The Glen began as "Hidden Glen" - a collaboration with the late John W. Morris.
This site has been years in the developing. For many years prior to the computer revolution, I studied this material the hard way - by locating and learning from tradition bearers both in the USA and abroad, as well as hard to find books, art, and music, taking courses, and so on.
It turned into a life-long quest for knowledge that continues to this day. For the most part, it has been (as the late Captain Francis O'Neill said of Irish Folk Music collecting) a "fascinating hobby" albeit desultory, directed only by my interests of the moment. However, a more focused and directed approach would be more productive for learners, so I have tried to arrange this material in a logical fashion. Most of this site and its contents will be alpha-numeric-chronological to improve ease of navigation.
Though far from being an "expert," others have recognized my passion for the subject, and some have sought me in turn for tuition or guidance in the history, music and lore. As my mentors did for me, I have done for them, giving them instruction, copies of hard to find information, music, bibliographies, and so on to help them as I was helped.
This in turn led to my giving courses, and eventually writing articles. My students often pressed me to write all this down in book form, and I started - but as the learning remains ongoing, and ever in flux, I was constantly revising. In addition, as with most of us, the constraints of work, family, and other obligations took much of my time and energy.
It wasn't until the advent of the personal computer and the Internet that it became possible to create a "text" that wasn't frozen in place after it was committed to writing. These technological wonders also provided a new and unique method of linking text, art, and information in ways that are still constantly evolving.
Now, much of what I acquired the hard way is available to all on this marvelous creation that surpasses anything even the highly imaginative Celts could have dreamt of. The site will hopefully keep evolving in ways yet unforeseen by its creators. To that end, suggestions, comments, and corrections are welcome. Those we use will receive credit.
Although much of what I will cover here may already be out there (and probably is!), I will put forth what I can, and hope that it will fill some gap, inspire some further learning or research, or merely interest or amuse the reader.
Seamus is actually a nickname conferred by my Celtic friends. I was born in the USA, but my mother and her parents are from what is today North Ireland. My father's family was of Scottish stock, according to recieved tradition, but have been in America since before the Revolution.
I was fortunate to be exposed to the oral tradition of passing on the culture - first from my grandfather, and later by other mentors, including the late Tom Standeven of Philadelphia, the late John Vesey and the late Eddie Cahill, both of Co. Sligo and Philadelphia, the late Peter Canice Fahy of Co. Leix, and the late Donald Rory Leslie, a native of Scotland. These fine people introduced me to Irish and Scottish music, language, and traditions.
I enlisted in the U. S. Marines, and served in Vietnam in 1967-8 in I Corps, including combat at Khe Sanh before and during the Siege (appropriately named Operation Scotland), and elsewhere.
After my return and discharge, I went to Ireland and Scotland for my first visit to the ancestral lands I had heard of since boyhood, and lived and traveled widely there and in Britain and Europe for most of the year, visiting the places I had heard and read of.
When I have had the means and time, I have traveled and lived in Ireland, Scotland, and Nova Scotia, concentrating my time in the Gaeltachts, learning from the many wonderful people who so generously shared their time and talent with me. Some of these people are mentioned on Muinteori
I hold a Bachelor's degree concentrating in Celtic Studies and a Master's degree in Education, and have played several instruments over the years, including the Highland and Irish bagpipes, flute, and penny-whistle. I also spent some years trying to play the Gaelic wire-strung harp, but although it was a magnificent instrument by Jay Witcher, I have never been much of a player on strings (though I once learned three tunes on the fiddle) - but I loved the sound of the harp, and still do. However, I finally decided the instrument deserved a better player, and passed it on to a lovely and talented player who was seeking a "traveling" harp.
My wife and I had both lived in Ireland before, (though at separate times) and decided to move to Ireland again in 2006, where we lived for a year and a half in the Donegal Gaeltacht in Gaoth Dobhar, home of many talented musicians and singers, including the talented O Maoinaigh clan, one of whom, Mairead, is the leader of the famed group Altan. The region is also home to the group Clannad, the singer Enya, and many others of great talent, though perhaps some are less well known outside their home area.
One was our local butcher, Seosamh Mac Grianna from Rann a Feirste. Known locally as Joe Mhici Jimi, he is a great penny-whistle player, drawing on his native Gaelic upbringing for his inspiration. His CD, Lui na Greine, exhibits his talent at playing and composition, and can be found on iTunes, Amazon and other sites such as CD Baby. (Another talented player was the gentleman who delivered our fuel oil !)
We were kindly welcomed, and spent many pleasant hours playing or just listening at Huidi Beag's pub in Bunbeg or the Ionad Chois Locha cultural center in Dunlewy and elsewhere. Special thanks to the lads and lassies at Huidi Beg's, a great "local" where the hospitable Huidi and his musical friends gave us many nights of listening pleasure.
I would also like to thank our many kind and often equally talented neighbors in Glassagh, who included and our extremely hospitable and accommodating landlords, Michael and Marian Cary of Letterkenny. (In addition to being a teacher of computers at a technical school, Michael is a fine whistle player, and his lovely wife is a talented artist.)
However, various factors necessitated a return to the US. We now live once more on the beautiful NW Pacific Coast.
For any merit in this work, the thanks and praise go to my many teachers and mentors. For any errata, sins of commission or ommission, or any other ill thing herein - mea maxima culpa! The blame is entirely my own.