Doug Barr

Gerald O'Halloran,the well known Clare Concertina player now based in Canada fully researched John Naughton in his superb doctoral thesis which covered Concertina playing throughout County Clare.I obtained a copy of the thesis from the British Library but I understand it has now been withdrawn and is not available.His research was carried out in the 1980's. Thus it appears any research you carried out would be covering ground already fully dealt with.

Hi Mark,  I happen to have this document.  From what I can figure out, most of Gearoid"s writing is based on an interview with John done in Dublin in 1986.  In 15 pages there are scarcely 3 paragraphs about his instrument(at the time) and his style/technique. Apparently John switched to playing an English concertina.  I am more interested in his earlier playing which would have been on a 20B instrument along the rows.  This is the music he would have been playing in and around Feakle with Bill Malley and Joe Bane.  This is the music that Martin Hayes and Mary MacNamara would have been exposed to in their formative years.