Arts Council backs project to preserve Sligo fiddle player John Vesey’s legacy

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The Arts Council has announced that the works of Sligo fiddle player John Vessey will be preserved thanks to funding awarded to Lamond Gillespie whose project will focus on producing a cd consisting of Vesey’s work.

Mr Gillespie, who is based in Scotland, is one of 15 successful applicants to receive up to €10,000.

The Deis Recording and Publication Award supports standalone traditional arts recording projects, as well as collaborative recording projects between the traditional arts and other artforms. These recording projects are vital to the preservation and transmission of traditional oral artforms, which often face unique archival challenges and can struggle to reach general audiences.

The award also prioritises projects which centre on the publication of work such as tutors, tune collections and critical writing. This further benefits the traditional arts community by expanding the resources available to artists of all levels.

A plaque in memory of the Fabulous Fifteen Fiddlers in Tubbercurry

Lamond Gillespie is a fiddle player and CD producer who lives in Glasgow. He grew up in London, was taught by Brendan Mulkere and was fortunate enough to experience its very rich musical scene. As a fiddle player he has made critically acclaimed recordings with John Blake, Mick Leahy, Cormac Cannon, Reg Hall, Brian Rooney and Tommy Maree.

As a producer he has produced historic cds of the music of Michael Gorman, Jimmy Power, a previous Deis funded project of Máirtín Byrnes and the current John Vesey project.

Lamond has played solo and been interviewed for national television and radio, and performed recently with John Blake for Na Píobairí Uilleann’s Session with the Pipers recital series in November 2025.

He is also a teacher of classical violin at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Junior Department) and has a B.Mus PGDip and M.Mus in Classical Violin Performance.

The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. It works to ensure that the arts are valued and central to Irish life. Through advocacy, investment and partnership, the Arts Council supports artists, arts organisations and communities to engage with and enjoy the arts.

The successful applicants chosen for funding are as follows: Nollaig Casey, Aidan Connolly, Seamas Hyland, Catherine McHugh, Sárán Ó Maolagáin, Fintan Vallely, Niamh Dunne, Úna Monaghan, Ciarán Fitzgerald, Lamond Gillespie, Caroline Keane, Fergus McGorman, Deirdre McGrory, Caitlín Nic Gabhann and John Spillane.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.