That's Jamie with his 1965 Eko guitar and Cara with Mortimer the Fiddle taken at a session at Coach's Corner, New Cumberland, Pa.

photo: Rodney Owens

version 1 - when Cara met Jamie at a celtic festival in 1997, the Launies began. After a couple of months, the band expanded into a quintet with the addition of Chris Laughery (flute, vocals, guitar), Andrea O'Hamill (vocals, bodhran), and Louis Lynch (harp, vocals, guitar.) But some things are not meant to be.

version 2 - a short time later, the group shrank to a duo again, now featuring Cara and Jamie along with occasional special guests.

Those special guests included: John Brennan (fiddle), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), John McGillian (accordion), Matthew Ward (vocals, banjo, whistle) among others.

With local piper Rodney Owens, Cara and Jamie started a monthly Irish music session in New Cumberland which they led for the next year. They also played regularly at festivals, pubs, parties and other events and venues - including at contradances.

Take a look at here for three nice photos of us and caller Beverly Smith (who actually ended up playing with the Launies some years later.)

version 3 - and then Cara went to Galway in Ireland and the Launies continued for another year with Jamie and a bunch of special guests.

in concert at the Appalachian Brewing Company, Harrisburg - Matthew Ward (banjo), Jamie O'Brien (guitar) & Tim McCarrick (fiddle)

photo: Ciaran Weissauer

version 4 - the band began to settle down once more with a regular lineup, now featuring fiddler Tim McCarrick along with Jamie and Matthew Ward.

version 5 - but all things must pass and new changes took place over the next year. The Launies evolved into a new look trio-plus-one. Ryck Kaiser became the fiddler, Chad Shambaugh joined on bodhran, and Jamie still sings and strums along. Occasionally, Lena McGinley adds her step dancing talents to the band.

photo: JR

a magical appearance of Lena, Ryck, Jamie and Chad. How do they do it?

the latest version - pressure of work saw Ryck take a less frequent role with the band, coinciding with fiddler John Winship arriving on the scene. Occasionally, our old friend, Bruce Young (fiddle, guitar, vocals) steps into the lineup. And most recently, Matt Willen (mandolin, bouzouki, vocals) has added his talents. The Launies go from strength to strength. Oh yay!

Go back to the Launies.

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