TRADITIONAL SINGER AND SONGMAKER EDDIE BUTCHER (1900-80) FROM MAGILLIGAN, NORTH CO. DERRY, SINGING AT FÉILE NA BÓINNE, DROGHEDA, 1977

Eddie Butcher’s first commercial recording, the 1969 EP Adam in Paradise edited by Hugh Shields, has recently been reissued by the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum and the Irish Traditional Music Archive to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death (see ‘Recent Publications’ in this issue). Eddie Butcher’s songs came from a unique blend of Irish, Scottish and English traditions. Among his audience in the image above are Frank Harte, Hugh Shields, Gracie Butcher, Lisa Shields, Ted Hickey, Paddy Tunney, Seán Corcoran, Cathal Goan, and Micho Russell. Other identifications welcome. The Féile na Bóinne festival was held in Drogheda 1976-87. Revived in the 1990s, it is still held annually.

Photo by Joe Dowdall, Drogheda. Courtesy Irish Traditional Music Archive