Comhaltas Archive

Noel Deffew
:AG
oel Deffew was born on
6th Janu ary, 195 1, in
Mountmellick, Co. Laois. He
was reared in O 'Moore Street, where
his parents kindled his gift of si nging
and his love for traditional music. His
ea rl y sin ging activity was with
his school band and the loca l
church choir and later on at
'f1eadhs ' and sessions. Noels'
father made his first bodhran for
him, th e in stru ment he was to
play tastefully and accurately at
many a sessio n. It was w hil e
growing up that he lea rn ed from
his parents such songs as 'The
Blackbird', 'The Shores of
Ameri ca' and 'Molly Ban ' .
Whil e in Mountmellick he was a
member of CCE and following
his move to Lanesboro, Co.
Longford, he joined the
Lanesboro Branch, one of many
ways in w hich he became
involved in the local
community. He always encouraged his
own children to become interested
and in volved in singin g and traditional
music, the rewards of w hich w ill be
reaped in time to come as they are
showing tremendous promise and
ability. His w ife Bridie was also a
freq uent visitor to sess ions and like all
of us, took great joy from his singing.
Seeking 'Craditional
Singers in Diosporo
As a Canadian ethnomusicologist
researching trad itional Irish singing and
exa mining the development and
changes in traditional singing outside
of Ireland I am searching for trad itional
si ngers in the diaspora. I am especially
interested in traditional singers who
are non-Irish born. If you are
interesting in participating in this
project, I'd love to hea r from you - it
promises be an interesting world-wide
sharing experien ce. Please contact me
at:
P.O. Box 46029
Pointe Claire, Qc
Canada H9R 5R4
Fax : (5 14) 426-4329
e-mai l: janice. pinc©sympatico.ca
I look forward to our stimulating
dialogue!
Jan Maloney-Brooks
He was a man big in hea rt and in
stature w hich made him stand out
wherever he went. In the ten years
since coming to Lanesboro he became
loved and respected by everyone he
came in contact with for his
gentleness, his unassuming manner,
his love of life and of music. He was
first of all a family man and all w ho
met him sensed the warmth and
friendliness of his character.
Noel Deffew, with whom we
had so often pl ayed or taken the
stage died suddenly on 31 st
August, 1995, aged 44. His
passing leaves a great void and
we can only sympathise with
Bridie and family, Nevan,
Francis, Ai lish and Sorcha. We
fee l privileged to have known
Noel and we enjoyed, as did a
great many, his wonderfu l
musical talent. The strains of the
songs which he made his own
w ill forever bring to mind the
wonderful times we shared with
Noel.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Galway Violins
for
Hand Crafted Violins
Restored Older Violins
Quality Repairs
to
Violins, Violas & 'Cellos
Efficient Bow Rehairing Service
Bows, Cases, Strings and Fittings
Call to:
17 High St,
Old Malt Arcade,
1st Floor
Galway, Ireland.
Tel: 091-566488
Tue-Wed:
094-31019
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