The Model Banner
We provide music and song for birthday parties, anniversary parties, family reunions, work events, retirement functions etc. and we have also been frequently requested to provide music and song for wedding ceremonies and funeral ceremonies. Click here for more information.
The Model Banner
The Model Banner first came together in 2018, forming our name from the counties of origin of the three members in the group: Jim Boyce and Kathleen O’Shea from Co. Wexford (the Model County) and Tony Durack who hails from Co. Clare (the Banner County), though now living in Wexford for many years. Previously known to each other through wider musical circles we gradually started meeting up in our homes to play traditional music and, over many months of music and lots of good-humoured banter (and
countless cups of tea!), we began to extend the range and variety of our repertoire. We hope that this variety is reflected in this, our first album, which we have named “Legacy–Oidhreacht”.
The New Album "Legacy"
In choosing the title “Legacy” we looked at it firstly as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past” or “something that is part of your history or that remains from an earlier time”. The music that we in The Model Banner enjoy today carries through to us from the older members of each of our families before us. They exposed us to their own musical heritage and nurtured our interest, helping and encouraging us to develop our own musical abilities as we grew up. We can’t thank them enough for this and deeply appreciate the enjoyment that their musical legacy has given to us. An alternative viewpoint looks at our title as “something that someone has achieved that continues to exist after they die”. We dare to hope that this album will be our legacy to others and will bring pleasure and enjoyment to our listeners for many years to come. Bainigí sult agus taitneamh as!
– Jim, Tony and Kathleen
The Musicians
Jim’s family home was the venue for regular weekly music sessions featuring his father Michael, the well-known fiddle player, along with his lifelong friends Dick Hillis and Michael Byrne who were all part of the vibrant traditional music scene in south Wexford. Jim has been involved in church choirs for many years and is our vocalist in The Model Banner. He also plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and low whistle and enjoys going to the All-Ireland Fleadh and other musical events.
Tony started playing the button accordion at 8 years of age, learning his first tunes from his mother who also played the accordion. At age 11 he received his own accordion and over time learned many more tunes at the local house dances in east Clare. Along with his sister Kathleen he was a member of various groups (including “The Starlight Trio”) that played at numerous concerts and sessions throughout Clare, joined also in later years by his son Patrick. On moving to Wexford Tony was introduced by his friend, Hugh Berney, to house sessions around Castlebridge. Since then he has played in many successful “Singing Pubs” groups and also regularly plays music at the All-Ireland Fleadh.
Kathleen first played piano accordion in the band in Davidstown N.S. before focusing some years later on the traditional flute, an interest born of watching her uncle, Seán Vaughan, flute player with The Moy Castle Céilí Band in West Clare, from whom she learned some of her earliest reels. Her parents regularly listened to records of the Kilfenora Céilí Band and also the music of Seán Ó Riada which further influenced her musical interest growing up. She enjoys playing music at the annual Willie Clancy Week in Miltown Malbay and other musical events.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank our good friends Theresa Kehoe, Andrew Smith and Tony Kehoe for their friendship, support, encouragement and invaluable help to us in recording this album. Our sincere thanks also to Brendan Wickham, uilleann piper, whose playing contributed greatly to the recording of “Sheila’s Wedding Waltz”. We are very grateful to Ivan Levingstone, sound engineer, for his expertise and patience.We are particularly thankful to our producer, Theresa Kehoe, for guiding us on every step of the way and for helping us to bring this album to completion. Our sincere thanks to Karen Durack (IT support), John Boyce (Photographs) and James Kehoe (CD cover design). We also acknowledge the Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Wexford for their kind permission to take photographs at that location. We are truly grateful to you all for your assistance – míle buíochas
Album: LEGACY – oidhreacht –
Vocals: Jim Boyce
Accordion: Tony Durack
Flute / Whistles: Kathleen O’Shea
Low Whistle / Banjo/ Mandolin / Guitar: Jim Boyce
Uilleann Pipes: Brendan Wickham
Keyboard / Guitars / Dobro / Mandolin / Banjo: Andrew Smith
Bass Guitar: Theresa Kehoe
Percussion: Ivan Levingstone
Drums: Tony Kehoe
Backing Vocals: Kathleen O’Shea, Jim Boyce, Tony Durack, Theresa Kehoe
Track 6 arranged by Andrew Smith
Engineer: Ivan Levingstone
Mixed by: Ivan Levingstone, Theresa Kehoe
Recorded at John St. Studio, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Produced by Theresa Kehoe and The Model Banner
Album: LEGACY – oidhreacht –
We are a 3-piece band experienced in providing music and song to suit various occasions. We provide a variety of music and song that will enhance your wedding ceremony, with musical selections that are chosen by you, performed by us with care, sensitivity and good taste, adding extra meaning and memories to your special occasion.
We will meet you in advance of your wedding day to discuss your preferences for music and song. Should you have a request for a particular piece of music for your wedding ceremony please feel free to ask us. We can also offer suggestions as required. We can fulfil most requests that you might have and, should the need arise, we can call upon musical colleagues to add to our usual repertoire of instruments and entertainment for your special day.
We can also provide pre-banquet entertainment for your guests when they arrive at your reception venue in the afternoon. While the happy couple are busy mingling with guests or having photographs taken we can provide a wide range of music and song to suit all tastes, keeping your guests entertained and setting a happy and relaxed tone for the evening ahead.
We are an approved and listed provider of wedding musical entertainment with the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford.
For further information and to discuss any particular wishes that you may have please email us at: themodelbanner@gmail.com
The Model Banner is frequently requested to provide music for funeral ceremonies and we have a wide repertoire of suitable and sensitively chosen music for these sad occasions. Understandably, these are difficult times for family members and there is a lot to organise as you prepare to pay a final tribute to your loved one.
We can help by suggesting a range of hymns, secular songs or instrumental pieces from which the family can choose. We can also guide you as you choose the music for the various parts of the ceremony. Of course, if your family, or your loved one, has expressed a wish for particular pieces of music or song please do discuss this with us and we will do our utmost to facilitate your request.
To discuss your wishes further please contact us by email at: themodelbanner@gmail.com and we will reply as soon as possible.
We provide music and song for birthday parties, anniversary parties, family reunions, work events, retirement functions etc. and we have also been frequently requested to provide music and song for wedding ceremonies and funeral ceremonies.
Please leave details of your event in the form here and we will do our best to respond to you as soon as possible
