| From an article about Paul I found somewhere on the Net ___________________________________________________________________________ The Hurdy Gurdy Man by Declan Weir They have no idea what they missed that day. Hurrying down Galway's Shop Street many of them barely acknowledged the man standing on a huge wooden barrel, wearing a cap topped off with a huge feather. After all there's no shortage of people dressed peculiarly and busking along this busy stretch of road. They didn't give themselves enough time to be drawn in by the music of this man, the nearest I've seen to a medieval minstrel in a long time. The majority were prepared to give only the briefest of glances or a minute of their time, and then they were off to spend more money. "What is that?" asked one, pushing through the curious onlookers, pointing at the wooden instrument in the dextrous hands of the bearded musician. "That" was a hurdy-gurdy, also known in France � where it is extremely popular � as a "Veille a Roue" The sun lit up Lynch's castle; it was one of those afternoons that made you think the summer might still make a last minute appearance, no matter how late. The road was dry enough and warm enough to sit down, so as to let this man gradually draw you into the web he weaved with his timeless music. Dressed in a suede shirt, the shoulder worn shiny by the bell-adorned strap holding the 110 year old "Veille a Roue" to his chest, he beat out a rhythm on the brown barrel with clog-clad feet, his eyes closed in rapture. The complexity of the sounds he made was revealed with time � a melody danced intricately over the constant drone of the background bass, punctuated with the rhythmic rattling of the "chien". The more he played the more the spell worked its magic, Breton and Basque melodies both making their presence felt, and Irish reels and jigs giving way to traditional Scottish airs. As instrumentals would blend into songs his voice, verging on the unearthly, would lay down words I couldn't understand, sometimes almost frenziedly, and other times mournfully. His hurdy gurdy was an ornate work of art � intricate mother of pearl perfectly complemented the decorated wood, the carved face of a woman smiling enigmatically, as if she was lost in reverie, remembering all the music played over the century of her life. He took me from the bawdy revelry of a medieval banquet to a forest full of trees and sunshine, from thoughts of things I knew, to things I'd never dreamed of. And all while sitting on a street that had, until only 6 months ago, been a choked nightmare of traffic, noise and fumes. Pol O Ceallaigh got it right that afternoon � as soon as I closed my eyes it all made total sense � it was trance music without a studio full of electronics, a room full of people, or a head full of chemicals. And then the music stopped, and I was back in Shop Street. It was the first time I'd ever heard the hurdy-gurdy man, and it transformed a day of duties in the city, making me glad I'd taken the time to listen. To really listen. |
| Paul was born in 1964 as the fourth child of Daniel and Joanne. When his parents split as he was a young boy, Paul stayed with his father. Daniel found a new wife, Barbara Ann, and Paul soon got younger siblings. Music was an important part of their life and all the kids grew up to master several instruments. The family travelled around Europe playing on the streets as "The Kelly Family" to earn money. In 1984 the family toured around France and that year Paul decided to leave the family to attend a cooking school. The rest of the family experienced great success some years later, particularly in Germany where they got pretty famous. After been working as a cook for several years, Paul returned to the music and the streets, but he didn't return to his family, he rather toured around alone playing his hurdy gurdy. He was last seen playing on the streets early December of 2004 in Ghent, Belgium. Paul took the artist name Pol O Ceallaigh and has released at least two CDs, "Tri Agus Tri" and "Celtic Drones" under this name. He has also released a MC "La vielle a roue voyageuse" under the name Paul Kelly. Paul Kelly was one of the guest musicians on the Kelly Family's CD Homerun; he played his hurdy-gurdy on the song "Babylon". Paul is married with six children in the age 2-14. He lives in Clonakilty, Ireland together with his family. |
| Pol O Ceallaigh - Tri Agus Tri __________________________________________________________________________ 1 - Peigi ar an Tolg 2- N�ad na Lacha sa Mutha 3 - An LaibScaipth / Loc an Cuntas 4 - Caoineaidh na d'Trl Muire 5 - An babhla Snitheach 6 - La Derni�re Ecuelle 7 - Braonta Branda 8 - Mairi's Wedding 9 - Basoillarrak 10 - S�amus mo mhac / Pratai Fuara 11 - Ta Nead ag an Dreoilin 12 - Na Reathaithe Medhreatcha/Brid 13 - An Saighdiuir Treigthe 14 - Jim Keefe's / Lochana Shligigh 15 - Le Retour du gas Breizh 16 - Port an Lascaire 17 - Biodh tu ag an diabhal/Paddy whack 18 - Ajur Jaunak |
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| Biography __________________________________________________________________________ |