Imelda Roland’s (Reel) – Olympos, Çıralı, Antalya – Tony’s Musical Journeys

My eBird checklist with photos of the Blue rock thrush: ebird.org/checklist/S125779618

Imelda Roland’s (Reel).

Olympos ruins, Çıralı, Kemer, Antalya, Türkiye, January 2023.

Am I contemplating life choices amid ruins of an ancient city – or playing for a bird again? Maybe it’s a bit of both! Turkey’s Mediterranean coast is littered with ruins of ancient Lycian cities, some built in most bizarrely inaccessible places like the mountaintops (with theaters, temples and all), some by the side of the strategic waterways or bays. The port city of Olympos had all of the above, and although it’s been deserted for eons, the protected nature reserve area is teeming with life. While the ruins might seem empty at first, robins, blackbirds, tits, chiff-chaffs and finches are all over the place in the greenery right in the midst of winter, with even more birds scurrying by the riverside. And then there’s the city’s little silent guardian, perched right atop the massive arch of the ancient Roman temple. His sharp eyes are following you everywhere and although the greyish-blue feathers don’t always stand out on the rocks, once spotted, you would think that he’s claimed the place for himself and it’s you who’s stepping into the bird territory. That’s how I met the Blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) – quite by accident, realizing that all this time I was playing the tune I had a feathery listener! I also had a quite annoyed Black redstart arrive to tell me a whistling competitor on the premises will not be tolerated. You can find pictures of both of them in my eBird checklist above.

The tune that came to me that evening was a fine reel composed by Imelda Roland of the famed musical Roland family from East Galway. While her brothers played the accordion, Imelda is said to have been a deadly lilter who could lilt any tune, which she reportedly did while boiling potatoes for her pigs. I learned Imelda Roland’s reel from a beautiful understated recording of Verena Commins and Julie Langan (Fonnchaoi) years ago, but didn’t know its backstory until recently.

Once upon a time in 2015 we ended up in the thick of County Galway with Diarmaid Fleming, Andrew and Róisín, learning of a jam-packed tune raging in Valerie’s of Aughrim in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. We were treated to beautiful music, singing, tea and sandwiches, and I was particularly struck by a young lad playing the B/C box like he was a young Joe Burke reincarnated. I instinctively asked him to play Imelda Roland’s just wishing to hear his take on this great tune. Little did I know that it wasn’t 20 miles from that spot where the reel in question had been composed! There certainly must be some magic in the air in that area, not for nothing the Rolands’ townland was called Baile an tSí.

In fact, the tune sparks an even longer trip down the memory lane. My first-ever proper pub session in Ireland was with friends in Mullagh, Co. Clare in 2009, in the back of Moroney’s Bar. Who do you think was playing right next to me? My source for this reel, Verena Commins herself – and she knew every tune I could think of, just like Imelda Roland would! That fantastic session sure got me started… Thanks to Andrew and Róisín, David and Julie, and all the rest of musicians present that night.

#TinWhistle #IrishTraditionalMusic #EastGalway #IrishReel #Kemer #ToMuJo