Joe Holmes (1906 – 5 January 1978) was a

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...

r, lilter and

traditional singer A traditional singer, also known as a source singer, is someone who has learned folk songs in the oral tradition, usually from older people within their community. From around the beginning of the twentieth century, song collectors such as Cecil ...

from Antrim,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

Biography

Holmes's brother Harry had brought him home a present of his first fiddle on his return from the Great War. Holmes's first job was carrying the red warning flag in front of the steam roller, which took him travelling all around the country in a caravan. He took his fiddle on these trips. Some of the fiddle favourites included: "The Boys of Ballycastle", "The Blackberry Blossom", "Royal Charlie", "Wellington’s Medal" and "Rodney’s Glory". Holmes left the roadwork and worked at flax-scutching, first for a small mill near Killyrammer, and then into Milltown Mill, in

Ballymoney Ballymoney ( ga, Baile Monaidh , meaning 'townland of the moor') is a small town and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. The civil parish of Ballymoney is situated in ...

. He then took up a healthier job as a green-keeper for Ballymoney Bowling club.

Recordings

All of Joe Holmes's recordings were made with Len Graham with whom he began regularly attending music sessions around Ireland in the 1960s. Their first album was ''Chaste Muses, Bards and Sages'', which includes solo singing by both as well as duets and lilting. The record became an instant hit and Len’s assured singing coupled with Joe’s verve, and his huge store of songs, made them firm favourites in clubs, concerts and festivals. Sadly, Joe Holmes died just a fortnight after completing the recording of their follow-up LP, ''After Dawning'', in 1978.

BBC Radio Documentary

On 6 January 1980 a radio documentary tribute to Joe Holmes compiled by David Hammond was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster. Contributors on the programme were Len Graham, Geordie Hanna,

Frank Harte Frank Harte (14 May 1933 – 27 June 2005) was a traditional Irish singer, song collector, architect and lecturer. He was born in Chapelizod, County Dublin, and raised in Dublin. His father, Peter Harte, who had moved from a farming backgroun ...

, Jeannie McGrath, Sarah Ann O'Neill and

Paddy Tunney Paddy Tunney (28 January 1921 – 7 December 2002) was an Irish traditional singer, poet, writer, raconteur, lilter and songwriter. He was affectionately known as the ''Man of Songs''. From Glasgow to Garvery Tunney was born in Glasgow to Ir ...

. The programme was called ''Joe Holmes: A Parting Glass'', BBC Programme number: 140U540, Catalogue Number: 9517794, Duration 0:29:08

Discography

Joe Holmes and Len Graham

* ''Chaste Muses, Bards and Sages'' (Free Reed, 1976) – FRR 007 * ''After Dawning'' (Topic, 1979) – 12TS401

Compilations

* ''A Living Thing: Contemporary Classics Of Traditional Irish Music'' (Globestyle, 1997) – CD. Various artists. Features two songs by Joe Holmes and Len Graham: "The Girl That Broke My Heart" and "The Parting Glass". * ''I Once Was A Daysman'' & ''Chaste Muses, Bards & Sages'' (Free Reed, 2008) – FRRR-08/FRRRS-128 CD. Remastered albums by

Eddie Butcher Eddie Butcher (8 May 1900 – 8 September 1980) was an Irish traditional singer, folk-song collector and songwriter from Magilligan, County Londonderry. He had an extensive repertoire of songs that he performed in a sturdy, earthy style. ...

/ Joe Holmes and Len Graham.

References

External links

Len Graham's Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Joe 1906 births 1978 deaths People from Ballymoney Musicians from County Antrim 20th-century male singers from Northern Ireland Folk singers from Northern Ireland Fiddlers from Northern Ireland 20th-century violinists Irish folk-song collectors 20th-century musicologists