Glenarm Castle Concert Causeway Music

"This Easter is one I won't forget in a hurry, no not because we actually enjoyed perfect egg-rolling weather all weekend, but because the first Castle Kitchen Concert took place on Saturday, in Glenarm Castle, to honour the memory of two highly gifted Glenarm men, John Rea, Ireland's most famous Hammer Dulcimer player, and Alex McAllister, a very funny man who entertained local folk for over fifty years with his amusing rhymes, in his own native tongue.

The venue couldn't have been grander, with Glenarm Castle looking magnificent in the evening sun. The walled estate was approached via picturesque little Castle Street, over the wee hump-backed bridge, in through the stately turreted Barbican Gate, along an enchanting lane in dappled evening shade, then, instead of entering the Castle via the grand front door, we all snuck in via the tradesmen's entrance into the old kitchen, we knew our place OK.

Now there are kitchens and there are kitchens, so when I tell you that over sixty folk turned up on the night, just imagine that number of folk squashed into your kitchen, cozy might not be the word. Anyway, to give you an idea, the Rayburn in this place is about four times the size of the standard one I have at home, and to be honest, if six folk are in my kitchen at the same time, it means standing room only!

The room filled up rightly, and by eight o'clock all the seats, and most of the bench spaces, were taken, so the heavy door was closed over, and the first kitchen concert began. Three Kerry Slides got the proceedings under way, local Falconer Colin Urwin sang a number of traditional ballads, aby supported by Sabine Glasgow on Clarsach & Fife and Gregory Gault, frae sunny Dervock, on Guitar and Bouzouki, then it was the turn of the first speaker Nat Magee to take centre stage.

NAT MAGEE

Nat was actually a relative of John Rea's, so he has lots of first hand experience to call on, and as well as that, he has been playing the Hammer Dulcimer for over thirty years, so he can not only talk the talk, but he can also walk the walk. Nat is a fine musician, and in between tales of John Rea and his family, Nat entertained us all by playing some of John's favourite tunes, including a moving air which had been played at John's graveside. To make the whole performance even more relevant, Nat's Dulcimer is an exact copy of John's own instrument.
Before I go on, some of you may well be scratching your heads and asking yourselves, what the heck is a Hammered Dulcimer?
Well, if you can imagine the back taken off a piano, a wooden box full of strings, laid out on a small table, and someone hitting the strings with two little wooden hammers, then that is a Hammer Dulcimer. It's a very old instrument, coming originally from around Persia, and believe it or not, the east coast of Antrim is the home of the Dulcimer in Ireland, due mainly to John & those in his extended family, who played and made Dulcimers over the years. It has a haunting, enchanting sound, one which fascinates me, so much so that I bought myself one a year ago and now I'm hooked.

CHARLIE GILLEN

Anyway, back to the concert, and the next man to take to the floor was your very own Charlie Gillen. Charlie was there to pay homage to the other recipient of our attention on the night, the legendary Alex McAllister. I have listened to Charlie recite his rhymes on many occasions over the past few years, and in the course of any performance, he never strays too far from the work of Alex McAllister, so I'm sure it was with particular relish that Charlie stood up in front of these friends and neighbours of Alex, to recite his very words. Charlie, like Nat is a very natural performer, and as well as that, he is fortunate in that he has the natural tongue for retelling the rhymes of Alex. On the night, Charlie decided to explore the exploits of perhaps Alex's greatest creation, 'Wee Wully', and no better man for the job. Charlie had us in stitches relating the tales of Wully at the pictures, Wully wi' his first motor car, and of course Wully courtin'!

BARRY CARROLL

Then it was time for more music and the one and only Barry Carroll to perform. We had earlier heard Nat play some beautiful, enchanting music on his Dulcimer, but I don't think many folk were quite ready for Barry. He is an absolute genius on the Hammer Dulcimer, the best in Ireland by far, and his Hammers just move too fast for the eye to follow. He not only plays fast music, but he incorporates so much in a tune, you are hearing melody, harmony and counter melody all at the same time, with just one musician standing in front of you, breathtaking.

Barry met, and played with John Rea many years ago, however his job on the night was not to tell tales, he was there to inspire and amaze us, and he managed that with consummate ease. Barry has all the technique required, and then some, he uses the Hammers all right, but then he also plucks and caresses the strings with his fingers, at different times, for different sounds, even bending notes to great effect too. Not content to wow us himself alone, he brought along his young son Niall, who is a wonderful Fiddle player. Niall’s little fingers certainly had to go some to keep up with dad's Hammers, and boy could he play. Barry then asked his sister, Angela, also a fine Fiddle player, to join them for a rousing finale.

The object of the exercise last Saturday, was to honour two fine Glenarm men, and I felt that if I managed to put together an evening of music, stories and rhymes that both John and Alex would have enjoyed themselves, then I would have succeeded. Well, the performers I chose for the evening's task came through with flying colours, and I would like to think that both John Rea and Alex McAllister would have been proud to be associated with the night in the Castle Kitchen.

I would like to thank all those who helped make the night such a success, including Adrian and all the staff at the Castle, all the performers, and especially Colin Urwin for his invaluable assistance, oh and not forgetting William the Postmaster, and of course Viscount Dunluce himself, for permission to use his kitchen in the first place.

I'd just like to finish by saying to all those disappointed folk, who were unable to get a ticket for this first concert, 'dinnae fash yersel', there'll be a second yin, soon'! Oh, and if we can't use the Castle Kitchen next time, anyone got space for sixty folk in their kitchen?"