- Home
- The Band
- Ceilidhs
- Dates
- Contact Us
Murphy's Lore is a Bournemouth/Dorset based 'Celtic' band, performing a mix of traditional Irish, English and Scots music plus a few tunes of our own, composed by our 'box' player Richard and arranged as we went along! For ceilidhs, barn dances, pub gigs and general good craic. Perfect in many ways for weddings, parties, an anniversary or any excuse to have a Hooley. Have a look around and get a feel for what we do.
We perform tunes to dance to and songs to sing along with. If you don't know the dances, our caller will teach you. If you don't know the songs, just tap your feet and clap your hands!
We will cover Dorset, Hampshire and South Wiltshire in general.
Available as 5 piece with a separate caller or, as a 4 piece with Noeleen calling. Either way it will be a great night with charismatic calling and mellifluous music and you will have been 'Murphed'.
For most Ceilidhs / Barn Dance we keep the dances mixed to allow dancers of all experience levels to enjoy themselves but can cater for more flavoured evenings such as Burns Night or St.Paddy's night.
Our aim is to 'entertain, not educate', it should be fun after all!
To hear us, use the player to the right on this and other pages. Most clips are live, so what you hear is what you'll get! For other information about the band use the links at the top of this page,and check out the videos for what we see you enjoying.
To read about our most recent gigs and for a more interactive experience with us, see our Facebook page
News and upcoming events
Bridport Folk Festival is coming up, the weekend of 26th-28th July. Murphy's Lore will be providing the music for the Friday 26th evening Ceilidh, St.Mary's Church Hall, South Street and Alex and Noeleen as A Half of Murphy's will be playing a set on Saturday afternoon on Millenium Green and running a 'session' of songs, tunes or poems in The Ropemakers Arms on Sunday.
see Bridport Folk Festival for full line up and details of the whole weekend.
Something different for Bournemouth and a fantastic idea courtesy of Pavilion Dance South West. Friday 9th August, 19.00-21.00 The venue is the Pavilion Terrace at Bournemouth Pavilion and as part of the Summer dance Festival, we'll be doing an outdoor ceilidh. Overlooking the gardens, hopefully on a warm summer's eve! Free of charge, all welcome. Please come and support this fabulous event at a place where dance of all styles is celebrated.
For further about all things they do,see Pavilion Dance South West
Murphy's Lore Trio featuring Alex, Noeleen and occasional Murphster Steve Faulkner on fiddle and vocals, will be at Purbeck Valley Festival on Saturday 17th August. In the legendary Duck Tent at 5.20pm
Some live videos
Wedding Ceilidhs
Birthday Barn Dance
Burns Night Charity Ceilidh
Birthday Ceilidh Video
Ceol agus craic!
20 Jul 2019
Private. Bournemouth - Wedding Ceilidh
26 Jul 2019
Bridport Folk festival Opening Ceilidh with Jane Thomas calling. Venue is St.Mary's Church Hall. 8-10.30 pm.Tickets £8
27 Jul 2019
Bridport Folk Festival weekend. A Half of Murphy's will be performing on the Gale stage at Millenium Green. Music starts 11am and runs till 7pm. We're on 4.55 pm
"Just want to say a massive thank you to you all for your amazing set at our wedding! It really made the night perfect and everyone loved it! We will definitely be using you again for other family events!!! π°π€΅πΎπ ; Love from the new Mr & Mrs Trent
Leanne and Chris after their wedding ceilidh.June,2019
"We have had lots of compliments about the fun evening and how good "the band" was so thank you all for helping to make it a success. Until next time!
Lesley, after another twinning do with Lyminton Twinning and Vitre, France. June,2019
"Fabulous evening, as always. Murphy's Lore you are a joy. Thank you. xx
Jan after the annual St.Anthonys Social.May,2019
"just wanted to say a big thank you for Saturday night, everyone really enjoyed, you were excellent!
Julie, Landlady - The Dolphin Inn, Gillingham after their re-opening night.April, 2019
"Another great evening at Milford with Murphy's Lore - thank you!!
Sue, Milford Community Centre St.Patricks Ceilidh.March, 2019
"Great evening!! haha! was lots of fun!
Thanks so much for a brilliant night guys, you were fantastic!
Helena and Emma, after Emma's birthday do.Feb, 2019
"I can highly recommend this band. Beautiful singing from Noeleen, great music from the band and Julian calling the dances was absolutely brilliant. We all had a fantastic time. Thank you Murphy's Lore!
Jenny, after her birthday do.Jan, 2019
"Brilliant night, Thank You. Could take me a while to recover !
Gail, after Leannes's birthday ceilidh. Dec 2018
" It was a fantastic night, enjoyed by all. Thank you so much!!
John, after his wife, Sarah's birthday ceilidh. Dec 2018
" We had the greatest time! Thanks for making our evening so much fun! I already want to ceilidh again Γ°ΕΈΛβ¬ xxx!
Ren, after her and David's wedding ceilidh. November 2018
"Dear Alex, Noeleen and the Band
Thank you so much for a great show on Saturday. The music and dancing crossed the generations and brought everyone together.
We have had great positive feedback about how much they enjoyed your playing.
Many thanks for making it a special evening.
Nick after his birthday ceilidh. October 2018
"Hi all at Murphy's Lore,
We are still catching our breath from last night's dancing, but I just wanted to send you an email to thank you once again for such a wonderful night's entertainment at our wedding. You guys created something so special for us and our guests - the memories you gave us all will last forever. Having you there meant that guests who did not know each other at the start of the day left having danced the night away with new friends. Thank you also very much for Jess' personal tune from Richard - that meant so much. You are all wonderful and talented musicians and we wish you all the very best and hope to see you again at another 'do'! We will certainly recommend you to anyone that will listen! Keep Music Live! Much Love Jo and Jess. x
Jo and Jess after their wedding ceilidh. Sept 2018
"I can't believe it is one week since the Ceilidh evening 1st Sep at Milford for our German guests and their LITA hosts. I just want to say, many thanks for a fantastic evening. The music was superb, and Noeleen you got practically EVERYONE up dancing like pro's! (and well done for using German!) Lots of people have contacted me to say how much they enjoyed themselves...
Shirley after Lymington Twinning ceilidh. Sept 2018