The Xavierite
On February 10, 2015, Saint Xavier University students and community members had the opportunity to attend a performance by an Irish band called the Dirty Wellies. The band, consisting of nine members, performed their traditional Irish music for the audience with a few pieces including vocals and others featuring a dancer.
Bernadette Murphy, one of the members of The Dirty Wellies, spoke to the Xavierite via email to give insight to the band and her experiences with traditional Irish music.
Murphy is the cousin of Regina Garrity, a member of The Dirty Wellies and a professor here at Saint Xavier who teaches the course titled The Music of Ireland.
Murphy explains that four members of the band began to play together in 2012, and in March 2013, they came up with the name, The Dirty Wellies.
Though at first the name may seem unusual to people who are not native to Ireland, it has a very interesting meaning behind it.
“Wellingtons are rubber boots (sometimes called rain boots in the US) and are usually worn out in the Irish countryside – for obvious reasons. Much of my childhood in Ireland was spent sporting ‘wellies,’” Murphy said.
Murphy explained that there were also strict rules concerned with the clothing item. “Wearing wellies indoors was cause for severe punishment via a wooden spoon, again, for obvious reasons: Ireland is a country where it rains on average two out of every three days. Fields are muddy and no Irish mother wants mud in their house,” Murphy said
Murphy explained that the Dirty Wellies “play traditional Irish music: jigs, reels, ballads, etc. Sometimes [they’ll] mix in another genre for variety, like Bluegrass or folk rock.”
This band is composed of a number of talented musicians.
Murphy listed the names of the band members and mentions that not all are present at every performance. However, they still have a good number each time they perform.
“We currently have 9 members, but this is always fluctuating. At the moment, Margaret O’ Callaghan, Regina Garrity, Kevin Branigan, Patrick Donley, Jim Aman, Pat Baker, Vincent O’ Callaghan, Kevin Cooney and myself are members,” said Murphy.
Murphy also cited that there are also frequent guests who join the band on stage. “We are often joined by Tania Nezrick, Frank Gleeson, Bob Frankich and Dave O’Brien. We’re never short on musicians for events.”
Students in attendance for this concert may have seen new and interesting instruments that they have never heard of before. Murphy spoke about the instruments one will see if they were to attend a Dirty Wellies concert and explains one of these unique instruments the band is known to use.
Amongst the instruments used were the accordion, flute, tin whistle, bodhrán, mandolin, banjo, guitar, and fiddle. “Students may not be familiar with the bodhrán […] a flat Irish drum usually played with a wooden stick. It’s a staple in traditional Irish music, as is the tin whistle, which is similar to the recorder,” Murphy explained.
“Many students would know that the fiddle is the same as the violin, but called this in most types of folk music.”For Murphy, her expertise is with the fiddle.
She gives some insight to how she came to play the fiddle and some of her personal experience.
“I played the fiddle. I have been playing on and off since I was about eight years old. When I first began learning to play, I took classical music lessons along with the Irish music lessons in school. I found classical music very difficult and disliked it at the time. However, I’m glad I put in the work now! I also learned piano and tin whistle,” said Murphy.
For Murphy, there is enjoyment and relaxation in the music she performs with her band.
These feelings are spread throughout and appreciated by the audience. “I love playing in a relaxed seisiún (an informal gathering of musicians), as I see it as practice as much as performance. It’s also a great time to learn new tunes, meet other musicians and catch up with old friends.”
Many students were in the audience the night of the performance. First year student, Anna O’Hara, explains why she attended the Dirty Wellies Concert and mentions her favorite parts of the show.
“I am Irish, and wanted to hear traditional Irish music. I knew I enjoyed this music but I have never heard it live, or been to a concert with Irish music. I loved watching the dancer, she was better than any Irish dancer I have ever seen. I would definitely go to another concert performed by the Dirty Wellies because it was fun to enjoy something new and that I would normally not get to enjoy. I loved the style,” said O’Hara.
If a student was unable to attend The Dirty Wellies concert and would still like to see them in concert, there are many more opportunities to do so.
With Saint Patrick’s Day coming up, it may be of interest for students to attend a traditional Irish music concert.
“There are plenty of opportunities leading up to Paddy’s Day! Students can like The Dirty Wellies on Facebook to view upcoming gigs and stay informed, or take a look at www.thedirtywellies.com. We also play in the Irish Times in Brookfield on the first Sunday of every month, which is my favorite seisiún,” said Murphy.
As a final note from Murphy, she is thankful to the supporters and audience members who come to watch them perform. Murphy said, “Thanks to everyone for supporting us and helping to keep Irish music alive in Chicago!”