P. Joe Hayes R.I.P

P. Joe was one of the founder members of the World Famous Tulla Céilí Band and in 1952 he took over the leadership of the band. He held this position until his death in May 2001. The Band celebrated it's 55th Birthday in the same year.
    P. Joe was a real gentleman and was like everyones father. He had been playing the fiddle for 69 years and had a wealth of tunes in his bag. He was the "Boss" of the session in Peppers bar Feakle and  played there every Wednesday night holding what many of us regarded as his master classes.
    He had a great sense of humour and often told little jokes and anecdotes.
    He was a farmer and in the early days whislt with the Tulla Céilí band he often played until 2.00 or  3.00am, then had to travel back home, arriving just in time to milk the cows (now that is what I call true dedication). He had a great knack of putting tune sets together, they always fitted together perfectly and most of the sets we play today in Peppers were put together by P. Joe.

    The above recording is the only solo recording of P. Joe and can be found on the Tulla Céilí band 40th aniversary recording GDT HCD 014. He also made an album with Paddy Canny, Peader O'Loughlin and Bridie Lafferty "An Historic recording of Irish traditional music from county Clare and East Galway" Shanachie 76001. The Tulla Céilí band also has the 50th aniversary recording with P. Joe at the helm on Green Linnet GLCD 1178.