“Handing Down the Tunes” is a documentary on the life of Clare born musician Tommy McCarthy. In his early years growing up in Clare he learned to play the whistle, Uilleann pipes, and concertina from some of the best of the day. In the early 1950’s he migrated to London, looking for work, as did many other Irish musicians of his day, where he settled and eventually taught his four children to play the Irish traditional tunes. He eventually returned to Ireland, following his four children, who had already moved there.

The original link we provided here to the documentary is no longer to be found. But you can have a look at it here on this Musical Traditions Club Facebook page Tommy McCarthy/Handing Down The Tunes.

Below is an excerpt from Broadway World reviewing the “Handing Down The Tunes” documentary of Tommy McCarthy continuing the family tradition (written by Barry Lenny, April 2015).

The Clare County Library shares an article on Tommy McCarthy that mentions the documentary film Handing Down the Tunes  that was made about Tommy’s life by Ken Lynam. The film premiered in Clare in 2007 and was shown on TG4 television in 2011.

Handing Down the Tunes, made by Ken Lynam, details the life, times and music of this great musician who was born in 1929 and preserved the traditional West Clare style of playing, teaching his four children, Tommy and his three sisters, Jacqueline, Marion and Bernadette, as well as beginning the tuition of his twelve grandchildren, including Rose and Peadar.

Musical Activity

Tommy was an active member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and in 1972 he was a member of the first Comhaltas tour to the United States. In 1991 Tom and his wife Kathleen returned to live in Ireland, settling in Miltown Mallbay. Back in Ireland he continued his involvement in musical events such as the Willie Clancy Summer School founded in 1973. His family, too, were involved with the school as tutors.

Tommy McCarthy’s Recordings

Listen here to Tommy McCarthy playing the pipes in 1981 on this YouTube video Tommy McCarthy & Family with Bobby Casey, London.

Here he is in 1998 playing a few jigs on the concertina in Ennis, County Clare.

The Burren Pub Owner Tommy McCarthy Carries on The Tradition

Many in the Boston area will know Tommy McCarthy, Tommy Senior’s son, owner of The Burren, a famous Irish Pub in Somerville that opened in 1996. Here’s son Tommy’s story in the Irish Post. This is Tommy recorded in 2019 at his pub in the Backroom Series playing fiddle with Gerry O’Beirne on guitar, Frankie Gavin on fiddle, and Louise Costello on tenor banjo.

[Original post March 12, 2014. Updated September 30, 2021]