Top musician PJ Hernon to launch new CD in Glen Tavern this weekend

Accordion and melodeon player PJ Hernon is having the Donegal launch of his latest CD at a session in the Glen Tavern outside Glenties on Saturday night.

The CD is called ‘Ar ais ar mo dhúchas/ Back to my roots’ and sees PJ returning to the one-row melodeon. He’s regarded as one of the finest players of the instrument. He has won All-Ireland titles on both melodeon and accordion.

There to officially launch the album will be Caoimhin MacAoidh, Ballyshannon, a fiddler and piper who has written widely on traditional music. Caoimhin is the chairperson of Na Píobairí Uilleann, the society of Irish pipers, and is a founder member of the Donegal fiddle organisation Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí.

Also playing alongside P.J Hernon at the launch will be the outstanding fiddler and bouzouki player Seamus Gibson, originally from St Johnston and now living in Letterkenny.

The launch is an informal occasion and all are welcome for the session. P.J Hernon has a series of albums to his name. His first was on the Gael Linn label in 1978 and is regarded as a classic recording in Irish traditional music. Other CDs include ‘The First House in Connaught’ in 1986 and ‘Buail Cois Air’ in 2008. Most recently, in 2020, came the album ‘P. J. Hernon and Sons’, featuring his sons Domhnaill on fiddle and Seamus on flute. He is also known for his time with the band Shaskeen.

PJ Hernon is no stranger to Donegal. Over the past year or so he’s been on holiday in the Cruit area near Kincasslagh and has also played sessions in Gaoth Dobhair and Teelin.

Originally from Carna in the Connemara Gaeltacht, he’s been long resident in County Sligo. His brother Marcus is a leading flute-player.

Caoimhin MacAoidh said: “Donegal is primarily known for its fiddling but of course the melodeon has also been a popular instrument in the county. We’re delighted to welcome P. J. for this launch, as this new CD is very much a landmark album from one of our greatest players of the melodeon.

“Of course, the Glen Tavern is the perfect spot for the launch. It’s known far and wide for its traditional music sessions and for the hospitality and welcome of the Quinn family.”

The session on Saturday is open to all musicians and will start at 8.30pm, with the CD launch at 9.30pm. “Ar air as mo dhúchas” will be on sale for the launch price of €10.