and accordion, and some have become accomplished players.
The C.C.E. work similar to the N.A.A.F.C. with branches in almost all towns, cities and parishes in Ireland. Every member pays and annual fee of £5 for running expenses etc. Every player of accordion, fiddle, whistle, flute, concertina, etc, who doesn’t read music, learns the basics so they can teach the youngsters once a week. The basics are taught on one tune. Every learner has a week to practice and improve before moving on.
There are literally hundreds of Irish musicians teaching youngsters to play a variety of instruments. Kevin categorically states that the Society and system have saved Irish traditional music from extinction. Irush traditional music is in a very healthy state worldwide, being popular in Germany, Denmark and in particular Brittany, France, from where over 100 people attended the All Ireland Traditional Bash.
Kevin admits that if he was living in Scotland he would work hard to establish such an association. His fellow musicians John Junner and Bert Murray, in particular, agree with his ideas. Kevin firmly believes that it would work in Scotland.
Stephenville, Newfoundland
by Ron Ramsay
DR Kevin McCann M.D., D.P.H. was born in Galway City, C. Galway, 75 years ago. His mother, Margaret Hession, was a native Gaelic speaker and a very good singer of traditional Gaelic songs, winning an All Ireland Gaelic singing competition in 1907.
His father, also a Gaelic speaker and fiddler, was from Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland and was firstly a school teacher then a physician.
Gaelic was the spoken language in the home, as was Kevin’s primary and secondary education. He entered medical school in Dublin in 1936. After qualifying, in 1941, Kevin worked in rural areas in Ireland, England and Canada.
He learned to play the violin at the age of 10 and B/C button accordion at 14 years of age. He played both instruments in groups or bands in all three countries, Scottish and Irish music, as he still does.
Kevin met Jimmy Shand twice during Jimmy’s Irish tours in the 50’s, also Will Starr twice in Ireland and once in Stephenville (his present address), when Will Starr was touring with ‘The Breath of Scotland’ in 1965.
Kevin was one of the founder members of Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann, (Association of Irish Musicians or CCE) in 1950. This organisation now has branches in Ireland, Britain, Australia, North America and saved traditional Irish music from extinction. It is his proudest achievement.
Kevin still plays fiddle and accordion with musical friends of Scottish and French origins. Their source books are O’Neill’s (Irish), Kerrs and Niel Gow’s Collections (Scottish).
He has taught many adults and children over the years, both fiddle and accordion, and some have become accomplished players.
The C.C.E. work similar to the N.A.A.F.C. with branches in almost all towns, cities and parishes in Ireland. Every member pays and annual fee of £5 for running expenses etc. Every player of accordion, fiddle, whistle, flute, concertina, etc, who doesn’t read music, learns the basics so they can teach the youngsters once a week. The basics are taught on one tune. Every learner has a week to practice and improve before moving on.
There are literally hundreds of Irish musicians teaching youngsters to play a variety of instruments. Kevin categorically states that the Society and system have saved Irish traditional music from extinction. Irush traditional music is in a very healthy state worldwide, being popular in Germany, Denmark and in particular Brittany, France, from where over 100 people attended the All Ireland Traditional Bash.
Kevin admits that if he was living in Scotland he would work hard to establish such an association. His fellow musicians John Junner and Bert Murray, in particular, agree with his ideas. Kevin firmly believes that it would work in Scotland.