It’s a beautiful Saturday in June and the sun is beating down on families playing on Spanish Point beach in west Clare. In the nearby Armada Hotel overlooking the sea, a group of musicians take a well-deserved break from their morning hidden in a recording studio in Miltown Malbay.

As they joke around, demonstrating an easy friendship, there seems to be no regrets about missing the good weather. After all, for every one of the 13 members of the Kilfenora Céilí Band, this isn’t a chore but a privilege.

This labour of love is emphasised by fiddler Ann Marie McCormack, clearly the joker of the group, who stresses: “I’ve a cold today, don’t you know. And I’m still here.” The resounding laughter that follows indicates that this isn’t the first time that day that Ann Marie has stressed her ill health.

When we get down to business though, it’s clear that each musician, whether they are on fiddles, piano, drums or bass, appreciates the role they play in a band that is over 100 years old.

Set up in 1909, the Kilfenora Céilí band played through the highs of the ’50s and ’60s, where they were something akin to rock stars during the show band days, and were led under the enthusiastic eye of the late Kitty Linnane right through to the ’80s. It was in the early ’90s that John Lynch and the current band took the reins, and the tradition that went before them is never forgotten.

The bond of the band

Band box player Claire Griffin says: “You know we’re all aware that our group is part of a much bigger tradition. We’re just here for this moment in time.

“There was a great history before we ever started playing and the band will probably live on long after us. It’s quite a humbling position to be in and it’s the opportunity to be part of something quite historical.

It’s not all the same jigs and reels though, and Tim Collins, who is Claire’s husband (though I’m told they were married before Claire joined the band – romance didn’t blossom on the road), says they’ve really been able to experiment with the genre.

“You have to get the fundamentals right, the jigs and reels that people love. However, with a selection of musicians from different backgrounds, we’ve been able to interject other instruments and sounds into our set.”

Album in 2015

Fans will get an even better sense of this from their new album, which is set to hit the shelves early next year.

Although the name of the album is still a work in progress, the band seems very definite on the direction it’s taking, with Kevin Crawford of Lunasa as the producer.

Flute player Anthony Quigley says: “In the last album, we had the singer Don Stiffe, who went down really well. This time, we want to mark new ground with Don and he has a bigger part to play in this album.

“This is a different direction for us because we’re all instrumental players and it brings a different dynamic to our song arrangements. It’s a challenge for us to come up with material for Don, to arrange and deliver it, but that’s what makes it exciting and memorable.

“I really enjoy listening back to the albums 10 days later or even 10 years later, and I get a buzz out of what we have created.”

While creating an album in the recording studio (despite the good weather outside) is the main thrill for Anthony, for other members of the group it’s getting up on the stage or performing in dance halls.

And the upcoming Westport Festival is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to big venues this dance band has played in. From the National Concert Hall and Glastonbury to venues in the US, France and even cruises on the Mediterranean, the Kilfenora Céilí band has played them all. Although there was a lot of nervous giggling about their trip to Portugal, and it seems that the mantra of “what happens on tour, stays on tour” seemed to resonate.

Rock star moments

Garry Shannon who plays the flute laughed and quickly changed the subject, saying to the band: “Remember the gig we played in Milwaukee? It was the biggest Irish music festival in the States and it was glorious weather all day.

“Then it got really dark in the evening and there were thousands of people there sucking up the music and, just before the fireworks, I remember we got everyone to take out their mobile phones and you looked down on thousands of people swaying to the music. It really awakened the rock star in me.”

It’s not all rock star moments though, and Anthony says some are very poignant.

“One that sticks out in my head is actually one of the most recent gigs we did in the Glór Theatre in Ennis. We had a few guests who would have played with the band over 40 years ago and one of them was Seamus Connolly. I looked over at him at one stage and there were tears in his eyes. The history and heritage can be quite emotional and I think we all walked away that night really aware that we were part of something special.”

The bond

That’s not to say it’s all always roses in the garden. Timmy says: “Understandably with 13 adults, we all have our thoughts on the direction of the band, but as you mature together, you realise that it’s okay to have different opinions as we all have the interest of the band at heart.”

Quick as a flash, Ann Marie adds: “There is definitely no back stabbing, we stab from the front.”

“And Ann Marie has the sharpest knife,” interjects Garry to a chorus of laughter.

Certainly from the outside looking in, there is a bond that transcends any history or culture that ties this group together, so if you’re hitting the Westport Festival this Saturday, get your dancing shoes on at 4pm for a seisiún guaranteed to be memorable.