Comhaltas Archive

L\word for
Stephen
Award winner Stephen Conroy with his wife Ma ry and children Catherine and Francis
pictured with Comhaltas O fficials Padraig 6 Cea llaigh and his wife Ma i and Labhras and Una
6 Murchu.
7fJ)
ell -known Co mhaltas
personality Stephen Co nroy of
Camross, Co. Lao is, was the
rec ipient of a prestigious Lao is-Offaly
Community Award at a very enjoyabl e
functi on held in the Montague Hotel
Stephen Co nroy has bee n deeply
involved in Irish traditional music,
dance and song from the cradle. He
was born into it as all the fa mily were
lovers of the trad itional. His father,
Michae l, is an accompli shed accordion
pl aye r. The great Paddy Moloney of
Chieftai ns fame is his first co usin and
close fri end. In fact Stephen was best
man at Paddy's wedd in g.
This man is known and respected
throughout Laois and Ireland and
among Irish communities in Britain and
North Ameri ca for his life long love and
promotion of Irish trad itional so ng,
mu sic and dance. He plays music but
his great love is ceili and set-dancing.
He was involved w ith setting up a
Comhaltas branch in Ca mross, was
chairman for many yea rs and now 23
yea rs later it is one of the most active in
the entire country.
He, his w ife Mary, and daughte r,
Cath eri ne, were membe rs of the
Camross set that won a string of AII­
Ireland titles. They conve rted their
garage at their home in Roundwood to
a 'teach cheoi l' w hich attracts hu ge
num bers of young and not so young to
music and dancin g sess ions and classes
a couple of nights each week.
This man has been the national tour
manager for Comhaltas on ten different
occasions and last yea r led the official
tour in Ireland and North Ameri ca.
He was the prime mover in setting up
of Ceolt6iri Sliabh Bl ad hma, the Lao is
group that has had successful tours of
the States an Britain in recent years.
The group are considered among the
finest in the trad itional and their
concerts are w idely acc lai med. They
are great ambassadors for Lao is and
indeed th rough thi s man's inspiration
they are doing powerful PR work for
the coun ty. He has been closely
involved in the promotion of Lao is
tourism and is in volved in every
activity and committee in his nati ve
Ca mross. For his outstanding service to
traditional music and so many other
things over so many yea rs, Step hen
received a well deserved Community
award.