FTX 153 - THE WISE MAID
John Henry - Co Sligo fiddler
It was on the recommendation of the Co Sligo fiddler, Michael Gorman, one of the first Irish musicians recorded by Peter Kennedy, that John came to be visited at his home at Rooskay in 1964.
For Peter the name John Henry was unforgettable as depicted in song as the name of the legendary champion of the building of the American railroad, so, with this name on his list, Peter did not forget to sort out the Irish namesake, to find him in the remote parish of Ballymote.
Aged only 36, this particular John, being an albino, and well-known and much respected locally as a fiddle genius, also tended to be something of a recluse and therefore, for Peter took some hunting down, but how glad he was that he found him and got him started. John was shy and soon tired so that the repertoire recorded was not large. Michael had told him of John's extensive version of the "Wise Maid" reel so Peter wasted no time in asking if he knew a "Wise Woman".
THE WISE MAID - HENRY'S No 1 - PATSY SEAN NANCY HUNT'S REEL -. THE BLACK-HAIRED LASS - DRIMIN DRUM DEELISH
