These photographs represent wonderful meetings and friendships with traditional Irish musicians which originated over twenty years ago when we arrived in Ireland for a two-year sabbatical in 1977. After numerous concerts, pub sessions, dances, and house parties, both in Ireland and in the States, I can only affirm that the soul of Ireland is deeply embedded in the music. That music is a source of inspiration to me as these are musicians who are carrying on the tradition. The first of these photographs was taken in 1984 with the most recent images from last summer (1997.)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/John-Gallagher-by-James-Fraher-708x1024.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jimmy-Keane-by-James-Fraher.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Liz-Carroll-by-James-Fraher.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jimmy-Mathews-by-James-Fraher.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Michael-Shannon-by-James-Fraher-699x1024.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Robbie-Mathews-2-by-James-Fraher.png)
James Fraher is a professional photographer, photo educator, and musician. He is the author of a new book, The Blues is a Feeling: Voices and Visions of African-American Blues Musicians (Face to Face Books). Currently he is producing a recording with traditional Irish musician Kevin Henry in Chicago. The recording will be released this summer by BogFire, a company started by James Fraher and Connie Scanlon which celebrates the creative spirit through design, publishing, music and photography projects.
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Robbie-Mathews-by-James-Fraher.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Robbie-OConnell-by-James-Fraher.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Vincent-Campbell-by-James-Fraher.png)
![](https://www.irishamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Eileen-Ivers-by-James-Fraher.png)
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the May / June 1998 issue of Irish America. ⬥
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