Cathal Johnson Harmonicas | harmonica repairs, harmonica player based in IrelandCathal Johnson Harmonicas | harmonica repairs, harmonica player based in Ireland
Cathal receives his commissioned piece of Art from
Cathal Johnson Harmonicas were delighted to be shortlisted and go on to win an award in the ‘Renewable and Environmental’ category from Louth Enterprise on Monday the 5th of March 2012. Woop!
Cathal has been steadily working towards building his business in recycling and renewing old or existing new harmonica, alternative tunings repairs and maintenance, set up for harmonica for customers and customization of harmonicas. To prevent a throwaway society in regards to the harmonica Cathal Johnson Harmonicas aims to fix them and keep them in circulation rather than been thrown in the bin! What a waste and how could you!
Cathal Johnson started after finishing college in 2010 in Applied Music. He then attended business courses to look into creating his own work, as he could not find any work available anywhere else he decided the would create his own. He applied for a Feasibility Study from Louth Enterprise in 2011 to further investigate the possibility of starting up business. After this he decided to do one more business course and go for it. The Study and Business course led him to creating a customer base on which to build. Since then Cathal Johnson Harmonicas saved hundreds and thousands of harmonicas from the bin! And hopes to go on saving thousands and tens of thousands from the bin!
But not only that the customers receives back a harmonica that sounds better than what he or she bought it in the first place as the reeds have been fine tuned and octave tuned and maybe tuned into an alternative tuning or customized for Overblow harmonicas. Or simply that their harmonica is now set up for them to play to suit their own individual style or playing.
Now Cathal Johnson Harmonicas is looking to build on his award winning status and expand into a workshop base, to produce a commercial CD recording of music arranged for the harmonica and other interesting projects too. Hopefully the wave of recent good luck will continue and not only create a job for him but for others too. Watch this space!
If you would like to get in touch with Cathal call him on 0877854120 or email him at cathaljohnson@gmail or info@cathaljohnson.com
Title: Traditional Irish Session Location: Mullaban, O’Hanlon’s Pub, Armagh Description: This is a traditional session held every Saturday in O’Hanlon’s bar throughout the year. Nestled in the heart of South Armagh among the mountains of Slieve Gullion, a great place for walking and tourism.
Join regulars where you will be guaranteed a friendly welcome. Start Date: 2012-02-10 Start Time: 21:30 End Date: 2012-12-31 End Time: 01:00
My dear friends in Music,
Just to let you know that we are having a get-together/ harmonica/ mouthorgan convention in Mullingar on Sunday 11th September, and you and all your musical friends are invited It will be held in Aras an Mhulinn, the beautiful new midlands regional centre of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
Doors will be open at 1.00 p.m. and we hope to have the music started at 2.00 pm. Directions on how to find Aras an Mhuilinn are here. www.arasanmhuilinn.ie
The following well known Moutorgan players have promised to be there Noel Battle, Mullingar, Henry Creaney, Kilkenny, Austin Berry, Athlone, Denis Nolan, Wicklow Orla and Sarah ward, Leitrim and many more which I am in the process of contacting. This should be a great afternoon for all Harmonica/Mouthorgan players.
You will have the opportunity to Meet and play along with many players from all over Ireland. Also in attendance, will be Cathal Johnston, well-known customiser and repairer of Mouthorgans Here is Cathals website,www.cathaljohnson.com
It will be a very informal and friendly gathering, so you should enjoy it, and we really would love to see you there. DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR MOUTHORGANS!! Accompanists on the Day will be Joe Meehan, Mullingar Seamus Kelly, Mullingar, John Nolan, Wicklow.
PLEASE NOTE. As this is an afternoon for mouthorgan players, No other instruments will be allowed. There is NO cover charge. Tea and coffe will be available. Mullingar is (almost) in the centre of Ireland, so we are not far from you. Any questions? Please contact me, Hope to see you there, David Hynes.
The Flat Lake Festival in Clones Ireland this year was wonderful. Set in the beautiful valley over looking all the stages and tents, at a glance one can find their way round here, everything is in view from the top of the field outside the Big House. The Butty Barn to the side of the house is the only venue not visible.
The Gonzo Theatre Tent, for me was the most consistently entertaining tent of them all. Once you let yourself be absorbed into the plays, acts, comedy, poetry and spoken word, you could easily spend 4 or 5 hours. A great job well done by the Gonzo troupe!!
The highlight for me was Aindrias De Staics spoken word performance. A romping set climaxing at the end when he asked me to join him for his encore. This went on for over 10 minutes with a tune we both composed called ‘Blue Stack Mountain Blues’ intertwined with a harmonica train simulation, were Aindrias calls out announcements over the “intercom.” Like “the nest train will be delayed due to leaves and cattle on the railway line!!” This was a treat for me and went down great with the audience. Check out:
Other highlights were Dace Mc Savage’s ‘Bingo,’ Philip Doherty and Daragh Slack of the Gonzos and Christine Beep Beep Bopshop to keep us dancing into the night!!
I don’t think this festival can be topped this year, although Body and Soul was great last weekend it does not compare to Flat Lake.
It was great meeting with Dave Hynes, Noel Battle and others in Dave’s house. Long may we be friends. It was a pleasure to meet with other great harmonica player and musicians to listen and play. It is not often harmonicas players in Ireland can simply meet up with other players and share their music. But I am looking forward to meeting these guys again and more players too.
A great experience! Thanks Dave!!
Daves wedsite is: http://www.davesharmonicas.com/
Cathal Johnson is service repairer for All-Ireland for Hohner.
