Jeremiah McNamara: Passionist, Accordionist

I am forever finding, buying or trading for reel to reel tapes - the home recorded type, mostly those which are clearly from 40 or more years ago (based on the style of the packaging, the brand name or the writing on them) - wherever I can find them. My hope is always to find some sort of unique or rare recordings from the 1960's or earlier: a family at home, vintage television or AM radio recordings, live performances, etc.

I've shared a few of the most wondrous of my finds in the two 365 days projects, such as the Star Ads and the Merigail Moreland tapes. While my most recent addition does not reach the height of those two examples, it's still an interesting, obscure little recording.

Recently, I played a five inch "Soundcraft" brand reel, and was quite taken with the contents. An accordionist plays an tune which is unfamiliar to me, and then someone sings what sounds like a patriotic song, about, of all things, China. The entertainer is then introduced as Father Jeremiah McNamara, accordionist. A few performances later, we hear him also introduced as Father Jeremiah McNamara, Passionist. After ten performances, Father McNamara is heard accompaning Father Arthur McNally, who sings "Bicycle Built For Two". The beginning of laughter heard at the end of this last track is an extra treat.

(By the way, the rest of the tape contained someone speaking about his hopes for England's eventual turn away from the Church of England, and its return to the Catholic fold someday.)

The sound quality of the first few tracks is poor, but it improves thereafter, with a few glitches here and there.

Bob Purse

1.) China Theme Song (MP3)

2.) The Helena Polka (MP3)

3.) The American Patrol (MP3)

4.) Liebestraum (MP3)

5.) Beautiful Dreamer (MP3)

6.) Serenade (MP3)

7.) Tulips and Heather (MP3)

8.) Irish Washerwoman (MP3)

9.) The Ricketts Hornpipe (MP3)

10.) When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (MP3)

11.) Bicycle Built For Two (MP3)

Comments

[Marty]

China Theme Song is actually "The March of the Pioneers" which is the national anthem of the People's Republic.

[Stu]

this is true folk music.

[Fr. Peter Grace, C.P.]

Thanks for the recording of Fr. McNamara. He died June 3, 1971. He was a Passionist priest. So was Fr. Arthur McNally who later left the Passionists and the priesthood. You captured a happy time in the lives of these two men. Thankyou for the surprise!
Fr. Peter Grace, C.P., Jamaica, NY

[Paul Charette]

Fr. Arthur McNally is my maternal side uncle. This was a unique surprise to find the recording of him. You never know what Google will turn up. After leaving the Passionist order and then the priesthood, he unfortunately also withdrew from the family and we have not heard from him since 1999. I am happy to have found the MP3 of him. He used to enjoy singing along wiht my grandmother who played the piano. He especially liked old Harry von Tilzer songs.

Paul Charette