What Clan Suibhne music is about:

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Clan Suibhne Selected Amongst Café Improv's Best of 2012.

Café Improv's Clan Suibhne link for their Best of 2012.

It was a great night at the Café Improv. It's a place like none other. 

Clan Suibhne members (L to R) John M Curran III, C.W. Farrell, Leprechaun John, Famous Seamus

Cafe Improv is dedicated to bringing RESPECT to live home grown performance. It is a smoke-free open-stage where any kind of music poetry or performance is encouraged. It happens on the 4th Saturday of every month.

Café Improv is located at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts ~ 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton NJ 08542-3204

New Jersey Band, Clan Suibhne, Wins Coveted Music Award

by Patricia McKenna Cinque  


American/Irish folk-music band, Clan Suibhne, found their pot-o-gold at the 3rd Annual Jersey Acoustic Music Awards (JAM Awards). Held on April 29, 2012, at Stage Performance Hall in Asbury Park, Clan Suibhne (pronounced Sweeney) edged out 14 other artists, and took home the award for Top New Act for their refreshing twist on old world music.  


Their unique “Roots” music, dubbed “Greengrass,” is a blend of traditional Irish/Celtic meets American Folk/Bluegrass tunes.  “This genre existed long before the music we know as bluegrass. We were very surprised, but so honored to win an award for our music,” says Charles (C.W.) Farrell. The three Farrell brothers and cousin John Curran have become well known around the “Irish Riviera” for their signature style. They incorporate traditional instruments, including  the mandolin and banjo, into traditional Irish music.  


Though Leprechaun John, Famous Seamus, C.W. Liam and John’s attire makes them look as Irish as a mug of Guinness, these New Jersey-born-and-raised brothers hail from Wall Township. Currently, Charlie resides in Toms River, brothers John and James are in Ocean and Brick respectively, and cousin John Curran lives in Hazlet. All these grandsons of immigrants from County Waterford, Ireland were heavily influenced by their Celtic heritage. While growing up, it became a tradition to break out the instruments at every family gathering and have a jamming session.  


Similar to Asbury Park legend Bruce Springsteen’s story-telling style, Clan Suibhne writes original songs depicting the human condition. One such song is “The Bayview Wheelman” which tells the story about a cycling culture that dominated New York and northern New Jersey in the early part of the 20th century.  


Clan Suibhne has realized the dream of becoming a successful band in just a few short years. With gigs piling up at various venues across the state including coffeehouses, pubs, and halls, this clan is on the brink of realizing another goal. They set out to play in every county in New Jersey and they are almost there. 


 If you want to keep your feet planted in New Jersey, but want your heart to soar to the Emerald Isle, Clan Suibhne is sure to delight.  

Clan Suibhne attending the 3rd Annual Jersey Acoustic Music Awards

Clan Suibhne attending the 3rd Annual Jersey Acoustic Music Awards.

Sunday April 29th @ 5 PM


Atonement Lutheran Church
(Stage Performance Hall) 
308 First Avenue / Heck
Asbury Park, NJ


All Guests are encouraged to bring canned food to be donated to charities of Musicians On a Mission and the Church Charity Food Bank.


Performers: $5
General: $10
(Price includes Dinner and Soft Drinks)

http://www.jamawards.org/

http://www.jamawards.org/

Mother Mo Chroí (MaCree)

"Machree" is the usual anglicisation of the Irish words "mo  chroí" meaning "of my heart." Mother Machree was also a 1928 silent film about a poor Irish immigrant in America...staring a young John Wayne.

Mother MaCree is a new "Greengrass" song by Clan Suibhne. A song dedicated to all the mothers of our hearts.

Lyrics and Music by John Farrell

Mother Mo Chroí (MaCree) 

Oh Mother Macree remember me
When you bounced me on your knee
I was only just three
And we were both so happy


But the times they've gone on by
Every time I think of then I cry
Mother MaCree


Oh Mother Macree remember me
When I climbed the big old Oak tree
I came tumbling down
And nearly broke me crown


But the times they've gone on by
Every time I think of then I cry
Mother MaCree

Oh Mother Macree remember me
When I marched off to the Army
You were sad and all alone
Til I came marching home


But the times they've gone on by
Every time I think of then I cry
Mother MaCree

Oh Mother MaCree remember me
Now you can't even hear or see
But what will be, will be
Or as they say "ce la vie"


But the times have all gone by
Every time I think of you I cry
Mother MaCree,  Mother MaCree, Mother MaCre




Some of the Sweeney Mother MaCrees:

Aunt Helen and Aunt Catherine

Clan Suibhne

Catherine & Margaret

James, Catherine and Margaret Sweeney

Margaret (Sweeney) Farrell

The Sweeney Sisters - Helen, Margaret, Lover & Catherine.

The Ballad of Sparky the Clown

(a poem about a man named Valor)

Gone in 69, a man ahead of his time

Jack of all trades and master of some

Except the love of his life

The only one

Sparky was a patriot

A man of many talents

A visionary, a writer, a singer, a fighter

He could make you laugh

As he was crying inside

His emotions quite simple

At the mercy of life’s tides

His name meant valor

Could roar like a lion

He was a sailor, a dancer, a real romancer
Never held grudges

A forgiveness enhancer

The clown was his creation

In the Makers tradition

Wales for eyes

And Cracker Jacks his thighs

Worked until the end

When he made his plight

He set sail

For the eternal light

CWF 4/8/12

The Irish Blessing Song

Up next ~ Clan Suibhne is working on a music accompaniment to the Irish Blessing.

The songs' sound is definitely in the scope of our Greengrass Music genre...pure, raw and simple.

Our version song lyrics:

May the road rise to meet yah
May the Wind be always at your back
May the Sun shine warm upon your face
May the rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand
May the rains fall soft upon your field

May the rains fall soft upon your field

May the rains fall soft upon your field

 We'll soon post a link to the song!

The Saints Among Us

"The Saints Among Us" is an instrumental song. The song's melody and harmonics embraces and depicts the works of the saints.  It's a tribute to all the unknown saints. To the saints that don't even know that they are saints. The people around us that share good works, virtues and do things for others...helping to create an environment of love and peace.

The song is currently a work in progress and a bit different than our Greengrass genre but definitely not outside our scope of sound.

To listen to a preview ~ click on Saint Patrick above...clicking will also help drive out those snakes.

Enjoy!

Released 1/12/2012 CWF

The Music of Clan Suibhne (Sweeney) – A Review

The Music of Clan Suibhne (Sweeney) – A Review By:  Carla Ives (http://GhostWriteHer.com) 

On October 1^st, I was sitting in Bogart’s Bookstore & Café in Millville, New Jersey, waiting for the music to start. Being a lover of Irish Trad (traditional) Music, I was waiting to hear Clan Suibhne (Sweeney).  I watched three somewhat ordinary-looking guys set up their instruments and the other accoutrements of their band.   Well, maybe not so ordinary, as there was a very authentic-looking Leprechaun in the center!  I saw guitars, an Irish Tenor Banjo, an electric bass fiddle, tin whistles, an Irish Bodrhán (hand drum) and lots of other musical things.  And then it was time for the show.

After some chit-chat with the audience and a brief introduction, the music began.  I came expecting a traditional Irish Band playing traditional Irish music.  Well, they’re Irish, all right, but It was a wee bit Irish and then maybe not so Irish.  And then it was a wee bit American Folk and then maybe not so much American folk.  It wasn’t quite like anything I had heard before and it was more than a wee bit original!  After the first couple of songs, I knew I was listening to something very unique, something new and something all their own.  Clan Suibhne introduced me, that night, to “Greengrass” music.  

“Greengrass” music is a mixture of the folk music of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with a little American Folk and Bluegrass thrown in.  Stir that all up and add three very talented New Jersey/Irish Musicians and you have “Greengrass,” a musical style pioneered by the members of Clan Suibhne, John, James and Charlie Farrell, otherwise known as Leprechaun John, Famous Seamus and C.W. Liam.  The Sweeney name is their Mom’s, a lovely lady now 92 years of age and still going strong.  They’ll readily tell you their family history which was very interesting to this history teacher who loves anything about Ireland and Scotland.

Clan Suibhne incorporates a broad range of styles into their show.  They play the traditional songs, but with their own signature style.  If you like traditional Irish tunes, you’ll like Clan Suibhne.  They also play their own original compositions, such as The Bay View Wheelmen, a song dedicated to the biking culture that dominated New York and northern New Jersey in the early part of the 20^th century.  They’ll tell you the story.

Clan Suibhne put on a great show that night.  They sing, they tell stories and they interact with the audience throughout.  They are very definitely crowd pleasers!   We don’t get many class acts down in this end of New Jersey, but we had one that night and the audience knew it!  They tapped their feet and sang along to the songs that they knew.  For a small, intimate crowd, there was a lot of well-deserved applause at the end.  

Clan Suibhne is available for all types of occasions, including but not limited to private parties, festivals, fairs, coffeehouses, pubs, receptions and grand openings.  Believe me when I tell you that you will not be disappointed you hired them.  To get “Greengrass” music at your event, call Charlie Farrell at (719)761-7214 or email him at:  FARRE954@REGIS.EDU.

They’re coming back in a couple of months and I’m going to be there!

Síocháin Vignette

Peace can you find

In a divided line

Take up the cross

When you find you're lost

Taste and see what peace did with me

Taste and see what peace did with me
Taste and see what peace did with me

Peace can you find

In the vice of the time

Frustration set in place

At the beginning o' the race

Taste and see what He did for peace

Taste and see what He did for peace
Taste and see what He did for peace

Before the Trioblóidí  (Trib lodge ee)

Are memories of peace
Peace called the walls
That divide from the Falls

Taste and see what peace did with me

Taste and see what peace did with me
Taste and see what peace did with me

Plowshares to swords
Truth forever more
Down on His knees
Sweat and blood for peace

Taste and see what He did for peace

Taste and see what He did for peace
Taste and see what He did for peace

CWF 11/2011