J 1 - Comhaltas Archive

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Eagartbocal 

Treoir 

Iris Oifigi6il 

Comhaltas Ceolt6iri' Eireann 

The Magazine of 

Traditional Music, Song and Dance 

lml. 10. 1978. Uimhir 2. 

Published six times yearly. 

In recent years the absence of any widespread 

criticism of RTE by Comhaltas 

in relation to traditional music may be 

traced to the liaison which has existed 

between the two bodies over the last ten 

years. Comhaltas has respected this 

liaison and endeavoured to bring about 

improvements through direct negotiation. 

The situation, however, is now deteriorating 

rapidly. 

The Annual Report of Comhaltas 

notes that in recent years there h\ls been 

a decrease of 75% in the time allocated 

on RTE television to traditional music! 

This is an alarming development especially 

when viewed in relation to the extensive 

coverage provided for other forms of 

music. Add to this the only statistic 

available on musical tastes: that over 70% 

of all those interviewed in a professionally 

conducted survey expressed a preference 

for Irish traditional music as against 

all other music put together! 

A short number of years ago Comhaltas 

found it necessary to sever liaison with 

RTE and undertook a public campaign 

to correct the downgrading tendencies 

in relation to traditional music. This 

campaign was supported by TDs, Local 

Authorities, kindred organisations, traditional 

performers and the general pUblic. 

It succeeded. Unless there is an improvement 

in the present impasse with RTE, 

Comhaltas should seriously consider the 

reactivation of this campaign. 

What RTE must realise is that the television 

senjce is not their private property: 

it is paid for by the Irish people and 

RTE are the servants of the community. 

In the same way as the GAA rightly 

receives coverage of their games and 

activities; in the same way as promoters 

of pop music have access to the channel; 

the status of Cornhaltas must be recognised, 

and our native music must be 

given adequate coverage on the national 

television network. 

Let us hope that common sense will 

prevail and that the wishes of the people 

will be recognised and adhered to. 

CLAR 

Eagarfhocal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 

life in Ancient Ireland (part 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Cornhoibriu ar son na Teanga .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 

Tradition has Survived. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Irish Traditional Dancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 

Big Nights and a New Dawn . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Dancing at the Congo ... . ... . ........ .. ........ ......... . 8 

Laments at Ballymoney Graveside ... . . .. .... . . .. . . .. .... . .. " 9 

Glor na nGael ... ... . . .. ...... ..... . .... ... . . .. .. . . . .. 10 

RTE neglect Traditional Music ... ... . . ... ..... .... .. . .. .... 11 

A Memorable Night at Graobh na hInse .... ,' .... ... .. .... . .. . . 12 

A Giant of a Man .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13 

The Brindle Puck Goat .. . ... . . .... . .. ... . .. . .. . .. ... .. . . 14 

Ceol agus Arnhran ... .. ..... .... .... .. . . .. . . . .. ....... Centre 

Oireachtas Champion of 1910 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 

They Crossed the Irish Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. , 16 

The American Wake . . . . . . .. .. ... ..... .... . .. . ... . .. . ... 17 

Remember Skibbereen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18 

Good News from Sligo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Music and the Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Niochfs T6ibfn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . 

Uachtaran Nua Cornhdhill Naisiunta na Gaeilge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

From Houses to Goatskins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 

Leicester's New Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Litreacha . .......... . . .. .. ..... . .. . .. .. . . .. .. . .. ... . 25 

Michael Horan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26 

A Costly Hornpipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Cogar . . .. .... ... . . .. . .. . ... .. .. . . . . . .. .... ..... . . .. 28 

Single Copy - 2Op. 

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cornJ'-lol"tas 

ceOl"tOIRi 

elReanrJ 

Cearnog Belgrave, Baile na Manach, 

Co. Bhaile Atha Cliath, Ireland. Fon: 800295.

letters is totally different to that of the 

Latin or any other alphabet. The letters 

were formed by combinations of short 

lines on and at both sides of a middle 

or stem line called a 'flesc'. Points or dots 

were sometimes used instead of lines. The 

groups of lines and points generally ran 

along the adjacent sides of the stone, 

with the angle for the flesc. 

Irish poetry was widely recited long 

before writing became generally practised 

and it was developed altogether in the lay 

schools. It had a very complicated 

prosody - certain laws or rules - with 

numerous technical terms, all native Irish; 

It exhibits no trace of Latin or 

ecclesiastical influence, though the 

Christian Irish writers continued to use it 

when writing in the Irish language . All 

this shows that the Irish prosodial rules 

and of course Irish poetry in general were 

brought to their state of completeness 

before the introduction of Christianity. 

In very early times, not only poetry 

proper, but histories, biographies, laws, 

genealogies and such like were often 

written in verse as an aid to the memory. 

The prosodial rules which the poets had 

to observe in the construction of their 

verse had as it's main object harmony of 

numbers. The classification and the laws 

of Irish versification were probably the 

most complicated that were ever 

invented ; indicating that the Irish people 

had a delicate appreciation of harmonious 

combinations of sounds. The "dan 

direach" or 'direct metre', most generally 

used verse structure, required the strict 

observance of such rules as , :- (1) each 

stanza to consist of four lines making 

complete sense; (2) each line to be of 

seven syllables; (3) alliteration in at least 

two principal words of each line ; (4) 

the lines to rhyme , the rhymes being 

greatly varied and occurring very often; 

(5) the last word of the second line to 

have one syllable more than the last word 

of the first line and a like relation 

between the last words of the fourth and 

third lines. 

The rhymes were very frequent in all 

stypes of Irish poetry, occurring, not only 

at the ends of the lines, but also within 

them, once, twice, or even three times. 

The rhymes were either between vowels 

i.e. assonances ,or between 

consonants. For this latter purpose the 

consonnants were scientifically divided 

into six classes ; 'soft', 'hard', 'rought', 

'strong', 'light' and the 'queen: - i.e. 

the letter "s" - which formed the sixth 

class; the letters of each of the first five 

corresponding and rhyming with each 

other, but not with those of any other 

class. One syllable, two syllable and 

three syllable rhymes were used with 

equal facility. 

After the introduction of Christianity, 

those of the Irish poets - whether clerical 

or lay - who learned to write Latin, 

imported many of the Irish prosodial 

rules into their Latin poetry, using accent 

instead of quantity, so as to imitate 

exactly the metres, assonantal rhymes, 

alli terations, consonantan harmonies and 

all the other ornaments common in Irish 

poetry. 

The schools and colleges of ancient 

Ireland were of two classes, Ecclesiastical 

and Lay. The ecclesiastical or monastic 

schools were introduced with Christianity 

and conducted by monks, the Second 

Order of Irish saints. The First Order 

were all Bishops, beginning with St. 

Patrick himself, missionaries and all 

founders of churches. The Third Order 

were hermits, mostly priests, who lived in 

desert places, refusing to possess private 

property, subsisting on herbs and water 

and on the alms of the faithful. In the 

monastic institutions the Abbot had 

charge of both the monastery and school 

or college. He deputed his authority in 

special directions and it became the 

custom to appoint a head professor to 

preside over, and be responsble to the 

Abbot for the educational functions 

of the college. He was called "Fear 

Leighinn" , or Chief Lector. 

The School of Armagh appears to have 

been the oldest of the ancient 

schools of Ireland, dating back to the 

foundation of the See of Armagh by St. 

Patrick. From it's foundation onwards, 

'the growth of the monastic schools really 

flourished with the cenobite, or second 

order of saints, influence of the late 

fifth and early sixth centures. The most 

notable of these earlier institutions were 

Aran founded by Saint Enda, Clonard by 

Saint Finian and Clonrnacnoise by Saint 

Ciaran. In a short time the Irish monastic 

schools were celebrated all over Europe. 

Luxeuil, in France, founded by Saint 

Columban, late sixth century, was one of 

the great early Irish monastic foundations 

' on the continent, and from which many 

others were later established. 

When this great monastic movement 

began there was a rapid growth of schools 

and colleges all over the country. Almost 

every large monastery had a school 

attached and it often happened that a 

school rose up around some scholar of 

exceptional eminence where it was not 

intended. Secular as well as ecclesiastical 

learning was carefully attended to in 

these schools, for besides divinity, the 

study of the Scriptures and classics, for 

those intended for the church, the 

students were instructed in general 

literature and science. Accordingly, a 

large proportion of the sons of kings and 

chiefs - intended, not for the church, 

but for ordinary civil or military life, who 

attended to get a goodgeneral education. 

The lay or secular schools existed 

from a period of unknown antiquity and 

in pagan times were taught by the druids. 

These men, white robed with cut tonsure, 

were a numerous and important class and 

the sole possessors of whatever learning 

was then known. They combined in 

themselves all the learned professions. 

They were not only druids, but judges, 

prophets, historians, poets and even 

physicians. The ancient Irish had 

druidesses also and references to their 

existence are made in several of the old 

writings. 

The druids had the reputation of being 

great magicians and in this character they 

figure more frequently and conspicuously 

than in any other, both in ecclesiastical 

and lay literature. They were the intermediaries 

of the fairies and with the 

invisible world in general, which they 

could influence for good or evil. They 

were employed by kings and chiefs to 

educate their children and the chief druid 

was the king's confidential adviser on 

important affairs. 

The conversion of Ireland to 

Christianity and the ending ' of pagan 

druidism marked the beginning of a new 

era in learning and education. The 

facilities available for secular learning in 

the monastic schools influenced and 

encouraged the establishment of many 

lay schools. Nearly all the professional 

physicians, poets, lawyers, builders and 

historians were laymen, as were many of 

those distinguished in art and general 

literature. Lay tutors were often 

employed to teach princes and, in fact, 

laymen played a very important part in 

the diffusion of knowledge and in 

building up that character for learning 

that rendered Ireland so famous in former 

times. 

The Bardic schools were the least' 

technical of the lay schools anti young 

men not intended for professions 

attended them. Subjects of poetry, hi 

history, general literature and law were 

taught in them. Most of these lay schools 

3

TRADITION 

HAS SURVIVED 

In the "Western People" John Fitzgerald 

of New York traces the rise and fall...and 

rise again of traditional music in America, 

and the following are John"s views 

on the subject: 

In the past few years there has been a 

remarkable revival of interest in Irish 

traditional music in America. Irish musicians 

, have of course, been emigrating to 

North America for years and some of the 

most famous Irish musicians of all times 

lived and recorded in America between 

1900 and 1950. However, in the late 

1950's and early 1960's the coinciding of 

deceased Irish emigration and the passing 

away of the older generation of musicians 

led to a steady decline in the playing of 

Irish music. As the sons and daughters 

of musicians rarely took up music themselves 

many musicians feared that their 

music would not survive into future 

generations. 

The fears happily proved unfounded, 

and by the late 1960's the impetus of a 

revival of Irish traditional music back in 

Ireland fostered mainly by the work of 

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, had spread 

to America. Many Irish-Americans began 

to take an interest in the music and 

actively encouraged their children to take 

lessons and foster the great heritage 

handed down to us by our ancestors. One 

of the many most prominent families 

that quickly achieved success in 

generating interest, enthusiasm and 

competence among their children are 

the Mahon family of the Bronx- Joe 

Mahon, a native of Ballycastle, and 

Kathleen Mahon (nee Burke), also from 

Ballycastle, are the proud parents of 

Pat, Mary, Marty and Michael, all have 

excelled in the music and dancing field. 

Pat, who is at present attending Fordham 

University, studying Business Administration 

, was All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil 

Accordion Champion in 1973, and 

runner-up in 1974. Mary is at present 

attending nursing school at Misrecordia 

Nursing School, Bronx, was an All-Ireland 

medal winner, violin 1974, first in duet 

and second in the trio, 1975. Pat and 

Mary have accomplished the superb feat 

of winning no less than eleven All-Ireland 

medals to date. Not alone is Mary outstanding 

in the traditional music circles 

but she is also champion Irish step dancer 

with hundreds of medals and trophies 

won at competition - both Regent 

Scholarship winners to their respective 

colleges. 

Third member of the family , Marty 

is the drummer for the famed Irish 

American Ceili Band - Garryowen Ceili 

Band, All-Ireland winner in 1975, is at 

present attending famed secondary school 

- Mount St. Michael High School - 

founded by the Irish Christian Brothers 

in the last century. The youngest member 

of this famed family shows all the 

prospects of a future champion - 

Michael, at this young age is excelling on 

the button key accordion and winner of 

many COmpetitIOns, attending St. 

Barnabas school in the Brox. For the past 

year Pat and Mary teach music. Their 

schools are based in Elizabeth, New 

Jersey, and the WoodJawn section of the 

Brox. l 'OU see , friends, why wer are so 

proud of this unique and talented 

family, The flowerings of the immense 

talen t of these young musicians and 

thousands more like them throughout 

the United States is an eloquent 

testimony to, the tenacity and vitality 

of a tradition that has survived the 

dislocation of transportation from the 

peaceful habitat of rural Ireland to the 

fran tic bustel of the new land and its 

environs, 

COUNCIL AWARD 

TO COMHALT AS 

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann is to awarded 

a grant of £750 under the Arts Act from 

Cork County Council. 

The Council agreed with a motion to 

that effect from CIlr. M. Calnan, 

CEALLACHAN MaeCARTHAIGH (1881-1968) 

a thug a shaol tluda, shubhaileaeh ag saothru ar 

son na teangan, an ch u I tu ir agu s an eeol 

duehasaeh - go mor mhor ceol na bpiob. 

Cailleadh e urn an dtaeha seo deich mbliain 0 

shoin. 1 measc naoimh na hEireann go raibh a 

anam uasal. - S. 0 Colmain. 

"CUZ" TERRY TEAHEN of Chicago presenting 

the Gannon boys of SI. Louis with an 

original piece of Padraig 0 Caoirnh's sheet music. 

Padraig 0 Caoimh was a personal friend of 

"Cuz" Teahen. Also included in picture is MARY 

M cDON AGH of Ch icago.

BIG NIGHTS AND A NEW DAWN 

Dorothy Gharbaoui of "Farmweek" 

Talks to Willis Pa tton 

"Cullybrackey is full of first class 

musicians", said Willis Patton himself an 

agricultural contractor born and bred in 

Cullybackey. "But no one seems 

interested in it." 

However, by his own record as a 

champion tin-whistler, Mr. Patton has 

helped to make his native village ,. lOwn 

in the world of traditional music. 

Last week, he and other Ulster folkmusicians 

appeared on a programme on 

Telefis Eireann, in which Southern 

Ireland soluted music of the North .. And 

Willis Patton can boast that he has made 

friends through music that he would 

never otherwise have . 

"The O'Briens live six miles away in 

Portglenone", he pointed out. "Yet he 

and I both had to go 280 miles to 

Listowel, Co. Kerry, before we met. 

It was outside a pub door on a Saturday 

night. We played our instruments till 

two a.m .. and gathered a crowd on the 

pavement, listening to us". 

Now the O'Briens and the Pattons 

are firm friends , and are keeping up the 

rural traditions of Big Nights. "Once in 

three months, maybe, they'll have a Big 

Night or we'll have a Big Night. Half a 

dozen of us'll get together and play till 

three or four in the morning. There's 

nothing better". 

Though still only a young man, Willis 

Patton remembers nostalgically his grandfather's 

Big Nights, when the best of the 

country fiddlers came from miles around. 

He is helping to keep up a tradition that 

could easily have died out in these days 

of television and canned music. 

"Traditional music was always more 

valued in the South than in the North, 

but, during the last two or three years, it 

has had a new lease of life up here. 

There's fifty in PortgIenone being taught 

the tin-whistle every Monday evening, 

and quite a lot in Dunloy and Ballycastle. 

In fact, it's spreading everywhere. There's 

some great musicians in Co. Tyrone". 

He told me of how, when he first 

entered for the all-Ireland championship, 

his music was rejected by the judge as 

being "not traditional". But, by the time 

he won it in 1975, it had been recognised 

that it was traditional to his own not-sowell-known 

part of the Irish countryside. 

Once having obtained a championship 

and proved his mastery of his instrument, 

Willis Patton usually retires. After 

becoming the Ulster champion, he retired 

in 1975 but the one competition he has 

kept returning to is the annual feis of the 

Antrim and Derry Country Fiddlers' 

Association in Ballymena. Since a 

beautiful cup for the tin whistle class was 

presented by Mr. and Mrs. William McKee 

in 1973, Willis Patton has won it every 

year, so his name appears on it five times. 

RELAXATION 

Nowadays, pressure of the contracting 

business he set up in 1969 prevents 

him from going out playing several nights 

a week as he did when a youth. "But 

that makes it all the more fun and a real 

relaxation now", he remarked. 

Finally, just before he left school, 

his father bought a farm. The young 

Willis worked hard on it, and, in order to 

earn pocket-money joined the Mid 

Antrim Variety group, which toured the 

six counties, providing music, dancing, 

sketches and other entertainment at 

concerts and guest teas. 

"First, I got paid five shillings 

then twelve and six, and finally two 

pounds for three nights". 

In 1963 he went to compete in his 

first Fleadh in Cootehill and won the 

Junior class. But, after that, he didn't 

bother competing again until 1972, when 

the Antrim and Derry County Fiddlers' 

Association held a competition for tin 

whistles for the first time as part of their 

annual feis. 

PLEASURE 

Life for Willis Patton, since then, 

has been a round of competitive success 

and of gratifying awareness that the 

once-despised tin whistle is now 

recognised as an instrument which is as 

much part of the Irish. country tradition 

as the harp used to be . 

"If I had a child who showed any 

musical ability on the recorder or 

anything else", he said, "I'd encourage it 

to the utmost extent. I had to do it all 

myself, and I know how much pleasure 

it has brought me. But I wish I'd learned 

to play the fiddle ; it's too late for me, 

now". 

What he particularly enjoys is the 

sense of being united with 

fellow-countrymen of any creed or class, 

who love traditional music. "There's 

never any mention of religion or politics, 

when we get together. It doesn't matter 

what colour a man is ; he's welcome." 

And finally he quoted the words of 

Master Liam O'Connor, a Belfast 

schoolteacher and folk-music enthusiast, 

who, on the R.T.E. programme declared 

"We're hoping this'll be the beginning of 

a new dawn in which the swords may not 

be beaten into ploughshares, but in which 

they'll have a mighty good chance of 

being beaten into musical instruments". 

, 

CLUDACH 

WeD-known Keny musician DONAL DE 

BARRA. Donal is a versatile performer 

on accordeon, tin whistle and concert 

flute: he teaches traditional music and is 

leader of "Ceoltoiri Luimni". 

7

Laments at 

Ballymoney graveside 

"If ever you wanted to define Irish music 

and what it really means then just think 

about Joe Holmes. His music and his way 

of life sums up all that should be and is 

about our traditional culture." This was 

how Tommy Sands paid tribute to the 

genial J oe Holmes who had just passed 

to his Eternal Reward. 

The funeral notice in the "Newsletter" 

of Saturday, January 7,1978, was straightforward: 

"HOLMES - January 5, 1978 

(suddenly), Joseph (Joe), 21 Chestnut 

Grove, Ballymoney, son of the late William 

and Jane Holmes (formerly · of IGllyrammer). 

Funeral service in St. Parrick's 

Parish Church, Ballymoney, tomorrow 

(Sunday), at 2 p.m. followed by interment 

in Bushvale Presbyterian Churchyard. 

Deeply regretted by his sister Nancy, 

Brother-in-law Dan and the family 

circle." 

Behind these stark facts lies a story of 

talent, nobility and achievement, and that 

was why musicians, singers, song collectors 

and folk historians came from all over 

Ireland to be at the funeral of J oe Holmes. 

In the "Belfast Telegraph" of January 

11 the following tribute to Joe Holmes 

was published: 

Irish traditional music has been left 

immeasurably, the poorer with the death 

last week of Co. Antrim singer and fiddler 

Joe Holmes. 

Joe died suddenly at his home in 

Ballymoney late on Thursday night. He 

would have been 72 next month. 

The last concert he gave, with his longtime 

friend and singing partner Len 

Graham, was in Derry's Guild Hall the 

previous evening. 

Musicians, singers, song collectors and 

folk historians came from all over Ireland 

to be at his funeral on Sunday. 

Two All-Ireland fiddle champions, Jim 

McKillop from Carnlough and Anne 

O'Brien from Portglenone, played laments 

in the church and at the graveside. 

It was an indic~tion of his standing as 

one of the elder statesmen of the Irish 

music scene. 

His repertoire of the songs of the 

people of rural Ireland, learned over a lifetime, 

particularly in his native county, 

was probably without equal. 

He sang them with a wannth and 

sincerity that required no vocal gimmickry. 

Fortunately, he leaves behind a fair 

amount of recorded material. 

Len Graham, his partner for the past 

13 years, is particularly relieved that after 

some delay they got round to completing 

their second album together just before 

Christmas. 

The album, produced by Robin Morton 

is called "After Dawning" - a phrase 

from one of their songs - and will be 

released later this year. 

I wish to thank all those in Cornhaltas 

Ceoltoiri Eireann who sent floral tributes, 

sympathy letters and cards, or attended 

the funeral of my late brother, JOE 

HOLMES, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim. The 

family circle were most impressed and 

gratified by the large attendance of Joe's 

Comhaltas friends from all over Ireland, 

and wish to thank you all for your kindness 

imd sympathy. 

Also, could I add a special word of 

thanks to Joe's very dear friend and singing 

partner Len Graham for all the help 

he has given me. 

"The voice we loved is still". 

NANCY CURRIE, 

74, Dunluce Rd., 

Bushrnills. 

Joe's own career was as colourful as 

some of the characters he sang about. Music 

was in the family - he and his brother 

Harry played the fiddle as their grandfather 

had done, and his mother Jane was 

the source of many of his songs. 

He was probably best known as a 

singer and lilter, but was also one of the 

few remaining fiddlers in the old Co. 

Antrim style. 

His first job at the age of 14 was 

walking in front of a steamroller carrying 

the red flag. The fiddle was never far 

away, and he picked up many songs and 

dance tunes while "on the road." 

Later he worked in a scut ch mill, and _ 

his last job before retirement allowing 

him to devote all his time to music was as 

9

P.J. Boyle of London has sent us this fine 

photo of London's "Four Courts" Ceili 

Band. Most of its members can be met on 

almost any evening at the "Favourite" in 

North London. Included in the picture 

are (L - R): Jimmy Power, Tom Sheridan, 

M. Masterson, Mary Kilkenny, Paddy 

Mullyn, Ron Somers, T. Healy, J. Duffy 

and J ohnny Gorman. 

"Our cameraman", says P.J., " failed to 

include the pianist Reg. Hall who is somewhere 

along the banks of the Liffey"! 

"RTE NEGLECT TRADITIONAL MUSIC 

It was the unanimous opinion of 

delegates at the annual convention 

of the Connacht Council of Comhaltas 

Ceoltoiri Eireann, at the O'Rourke GAA 

Centre, Castlerea, that there was an 

appalling neglect by RTE, particularly in 

the TV field in catering for the many 

thousands of traditional music fans . 

It was pointed out by some speakers 

that even when traditional programmes 

were presented they lacked the 

finesse that would make them best sellers 

in other countries. 

The Secretary was instructed to 

convey the Convention's strong 

protest to the RTE Authorities. 

The Chairman, Mr. Ray Lambe, 

Swinford, who announced that he 

could not continue in office 

and was highly praised for his work in 

the organisation, appealed for wholehearted 

support from all five counties 

for the Connacht Fleadh which will be 

held this year in Boyle on June 24-25. 

He said that the highlight in his 

Comhaltas memories last year was the 

very successful provincial Fleadh 

in Mountbellew. 

The following officers were unanimously 

elected: Cathaoirleach, .Maire Ni 

Threabhair, Boyle, County Roscommon; 

Leas Cathaoirleach, Paddy Waters, 

Carney, Co. Sligo; Runai, Brid Bean de 

Brun , Castlerea, County Roscommon ; 

Cisteoir, Micheal 0 hOgain, Caltra, 

County Galway. Delegates to Ard 

Chomhairle, Micheal 0 hOgain and Jack 

Reynolds, Shrule, County Mayo; 

Auditors, Tomas 0 Baoil, Beal Atha 

na Slua, and Jack Reynolds. 

A vote of sympathy was passed with 

Mr, Dan Davy , Secretary, Ballinasloe 

Branch on the death of his wife. 

11

that was to follow. He also thanked 

"Aileach" for kindly putting their public 

address system at the disposal of the 

Craobh for the night. 

Mr MacCaba's presidential address was 

warmly received. He said that it was sad 

to relate the death of one of Ulster's 

fmest traditional singers - J oe Holmes, 

who had died the previous night. He was 

shocked and saddened by the suddeness 

of Joe's death, an Ulster Presbyterian 

who crossed the sectarian barrier and 

through his music, wit, song and lilting 

brought pleasure to the many people 

who had the privilege of knowing and 

hearing him. As was the tradition on such 

sad occasions he requested Jim McKillop 

a fellow country-man and close friend of 

Joe's, to play a lament in his honour. 

Both the President and Craobh Chairman 

paid a warm tribute to Dinny 

McLaughlin who was "fear a' ti" for the 

night. Dinny has done more than most to 

promote both traditional music and 

dance in Buncrana and, indeed, all ove: 

Donegal and Derry. Craobh na hInse 

are very fortunate in having him as their 

guiding light. 

On Tuesday, January 10 a half-hour 

feature entitled "Craobh na hInse" was 

presented on Radio na Gaeltachta by 

Timlin 0 Cearnaigh, where he traced 

the history and habits of Inishowen 

people in general and especially the 

history of traditional music. Clement 

MacSuibhne and Seamus J McBride were 

the people interviewed and the music 

was that recorded at the Siamsa in 

Ballyliffm. 

JAMES McBRIDE, a member of Ceoltoiri 

Craobh na hlnse, playing in Ba11yliffin. 

MAIREAD NI MHAONAIGH as Gaoth Dobhair 

ag seinm ceoil ag Dinnear Blian tuil Craobh na 

hlnse. 

A GIANT OF A MAN 

Murt Curran had the bushiest eyebrows, 

the biggest feet and was the tallest man 

I had ever seen. 

That was when I was a toddler up in 

Mohill, Co. Leitrim, and he was my Irish 

dancing teacher. 

I can recall my first lesson with him. I 

watched in amazement as this giant of a 

man flitted over the floor of the L.D.F. 

hall introducing Mohillites to the intricacies 

of the one-two-three-four-five-sixseven 

movement. 

I met the man again recently - for the 

first time in more than thirty-five years. 

The pe~spettive had changed. He didn't 

look as tall, the feet had shrunk and the 

eyebrows looked normal. We stood 

shoulder to shoulder. 

Anything he taught me in those War 

days back in Mohill is long forgotten. 

But Murt still dances - at seventy six 

years of age . 

Murt has penned his memories in a 

book he calls "Memories Linger On." 

It's about his youth in Carlow, his days in 

the IRA, the sweet cakes he shared with 

Gregory Ashe while in Tintown, and, 

most of all, his dancing years. 

And he recalls these years in Leitrim, 

where he went to culturalise the natives 

at the request of Father Peter Confrey, 

parish priest of Pat Quinn's Cloone, 

JIM McKILLOP from Antrim playing at Craobh 

na hlnse Dinnear agus Siamsa. 

where "The Salmon Leap" and the 

"Corkscrew Step" were among the better 

known dances. 

He also recalls his visits to Kerry and 

his meetings with the late Liam Tarrant, 

and the All-Ireland Fleadhs in Listowel. 

"Memories Linger On," may not 

sparkle as a work of literature. But it 

touches strings of nostalgia and talks 

about people who shared our yesterday 

with us. 

There must be people around who 

would like to thumb through its pages. 

The book doesn't give any address 

for Murt Curran. But Comhaltas is certain 

to have a line on him. They can be contacted 

if readers are interested in getting 

a copy of the book. 

- Seam us McConville, 

"Kerryman". 

13

c§Jg~amh Ceoil 

McKENNA'S REEL 

i* pe Ei1i I £tiJ p:d 1 

1 fr rH itiJ I r ili rr it I re ft 

fU r dii liliJ f! l5 7 .tl 01 

ltC- 11 J 1 J 1 =1 

j 

-Y • 

f 

SHERLOCK'S JIG 

JJ.I t.i/l w ]11 I I'll ~~I "§ I 

I ! 1 1 }.' } 1 n1 ill 1 J!! 

~ 1 

fjJ _i I I [iJ 00 

1 

1ft! UJ 

tV 

Qj 1 ill .8)1

THE BOYS OF MULLAGHBAWN 

le jJ 1 J. J J J la j. j } 1 J J gd 

j 1 J. J 

On a Monday morning early,as my wandering steps did take me 

~ IF r r r j I J. 

down by a farmer's station of meadow and green lawn 

1* j I r J dJlJ j. 

I heard great lamentation that the wee birds they were making 

1ft J j I j j£ F Efl~ j. ~ ~ 141 J J J I J 

Saying we'll have no more engagements with the boys of Mullaghbawn. 

NA CONNERYS 

guidhim-se deachair ort agus gr5in M ~c 

De 

Ar an ghasr' 

ud ta ceangailte go dluth led' thaobh; 

" J 55 ~ I r p ~ ;g I J 1 J ~ a I rJ' J I J. 

Mar's iad a dhearbhaigh na leabhartha ar a' dtriuir bhfear seimh, 

. ' thar na farraigtbh go dt('s

TRALEE HONOURS FOR 

AN STIURTHOIR 

Labhras 0 Murchu, Ard-Stiurthoir of 

Comhaltas, was recently given a Civic 

Reception by Tralee U.D.C. in recognition 

of his work for Irish culture both 

at home and abroad. Our picture shows 

U.D.C. Chairman, Mr Michael O'Regan, 

presenting An Stiurthoir with a plaque as 

a token of his visit to the town. Also 

included are Una Bean Ui Mhurchu~ 

Mr Sean Crispie , Town Clerk; and Seamus 

o Conchubhair, Kerry Co. Board Chairman 

of Comhaltas. 

Officers of the Kerry County Board of CCE 

pictured with Labhras 0 Murchu, Ard-S tiurthoir, 

at a meeting in Tralee recently. Front row: 

Seam as 0 Conchubhair (Cathaoirleach). Treasa 

Feiriteur (Runai), Labhras 0 Murchu and 

Michael 0 Dubhlaing (Leas-Cathaoirleach). 

Back row: Maitiu 0 Maonaigh (Leas-Runai), 

Brendan Feirtear (Oifigeach Caidrimh Poibli), 

Michael O'Suilleabhan (Iniuchoir) agus Diarmuid 

o Cearbhaill (Cisteoir). 

JOHN HEN R Y, 1976 piano-accordion champion 

from Bellaghy, the newly elected Vice-Chairman 

of Derry County Board of Comhaltas. A young 

teacher, he finds time to coach musicians as 

well as doing work on the administration side. 

OIREACHTAS CHAMPION 

of 1910 

Through the medium of our marvellous 

little magazine Treoir perhaps I could 

ascertain if my mother is the oldest 

living Oireachtas Dancing Champion. She 

is a lively 83 years old and won this 

championship in 1910. I doubt if there is 

a medal nowadays to equal the beauty of 

this solid gold medal stamped Oireachtas 

1910. She also has other All-Ireland 

medals won in 1912, the exact replica of 

our present day ones. As I look through 

her medals, I see Fr. Matthew Feis and 

the Dublin Feis collection and a beautiful 

one which is the Viceroy's medal for 

National Dances which she won at the 

Dublin Civic Exhibition in 1914 and which 

was presented to her by Lady Aberdeen. 

She tells me in those days not alone had 

you to dance your way to becoming a 

winner - but before being allowed enter 

you had an oral Irish examination and the 

committee had to be satisfied that every 

visible piece of clothing you were wearing 

was Irish made - from the Irish poplin 

ribbon on your hair to the Irish leather 

soles of your shoes (with no tips allowed). 

I can safely say that it is from their 

Grandmoter that my own children 

inherited this gift! My son now 26 won 

the All-Ireland Championship; My 

daughter now 18 won the World Dancing 

Championship; my youngest, IS-year old 

Shirley, is all Ireland gold medalist in solo 

dancing. My mother is a native of Dublin 

and still lives there. In the dancing world 

of 1909, 10, 11 , 12 she was known as 

Margaret Murtagh, perhaps some of your 

older readers may remember her. 

Emma Mullan, Mullingar Branch C.C.E. 

15

The AmericanWake 

by John J. Dooley 

Years ago I remember reading somewhere 

that every corner of the earth had 

a story to tell, every hill and glen, every 

river and stream, every field every tree 

and ev«ry blade of grass. 

The corner of the earth I am concerned 

with here is that part of County Clare 

which embraces the areas of Miltown 

Malbay, Quilty, Mullagh, Cree and 

Kilmihil right down to the Shannon itself 

and then westward along the course of 

th~t great river as it journeys to the sea 

where it hugs the broad Atlantic ocean at 

Loophead. I don't know why but in years 

gone by that area of Loophead used be 

referred to as Muirisheen Fodra. 

It is all West Clare country I am speaking 

about and if I pick it out for mention 

to the exclusion of the rest of that fair 

county it is like slicing a cake that is big 

and rich and wholesome. I pick it out 

because it is my native heath. I was born 

there and so I suppose I can rightly refer 

to it as my own place. My own place that 

was until I left there in 1939 and came to 

Dublin at a time when World War Two 

was in its infancy. 

Looking back on my boyhood days in 

Corca Baiscinn some of the events I 

remember best and which gave me most 

pleasure were the country house dances 

and the fine traditional music and song 

which characterised their make up. Hall 

dances to a large extent were unknown 

and unheard of in rural areas at that time. 

In country homes however, the dances 

flourished with lively fast=moving Clare 

sets on flagged floor kitchens. The Moher 

flag, it was said, made a great dance floor 

because of its even surface and square like 

shape. 

The dances were open to all the neighbours 

young and old and rarely were 

invitations issued except to prevent overcrowding 

or to limit the attendance of 

strangers from neighbouring townlands or 

parishes. Boys at any rate travelled miles 

on roads and through fields, over cart 

tracks and Mass paths to dance houses 

often guided by pure local knowledge in 

the darkness of night. ·A fellow who in 

such a situation once slipped off a fence 

into a dyke said in his frustration "Bad 

luck from the moon, it would be out a 

bright night". 

A type of dance that had much sorrow 

and loneliness in its make up was of 

course the American Wake, and these 

wakes were numerous indeed in the 

twenties and early thirties. Such type of 

dance was held at the home of a young 

boy or girl usually on the night before 

they left for America: Local musicians 

attended in force and supper was provided 

by the bean a 'tighe ably helped by 

neighbouring women. As I have stated, 

sadness and loneliness was much in 

evidence, for many who went in their 

youth and prime did not return in the 

lifetime of their parents at any rate. I 

remember the dances going on until four 

or five in the morning. Songs were sung 

and one in particular which moistened 

the ~ . eyes began thus 'A Stor mo chroi 

when you're far away from the home that 

you'll soon be leaving." 

COORACLARE A.G.M. 

The annual general meeting of the Patrick 

Kelly Memorial Branch of CCE attracted 

a large attendance at the Cree Community 

Centre. The chairman, Jim Tubridy, in 

his address said that the past year had 

been a very successful one. The branch 

had participated in all CCE competitions 

and functions and had gained success at 

county, provincial and All-Ireland level. 

He congratulated all concerned. Mr. 

Tubridy pointed out that although past 

successes had been most encouraging 

there were no grounds for complacency. 

He hoped that in the coming year the 

branch would broaden its activities and 

thus embrace all sections of the community. 

An open night session once a 

month was envisaged and he said that 

Irish dancing lessons would be resumed 

on Tuesday nights from 8 to 9 p.m. 

Fr. Leenane, CC, said that what 

Comhaltas was trying to achieve was part 

As the dance ended and neighbours 

scattered away, farewells and good byes 

were exchanged often indeed mingled 

with wails and tears as the would-be 

emigrant parted from his family and set 

out on the first leg of his journey to Cobh 

(or Queenstown as it was then) to catch 

the boat. In those days of poor transport 

it was not uncommon to make a fifteen or 

twenty mile journey by means of a horse 

and trap or side car in order to catch an 

early morning train out of Ennis. 

And so Mother" Eirinn had lost another 

son or daughter to the emigrant ship. 

Their going 'was like a night wind sighing 

or perhaps a bean sidhe wail. Some came 

back while others did not. Dreams perished 

perhaps in far off places. Happily for 

young people that situation is in the past 

tense now. The American wake is over 

and the mourners are few. 

To the times and the years gone by, 

however, slaD. bee. 

of a campaign to save the soul of the 

country. As long as people were prepared 

to give of their time and talents to the 

community they could look forward to 

the future with confidence. 

Elected were: President, Fr. Leenane, 

CC ; Chairman, Jim Tubridy; Vice-Chairman, 

Michael Bermingham; Hon. Sec., 

Mrs. Mary E. Tubridy; Asst. Secretary, 

Patsy McInerney; Treasurer, J.J. Corry; 

PRO, Patrick Burns; Delegates to Co. 

Board, Noel Conway, Sean Nolan. 

THOUGHT TO PONDER 

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one 

is indicated. Remember, you can't cross a · 

chasm in two small jumps. 

17

MUSIC COLLECTION 

Almost every musician to-day has Francis 

O'Neill's collection of Irish dance music 

collected and compiled around the turn 

of the century. In 1792 the Belfast 

society sponsored a gat!1.ering of harpers 

and commisioned a young musician 

Edward Bunting to collect and publish 

the music they played. The music was 

attended by "all the best of the old class 

of harpers, - a race of men then nearly 

extinct, and now gone for ever". Men like 

Denis Hempson, Arthur O'Neill and 

Charles Fanning. Bunting collected 

several hundred melodies, some, by tradition 

dating back to pre-Norman times 

of the tenth or eleventh centuries 

and saved for posterity an invaluable 

heritage which would undoubtedly have 

been lost otherwise. Many of these tunes 

were used by song writers including 

Thomas Moore and are still heard in vocal 

and instrument form. Edward Bunting 

was born in 1773 and died 1843. 

- Extract from the Hanafin-Cooley 

Branch Newsletter, Boston. 

GOOD NEWS FROM SLIGO 

Local traditional musicians, dancers and 

singers had a busy year in 1977, the third 

Annual General Meeting of the Sligo 

branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann 

was told. Outgoing Secretary, Carmel 

Donnellan, said they had taken part not 

alone in activities in Sligo, 

but also throughout the country. 

On St. Patrick's night, a very enjoyable 

session of Irish music and dance organised 

by Comhaltas was held in the Columban 

Club, Castle Street. Early in 

April, the "Trom agus Eadtrom" 

programme was recorded in Sligo, and 

viewers all over the country subsequently 

saw traditionl music at its best being 

played by many members of the branch. 

On May 18th, local players travelled 

to Dublin to take part in a special "Sligo 

night" at Slattery's Traditional Club, 

Capel Street. In August many Comhaltas 

players had appeared on stage at 

Ballisodare folk festival. 

The first week-end in October was the 

# 

TIONOL CHEOIL 

7 -9 JULY - GORMANSTON COLLEGE 

Reachtailfear TIONOL CHEOIL 1978 i 

gColaiste Rinn Mhic Ghormain ar an 

Aoine, Satharn agus Domhnach (Iuil 7, 

8 agus 9). 

The ninth annual TIONOL CHEOIL 

will commence in the Franciscan College, 

Gormanston, Co. Meath, on Friday night, 

July 7, and conclude at teatime on Sunday. 

The TIONOL CHEOIL will consist of 

music sessions, workshops, fIlm-shows·, 

lectures, etc., and there will be plenty of 

time to enjoy the recreational facilities 

of the College. 

Gormanston College is about 20 miles 

from Dublin on the main Belfast road. 

There are first class facilities in the College 

including a heated swimming pool; ballalleys 

; tennis courts; golf courses, etc., all 

o~ , which will be at the disposal of the 

TIONOL. 

There will be accommodation for 

300 overnight visitors and places will be 

allocated in order of application. The 

subsidised cost of the week-end (accommodation, 

meals, etc.) is £11. The subsidised 

cost for one day (meals, etc. but 

excluding accommodation) is £4.00. 

Deposits: intending participants should 

forward £2.00 per head for week-end 

tickets and £1 for day tickets. 

occasion of "Feile na Boinne" in 

Drogheda to provide music at this 

Sligo and Roscommon artistes staged an 

evening's entertainment in November, 

following the opening of the Irish Circle's 

season in Sligo, by the Minister for the 

Gaeltacht, Mr. D. Gallagher. 

Concluding her report, Carmel also 

pointed out that local musicians had done 

very well in the 1977 All-Ireland Scor 

and Fleadh competitions, when many 

first and second places were won by 

people who play regularly in the weekly 

sessions at the Sligo Trades Club. 

Chairman, Joe O'Dowd, expressed 

satisfaction that the branch continued to 

flourish. He commented that the weekly 

Tuesday night sessions in the Trades Club 

APPLICATIONS, TOGETHER WITH 

DEPOSITS, SHOULD BE FORWARDED 

TO: 

An Stiurthoir-, 

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann 

Ceamog Belgrave, 

BaiIe na Manach, 

Co. Atha Cliath. 

---------------- 

Tickets required 

Please state wfendfSat./Sun. 

Ainm 

Seoladh 

Aois (children only) 

Ainm 

Seoladh 

Aois (children only) 

Don oifig Amhain (office use only) 

--------------_. 

provided a social outlet for those 

interested in Irish traditional music. Here, 

musicians from Sligo and the adjoining 

counties got much enjoyment from 

playing to an appreciative audience in a 

relaxed atmosphere. 

A report on the branch's financial 

affairs was given to the 

meeting by Tr~asurer, Martin Enright. 

Officers elected for the coming year 

were Chairman, Joe O'Dowd; Vice-Chairman. 

Declan Bree; Secretary. Carmel 

Donnellan; Assistant Secretary, Carmel 

Gunning; Treasurer, Martin Enright; 

Auditor, Aodan O'Higgins. 

The meeting was followed by a lively 

session of music provided by more 

than a dozen players. 

19

NIOCLAs TCISiN 

,. /' /' ...-; 

NI ga ach cupla nota a chloisint 

on nguth brea', ceolmhar san le go 

mbeadh fhios agat ce ta ag canadh. Ce 

eile , ach Nioclas T6ibin, sar-amhrinaf 

an tsean-nais! Is ar amhrain mar "Sliabh 

na mBan agus "Ar Eirinn nf 'neosfainn 

ce hi" , is m6 ata aithne ar Nioclas faid 

agus leithead na hEireann. 

Ach anso sa Rinn, blonn seans againn 

Nfoclas a chloisint ag canadh na n-amhran 

san na fuil an oiread san cur-amach ag 

an gcuid eile den tir orthu: 

Agus tli. na ceadta diobh aige. Measaim na 

fuil aon amhninai eile sa tlr a gheobhadh 

e a sharu maidir le meid na n-lI1l)hnin 

ata ar eolas aige. Agus mas maith le 

haoinne cur i gcoinne an rrutis san, ta 

abhar comortais againn a bheadh suimluil 

thar na beartabh! 

Rugadh ag~s togadh Niocbls Toibin i 

mBaile Vi Raghallaigh sa Rinn, i nGaeltacht 

Phortl:iirge. Bm se mar dhuine 

d'ochtar pruste, ceanthrar buachaill agus 

ceathrar cailfn. Thugadar go leir an ceol 

leo, agus nlon ngaoth na on 

ngr~in a fuaireadar e. Ba de mhuintir 

Uf Sheanach:iin Heilbhic a mathair, 

daoine go raibh. clill le ceol arthu. Agus 

uncalleo a b'ea sean-Nioclas Toibfn, udar 

cailiuil, amhranai agus bheidhleadoiL 

Fuair Nioclas go lear amhran on a 

l:lthair agus on a uncal. Agus ar dhul ar 

scoil do bill se d'adh air go raibh maighistir 

ar Scoil Naisiunta na Rinne go raibh 

Doirin Mhic Mhurchu 

Residing in the heart of the Gaeltacht area at 

Ring, Co. Waterford, is Mrs. Doirin Mhic 

Mhurchu, a news and sports correspondent in 

West Waterford for Radio na Gaeltachta, Radio 

Telefis Eireann and a number of National daily 

newspapers. 

Doirin, was born in Liverpool but was 

brought up in Co. Cavan where she developed 

a deep interest in the Irish language and culture. 

From childhood she was raised in an Irish 

speaking environment and most conversations 

in her home were conducted through Irish. 

During 1960 she went with her Youghal 

born husband to reside in the sub-tropical 

region of Queensland, Australia, and even while 

there for three years she conversed mainly in 

the Irish language. 

On returning in 1963 she came to reside in 

An Rinn where her husband was appointed to a 

position with Gael Linn. Shortly after she 

By D6irin Mhic MhurchU 

an-shuim aige ins an amhranalocht ar an 

sean-n6s - Pilib 6 Foghlu .. Is mo amhran 

Deiseacht agus eile a thug Pilib da chuid 

scolruri- agus ba shaibhir an 

oighreacht -a' dh'fhag se in a dhiaidh. 

Drua go leor ceoIt.ain agus amhnmaithe 

eile, chaith Nioclas treimhse ar imirce. 

o 1950 go dti 1960 bill se i Sasana ag 

obair agus ina chonai'in Hatfield, thimpeall 

20 mile soir 6 dheas 6 chathair 

Londain. Le linn do bheith ansan, 

chlliraigh se le cor eaglasta a bill cliiiiteach 

go leor i ndeisceart Shasana an uair 

san, St. Bonaventure's Choir, 

Welwyn Garden City. Bill 40 guth sa 

char, 30 fear agus 10 ban agus chleachtaidis 

tn oiche sa seachtain, faoi stiiirthoir 

a thagadh 6 Londan chucha. Nlor chaill 

Nioclas riamh a shuim sa cheoil eaglasta, 

agus gach Nollaig blonn se prurteach sa 

chOr i"Seiperu na Rinne ag Aifreann na 

Mean-Oiche. Agus is brea mar a thugann 

se uaidh an "Ar nAthair" mar amhnln 

aonalr - an sean-leagan an "Aithri Sheain 

de hOrdha". 

Tar eis do filleadh abhaile go dt( an 

Rinn, ghnothaigli Nioclas Toib(n gradam 

na fuair aon duine eile in Eirinn, fear na 

bean. Bhuaigh se duais mhor amhan 

Oireachtais tn bhliain as a cheile, 

1960, 1961 , agus 1962. Sin eacht nar 

eirigh le haoinne eile a dheanamh 0 

bhunu an Oireachtais i leith. 

Nuair a thuilleann duine cml as bua 

alrithe, is minic nach eol do dhaoine go 

bhfuil buanna eile aige. Sin mar ata se 

le Nioclas. Bheidhleadoir e agus fear 

deanta bheidhlln. Ach is san 

amhranalocht ata a shuim agus is fada 

anois 6 bhain se le is na teada. 

Conalonn se agus blonn se ag ob air 

sa Rinn, seal le hiascaireacht, seal 

le feinneoracht. Tagann lucht radio agus 

teilifTse chuige beagnach gach samhradh. 

Le cupla bliain anuas dhein 

se claranna do ORTF, radio agus teilins 

naisfunta na Frainnce, agus ghlac se pru.rt 

i gclar teilifTse do chomhluchJ 

neamhspleach Frainnceach, Hflchette. 0 

am go ham deineann se fein turas as 

baile le claranna a dheanamh, no ceirmn 

a chur i gcomhar. Tamall de bhlianta a 

shoin, dhein Nioclas dha cheirnin 45 

Lp.m. do Ghael-Linn, ar a raibh amhrain 

mar "Sliabh Geal gCua" agus "Sliabh na 

mBan". Ba mhaith ann iad ach ba mhinic 

6 shoin sinn ag ra go mba mhor an trua 

gan a thuille da stor mor amhran a bheith 

ar falIt. Ach direach roimh Nollaig 

dh!eisigh Gael-linn ceirnln fad-sheinnte 

M chuid ar a bhfuil tn amhran Mag agus 

nl saibhreas go dt( { "Nioclas Toib(n" is 

tiodal do. Ta meascan brea ins na tn 

amhnin deag san. Ta an aisling bhrea san 

"Ar maidin is me i dtaisce mo churaim" 

agus amhnin Deiseach na cloistear 

leath-mhinic go leor, "Cois Abha 

Mor na nDeise". Ta cupla amhran de 

began writing feature articles for a number of 

Irish publications as well as a number of local 

and national newspapers. Doirin is a regular 

contributor to TREOIR. 

Later she was appointed as the West Waterford 

news and sports correspondent, and thus 

the flIst woman in the Waterford area to report 

on sporting fix tures. Recalling the early days as 

a sports writer she admits that there were a few 

raised eye brows as she took up her position on 

the side line. 

Now, however, it is not unusual to see 

Doirin covering any sporting fixture either in 

the English or Irish language. Apart altogether 

from writing news articles she is probably best 

known for her regular bi-lingual page features in 

Ireland's Own. 

Married with five children Doirin is keenly 

interested in all types of Irish Music, and 

through her a8SOCiation with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri 

Eireann has done much to promote Irish 

culture. 

21

\ 

FROM HORSES TO GOATSKIN 

While Irish youngster Peter Egan goes 

international, Leicester-based artist Phil 

Reed has gone Irish. Phil specialises in 

painting horses - especially racehorses 

and last year he went to Ireland to get 

its equine elegance on canvas. 

THE MUSICAL HARPERS 

Rev. Fr. McGlynn, P.P. Gertahork, 

President of the Cloghaneely (Donegal) 

Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann 

making a presentation of an inscribed 

silver tray to the Harper family, Dungorman, 

Castlefin, Co. Donegal, Branch 

members who were outstandingly 

successful in Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann 

1977. 

The four young musicians are daughters 

of Mr and Mrs Patrick Harper and Brid 

(left of back row) won the iffle and fiddle 

slow airs under 11 years, Brid and her 

sister, Marion, second from left, won the 

All-Ireland Duets under 11 and together 

with Amelia, right of back row, they won 

the All-Ireland trio under 11 years. 

Accepting the presentation is eight 

years old Siobhan, the tin whistle player 

in the family group. 

The talented family make up their 

own Celidh Band and in addition to Brid 

on fiddle , Marion plays a two-row button 

accordion ; Amelia piano accordion; 

Siobhan tin whistle and five year old 

Patricia, plays the drums. 

The Harper family will participate in 

the "Aos Og" at the Fleadh Nua. 

For some reason which he can't quite 

explain, he finished up in Co. Clare and in 

no time had put his paints and easel aside 

and was swallowed up by the 

countryside's traditional music. 

The instrument which intrigues him 

most was the bodhran. Soon he had 

acquired one of his own and was joining 

in. 

In due course and with considerable 

reluctance, he returned to Leicester 

where, much to his delight, he found that 

there were Irish traditional music sessions 

there too - at the local St. Patrick's 

Club. And so it is that nowadays one 

finds Phil, armed with his bodhran, right 

there in the centre of Comhaltas sessions 

in Leicester. 

And what about Irish racehorses 

Well, Phil intends to return to Ireland this 

year to finally get them on canvas but 

first on his itinerary will be another visit 

COMORTAS RINCE NAISIUNTA 

at the 

FLEADHNUA 

Inis, Co. An Chlair 

Saturday, May 27 (11.00 a.m. sharp) 

at the Community Centre. 

(a) Senior Country Set - 

(full set of eight dancers) 

(b) Senior Half-set - 

(four dancers) 

NIOCLAS TOIBIN 

chuid Phadraig Ui Mhileadha air agus 

ceann des na hiomnai is aosta da bhfuil 

againn "Areir is me ag machtnamh." 

Sa bhliain 1976 maraon le grupa d'fhili 

agus ceoItoiri eile 0 Eirinn, chuaidh Nio 

Nioc1as ar turas go dti oileain 

GhaeItacht na hAlban faoi choimirce 

Chomhdhail Naisiunta na Gaeilge agus 

Chomhairle Ealaine na Breataine. 

Chuadar ar eitlean 0 oilean go hoilean 

ag tabhairt cuirmeacha ceoil agus 

cuireadh an-fhailte rompa. Bhi an piobaire 

go Corcaioch, Maire Ni Ghrada i 

measc an ghrupa agus dhein si comhcheoil 

ar roinnt d'amhrain Nioc1ais. 

Chuir me ceist ar Nioc1as cad e an 

t-amhran is fearr le is fein as an stor mor 

ata aige. Agus duirt se guirbe an ceann is 

deacra ar fad le canadh an ceann is 

fearr leis, - "Na Pratai Dubha". Sin e 

fior-amhran an ghorta. Bean de chuid na 

Rinne darb ainm Maire Ni Dhroma a 

scriobh e agus ni leargas go dti e ar an 

ndroch-shaol. Nil se ar cheirnin fos. Le 

cunamh De, amach anseo, beidh se sin, 

agus a thuille de stor saibhir ceoil le 

faiIt againn 0 Nioc1as Toibin. 

to Co. Clare - where, of course, they 

don't have racehorses, only endless traditional 

music which envelopes, captivates 

and makes one forget about four-legged 

creatures. 

- "Irish Post" 

( c) Senior 8-Hand Dance - 

(eight dancers) 

(d) Senior 4-Hand Dance - 

(four dancers) 

(e) Junior Country Set. 

(t) Junior Half-set. 

Forward entries to: 

Padraig MacMathuna, 

Ascal Caoimhin de Barra, 

INIS, Co. an Chlair. 

Fon: 065/21616 (9-5 p.m.) 

UILLEAN PIPES 

MAKER DIES 

Michael 0 Cianain of Glassleck, ShercocK 

Co. Cavan, who has died, aged 84, was 

one of the oldest and best-known makers 

of Uilleann and other Irish bagpipes in 

the country. He was also a well-known 

bagpipe player and he exported his pipes 

to Australia, the United States and 

Britain. 

He also taught enthusiasts from 

Germany, France, Britain, as well as 

Ireland how to play the Uilleann pipes 

and he gave his last demonstration of 

pipe playing at Cavan Trades Fair at 

Christmas. A leading member . of 

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, he played 

on RTE television and radio on numerous 

occasions. 

23

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

LITREACHA 

TONY'S PET AVERSION 

Baile Atha Cliath, 

Tony McMahon has written a pamphlet 

on Irish traditional music (commercial 

music) : his only motivation can have 

been the character-aSsassination of Comhaltas 

Ceoltoiri Eireann. It will undoubtedly 

rank as one of the "sick" publications 

of this generation. It is a gigantic 

misrepresentation of history (although 

the "about twenty years ago" bad situation 

always, uncomfortably for Tony, 

coincides with the founding of 

Comhaltas!). 

Tony fills his diatribe with innuendoes 

, un-scholarly generalisations, and 

vindictive jibes which, to say the least 

of them, are too sick for attention, 

His only aim can be to create division 

and, God knows, history can provide him 

with many such bedfellows. Division 

was always the curse of Ireland . 

Tony McMahon has once and for all 

revealed a deep-seated aversion which 

heretofore had been known only to a 

few . He doesn't like Comhaltas and in 

expressing his aversion he shows no 

regard for history, facts , or, indeed, 

truth. He blindly lashes a great cultural 

movement and blandly absolves all 

other organisations. His poison pen seems 

to have been unleashed without 

discipline or sensitivity. Of course, the 

fact that Comhaltas is honoured in this 

negative way is an indication of its 

real standing. 

Tony writes of an identifiable musician 

who is not well endowed with the 

goods of this world and intimates that 

Comhaltas, therefore, should not have a 

home of its own (other organisations are 

exempt mind you!). (Incidentally, I think 

it was most unfair to mention this musician 

in his book - there are many 

artistes who do not wish to be listed 

under the heading of charity. In fact, 

there are many thousands of Irish people 

who though lacking wealth have an 

immense pride in themselves). He seems 

to have a hate complex about Comhaltas 

which he finds hard to hide even in his 

radio programmes. There are times when 

his biased attitudes could be questioned 

under the heading of "broadcasting 

standards". In his latest pamphlet he has 

recorded now for all time an 

unbelievable bias, which proves conclusively 

that this man cannot give radio 

licenceholders fair play. Of course, 

radio is a powerful medium which is paid 

for by the Irish people and at some stage 

the whole question of bias and prejudice 

may tome up for consideration. 

To rtCturn to Tony's aversion : you 

will recall his anti-national stand when 

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann was 

cancelled at a time when the nationalist 

population of the Six Coun ties was under 

severe coercion - Tony was the only 

person to be found to go on radio and 

denigrate the Comhaltas stand: opportunism 

at its best, but it won't be forgotten. 

Tony would like to regard himself as 

a liberal. Is he really There is a persistent 

rumour going round that he helped 

as hatchet man when the Comhaltas radio 

programme included a reply to certain 

biased comments which he made on his 

own programme. The outcome was that 

the Comhaltas programme was censored. 

True or false 

Tony is one of a very small band of 

commercial artistes who possibly regard 

Comhaltas, because it is an organisation 

of the people and depending on 

volunteers, as a threat to the business. 

Tony makes his music pay (and more 

power to him): he is reputed to ask as 

high as £50 to £100 per engagement - 

does he distribute it all to deserving 

cases Of course his attack on Cornhaltas 

is really an effort to distract from his own 

"a pound for a note" attitude. 

Tony's recent attack on Comhaltas 

is illogical to the extreme. Of course, 

there are a number of desks at the Culturlann 

- does he expect the staff to work 

on the floor Does he himself work in 

primitive conditions in RTE: I understood 

that the radio studios are the 

most modern in Europe. I do know that 

they are not using butter-boxes. Maybe 

he feels that "professionals" deserve the 

best but that anything is good enough 

for our native culture ("bog-oak"). The 

Culturlann has a recording studio, a 

library, a recreation hall, etc. Why 

begrudge such things Back to good old 

mother England - keep the natives 

ignorant is it 

Culturlann na hEireann was made 

possible by the people. It was not State 

money. It came from raffles, Church-gate 

collections, personal contributions, 

concerts, ceilis, card-games and concert 

tours (which included many commercial 

musicians who gave their time voluntarily 

and willingly). The money came from the 

villages and towns of Ireland; from 

friends in Britain, the United States, and 

Canada: and it was raised solely and 

specifically for the Culturlann. No one 

had the right to spend it otherwise. Of 

course, Tony didn't provide this background 

information because that would 

be too revealing and take the sting out 

of his vendetta. It is also revealing that 

Tony makes no attack on other organisations 

who aren't confined to butterboxes. 

I wonder why There is an answer, 

you know! 

And one final piece of infonnation 

which, of course, is no secret: Comhaltas 

has on many occasions engaged the 

musician mentioned by Tony McMahon 

and paid for the literary and musical 

contributions (not charity). The organisation 

doesn't go around broadcasting 

their "good deeds": what a pity others 

aren't as sensitive. 

Tony, your musicianship is 

appreciated and respected but please 

don't use it as a vehicle for stabbing 

an organisation like Cornhaltas in the 

back. There is one border too many 

in Ireland. Tony, all your childish 

viciousness wont change the course of 

history or rob such a fine movement like 

Comhaltas of its much deserved laurels. 

You have maligned many thousands of 

people at home and abroad. With a view 

to attracting the :spotlight to yourself. 

Remember you are now in the open; 

you have taken the shilling and written 

tripe for the "antis" but you have also 

recorded your vindictiveness for posterity. 

CIARAN MAC CRAITH 

25

A COSTLY HOR-NPIPE 

By E.P. Sherry 

How an Irish hornpipe was preserved 

for 'posterity at the expense or the loss 

of a field of hay, is revealed 

in an interview with a well known 

Clonesman, Mr. Patrick O'Kane, P.C., 

who is a father figure in politics, 

commerce and traditional Irish music. 

In the volumous annals of the Irish 

musical story, the dedication of Paddy 

O'Kane and his former Cavan cohorts 

must be unique in the protracted struggle 

to perpetuate our tuneful links with the 

past. 

It was a pleasant experience to chat 

with the versatile Paddy O'Kane at his 

comfortable home where he resides with 

his daughter, Maureen, at Legar Crescent, 

Clones. He enhanced his genial hospitality 

with a masterful performance on the tin 

whistle and during the interludes gave me 

a colourful ' insight into his early 

efforts to become proficient in the 

role of the Irish minstrel. 

He said : "I have always taken a deep 

interest in Irish traditional music. My 

uncles on both sides of the family were 

prominently identified with 

Irish music. One of my uncles on my 

mother's side could sing up to 200 

traditional Irish songs but unfortunately 

in his day the revival of Irish music was 

not as far advanced as it is today so 

that most of the old songs died with 

him. 

"My first attempts at playing an 

instrument was on the piccolo or wooden 

flute but in later years I changed to the 

tin whistle. A school pal of mine 

brought me to a local farmer named John 

Donohoe, Lavey, Co. Cavan, who taught 

us our first tunes on the piccolo. We 

compensated him for his music lessons 

by helping him on the farm in the digging 

and gathering of potatoes, working at 

hay and the making of turf in the bog. 

"I remember learning a hornpipe from 

John Donohoe which was then popularly 

known as the "Blanchardstown Hornpipe" 

but which was much akin to the 

"Cork Hornpipe." It took about ten 

lessons for me to get the tune reasonably 

correct and one bright sunny day I went 

back to Donohoe on a Friday afternoon, 

convinced that I had at last mastered 

the tune. John was busy in a field of hay 

which was ready for 'rucking'. 

"He said to me, 'How are you getting 

along with the hornpipe. Have you been 

able to master it' 

I replied that I thought I had and he 

asked me to play it over until he would 

hear it. I did so and Donohoe said there 

were still a couple of notes not coming 

true. He brought me over to his house, 

leaving the hay to take care of itself, and 

we spent an hour so that I could get the 

hornpipe perfected. While we were 

inside it started to rain and it rained 

almost continuously for a whole 

week afterwards with the result that the 

field of hay was lost. As he was a small 

farmer, Donohoe had to go out to the 

market in the Springtime to buy hay. 

ONe day I met him coming from town 

with a load of hay and in the course of 

conversstion I asked him what price was 

hay in the market. Without any rancour 

in his voice, for he was a dedicated 

musician, he replied 'It was the price of 

the Blanchardstown Hornpipe'.' 

To illustrate his unusual story, Paddy 

O'Kane then took down his tin 

whistle from a shelf beside the fireplace 

and gave an expert rendering of 

'The Blanchardstown Hornpipe.' 

Reverting to his early youth in a rural 

community, Paddy O'Kane said there 

were very few organised dance bands in 

the country at the time so he played his 

piccolo, doubling with the tin whistle, 

in local dance halls and schools, but he 

finally settled for the tin whistle, which 

he found to be the most tuneful instrument, 

and the partnership has remained 

ever since. When Cornhaltas Ceoltoiri 

Eireann was formed in Clones he joined 

the organisation with enthusiasm and at 

the first of the big Fleadhanna in Clones 

he was appointed local publicity officer. 

As the movement went from strength 

to strength he was appointed 

treasurer of Monaghan County Board 

CCE, a position which he still holds and 

last year was elected Vice-Chairman of 

the Ulster Council CCE. 

THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY 

ENDEAVOUR 

"Community endeavour is the only thing 

that stands between us and a totally 

materialistic society." This was stated by 

Labhras 0 Murchu, when he spoke at a 

meeting in Cashel recently. 

"The importance of community organisations 

- cultural, sporting, charitable - 

should not be under-emphasised," he said. 

"Through their perceptiveness and selflessness 

these community bulwarks prevent 

the erosion of time-honoured standards 

of living, concern and sociability. It is 

true that numbers involved may be small 

but by regular and constant example they 

provide an ideal to be emulated and they, 

at least, balance the destructiveness of the 

cynic. 

"Ireland was always noted for the concern 

of neighbour for neighbour; for the 

ready hands of a "meitheal" at harvest 

time ; for the attentive ear when troubles 

were unbearable; for the cheerful giver of 

alms; for the open-door when 

"cuairtaiocht" was fashionable. Times 

have changed through progress - more's 

the pity in many ways. If society had more 

time for the individual there might be 

-less nervous stress and a happier community 

all round. 

"The community organisations play an 

important role in filling the vacuum 

created by the changing times. Rural and 

urban bodies through their activities bring 

people together in a spirit of dependence, 

self-reliance and mutual co-operation. 

They provide a forum for sharing 

problems; they encourage initiative; they 

dissipate apathy; and above all they help 

in the proper formation of young characters 

- one of the greatest investments 

in a community's future." 

27

DIALANN'78 

May 13/14 Deny Fleadh Dungiven 

13/14 Mayo Fleadh Ballinrobe 

13/14 Tipperary Fleadh Tipperary Town 

14 Dublin/Louth Fleadh Ard Scoil Ris 

14 Offaly Fleadh Ferbane 

14 Wicklow Elirninations Aughrim 

19/21 S. Kerry Reg. Fleadh Killorglin 

21 Reg. Fleadh Britain N.W. Manchester 

21 Monaghan Fleadh Emyvale 

21 Westmeath Fleadh Moate 

21 Kildare Eliminations Athy 

26/28 Fleadh Nua Ennis 

June 2/4 N. Kerry Reg. Fleadh Ardfert 

3 Antrim Fleadh Ballycastle 

3/4 Limerick Fleadh Castleconnell 

3/4 Cavan Fleadh Belturbet 

4 Waterford/Kilkenny Fleadh Ardmore 

10/11 Donegal Fleadh Crossroads 

17/18 Fermanagh Fleadh Elderney 

18 Wexford Fleadh Monageer 

18 Laois Fleadh Portarlington 

18 Clare Fleadh Kilrush 

24/25 Tyrone Fleadh Drumquin 

24/25 All Britain Fleadh Leicester 

24/25 Cork Fleadh Mallow 

24/25 Longford Fleadh Lanesboro 

24/25 Connacht Fleadh Boyle 

25/29 Feile Chill Airne Killarney 

30 Aonach Cheoil Gweedore, Co. Donegal 

July · 1/2 Kerry Fleadh Ballyheigue 

7/9 Tionol Cheoil Gorrnanston 

15 Down Fleadh Portaferry 

15/16 Leinster Fleadh Clara 

21/23 Munster Fleadh Tralee 

29/30 Ulster Fleadh Cootehill 

Aug. 20/25 Scoil Eigse Listowel 

25/28 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Listowel 

For further details please contact: Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Belgrave Square, 

Monkstown, Co. Dublin. Fon: 800295.

~ 

SEAMUS GLACKIN

COGAR ... 

The American-based company 

"SEANACHAI RECORDS" has released 

two more LPs - one featuring fiddle player 

ANDY McGANN and the other the 

music of Co. Kerry • • Plans are 

progressing for the Clare Teacht Cheoil 

to be sited in Ennis: it will be circular 

in design. • JACK REYNOLDS 

who returned from the U.S. in recent 

years is promoting the Comhaltas 

movement in Shrule, Co. Mayo. He is 

chairman of the Mayo Co. Board and is 

a newly elected Connacht delegate to 

the Ard-Chomhairle. While in the U.S. 

Jack was Editor of the "Hibernian 

Digest" • • MARGARET CLIFFE, 

Secretary of the Ballymacarbery Branch, 

was engaged recently.. One 

persistent suggestion that is coming to 

the fore is a Concert Tour of Ireland in 

aid of the Culturlann Fund • • Two 

provincial Chairmen were included in the 

1978 Concert Tour of Britain - DONAL 

DE BARRA, Munster, and Tour Manager 

JOHN McCRACKEN of Ulster • • of 

• • •• ITV's film on the 

Fleadh Nua was an entry in the Golden 

Harp competition hosted by RTE. 

It is understood ihat the British-based 

network was expected to feature a 

subject in their own country. RTE would 

be eligible to use the Fleadh Nua as a 

subject • • PEADAR FINN of 

Preston is the new Vice-Chairman of the 

Council of Britain. Formerly of 

Roscommon Peadar was a member of the 

Comhaltas visit to Libya. He replaces 

POL 0 RIAIN of Crewe who did not seek 

re~lection. Pol did trojan work promoting 

Comhaltas in Britain ••• • 

• • •• DIARMAID 0 CA THAIN 

Lixnaw, Co. Kerry, has resigned from the 

staff of Comhaltas. He held the post of 

Priomh-Reachtaire and his dedication to 

the cultural movement was very much 

admired • • •• Flautist MATT 

MOLLOY is recovering from his recent 

illness and his many friends wish him a 

speedy recovery to the traditional 

music scene • • Another visitor to 

28 

Culturlann na hEireann was the Minister 

for Education, Mr. JOHN WILSON, 

T.D. He attended the launching of the 

TOM PHAIDIN TOM LP. Mrs. Wilson is 

a niece of Tom Phaidin. 

• • • • The 1978 Concert Tour of 

the U.S./Canada is tentatively 

arranged for October 9/3 I and Co 

Ordinator BILL McEVOY reports a 

lively interest fr om potential 

venues • • MARGARET HORAN of 

Drumcollagher, Co. Limerick. is the new 

cook at the CuI turl ann and visiting 

branches and other visitors are assured 

of a tasty meal • • The voluntary 

ladies committee have done an excellent 

job of work at the Culturlann : their dedication 

and commitment have been a 

source of encouragement to all 

connected with this national 

project • • •• Timire Cheoil 

SEAMUS MacMATHUNA has moved 

house from Cork to Dublin 

There is much concern about 

the lack of traditional music on RTE 

television: it is estimated that there has 

been a decrease of nearly 75% in recent 

years, and those who have expressed their 

dissatisfaction at this situation should 

make their views known to RTE, Donnybrook 

Dublin 4 • • Among the bands 

to perform at this year's Fleadh Nua will 

be the Long Ridge under the leadership 

of JOHN BRADY: the Long Ridge, of 

course, won the 1977 All-Irehind 

championship. • The ever-popular 

LIVERPOOL Ceili Band will also make a 

return visit, as will the TULLA and 

CEOLTOIRI LUlMNI •••• A 

presen tation will be made to 

SALBHEASTAR MacCONNMHAIGH, 

Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary, in 

recognition of his service to Comhaltas 

•• BREANDAN FEIRITEIR, 

former Munster Chairman, is the new 

P.R.O. in Kerry. Breandan's wife, Treasa, 

is the Runai Chontae • • Dublin Co. 

Board has a new chairman in the person 

of AN BR. O. CASAIDE who was a 

delegate to the Ard-Chomhairle for 

1977 /78. The new Runai is MICHEAL 

o GRIOFA •• Bord na Gaeilge has 

made. a grant in excess of £3 ,000 available 

to the Ard-Scoil Ris Branch (Dublin) 

of Comhaltas for the implementation of 

their excellent programme of 

work harps, fiddles, whistles, 

accordeons, bodhrans, are all available 

from the Culturlann, as are the new 

attractive Comhaltas key-rings •• A 

limited number of bound volumes of 

TREOIR are available, and while speaking 

of Treoir, articles, photos and stories are 

welcome • • Funds are urgently 

required to complete the Culturlann 

project (interim stage): individuals and 

branches are urged to extend their 

support • • 1979 is the centenary of 

the birth of P ADRAIG PEARSE, and 

Comhaltas units are reminded to arrange 

a suitable cultural commemmoration 

of this great man - patriot, scholar, poet. 

BUIOCHAS 

The Editor of TREOIR wishes to 

express sincere thanks to the "Irish Press" 

and journalists Tomas MacRuairi and 

Laurence Kilday for their articles used in 

previous issues. 

Ow thanks also to the "Irish Post", 

"Leinster Express", "Fann Week", 

"Connacht Tribune", "Western People", 

Caoimhin MacAodha, E.P. Sherry, and all 

ow regular contributors. Go raibh mile 

maith agaibh uilig.

~~~~ 

LITREACHA 

"Lister House", 

6 St, Andrew's Street, 

Blackburn BB 1 8AE 

It was with great pleasure and not a 

little pride that my wife and I heard 

over Radio Eireann of Josie McDermott's 

recent success. His must surely be the 

classic lesson of the ability . to triumph 

over adversity. And what a triumph his 

story has been. 

I felt that I knew Josie even before 

I had the pleasure of actually meeting 

him. My late in-laws extolled the virtues 

of this highly talented gentleman so 

vividly that I felt that they must be 

exaggerating just a little! How wrong I 

was .. 

It is only a short time ago during one 

of our many visits to the Boyle area that 

we were privileged to have a 'private' 

hearing of Josie's wonderful flute playing. 

All in that room sat enthralled as the 

music flowed, seemingly effortlessly .. . 

the hall-mark of genius. It is an evening 

we shall nevet forget. 

It appears that his talents have no 

boundaries and give the appearance that 

they arrive as if by magic. But, of course, 

they don't. They must surely come by 

hard and diligent work, and that deep 

conviction to succeed evenin the face of 

visual loss. 

We shall now await further success to 

flow from J osie ...... and I'll wager we 

won't have to wait long. 

D. M. SOMERVILLE. 

MICHAEL HORAN 

It is often the case that great men are 

neither recognised nor appreciated properly 

until they have departed this life. 

Although Mikie Horan was loved, respected 

and widely known throughout 

West Limerick, it is only since his sad 

passing we have realised the great asset 

he was to the community life of Teampall 

a'Ghleanntain. 

He was one of the founder members 

of the local Comhaltas Craobh which 

came into existence in November 1971. 

He served as its Leas-Cathaoirleach for 

a number of years but he much preferred 

to play his part in the propagation of 

Irish music and dance from behind the 

scenes. He had a great love for his native 

Parish, for its music, dance, folklore , 

history, songs and pastimes and he was 

a tireless worker in the promotion of 

these aspects of our culture. 

He acquired his great love of traditional 

music from his mother Maenie Dee 

who played the fiddle , melodeon and 

concertina. But Mikie was much better 

known for his dancing skills. He attended 

the local dancing schools in his young 

days. These were held in local houses 

all during the winter months, and Mikie 

picked up many dances which he retained 

in his head until the end. Two of these 

dances, "Hurry the Jug" and the "Jig 

Set" had not been danced in the locality 

for forty years until revived by Mikie a 

number of years ago. But there were 

many other dances which he took to the 

grave with him because we all thought 

that Mikie being such an active pensioner 

there were many more years left for 

reviving and recording these rare and 

ancient Irish dances. Ach ni mar a siltear 

a bitear; sciobadh uainn e gan coinne. 

Mikie had a vast knowledge also of 

local folklore which he had heard from 

his mother and from neighbours who discussed 

it round the fire in winter time. He 

took a special interest in old stories and 

he could name for you the great storytellers 

of the locality over the past 

hundred years. He was considered an 

expert on folk cures of the area. 

There was certainly a note of sadness 

at the local Comhaltas A.G.M. on 

October 23rd. The staunch supporter of 

Cornhaltas, the man who was present at 

every Craobh event, was missing his first 

A.G.M. since the foundation of the 

Craobh. Ni bheidh a leitheid in ar measc 

aris : i bhFlaitheas De go raibh a anam 

Gaelach. 

T.O'M. 

Michael Horan pictured with an tAth. 0 

Fiannachtl at "OUscoil Scante" 1976. 

LIXNAW COMHALTAS WRENBOYS 

LlXNAW COMHALTAS WRENBOYS at the 

recent annual Dinnear of the Lixnaw Branch at 

the Manhattan Hotel, Tralee, with Chairlady - 

Hanna O'ConneU presenting a cheque for £200 

to Co. Board Cathaoirleach - Seamus 0 

Conchubhair. 

Seated L. to R. Nora Falvey, Rosaleen 

Collins Kitty Lenihan and Denis Lenihan. 

Stan~g - Sonny Keane, Diarmuid 0 Cathain, 

Seamus 0 Conchubhair, Hanna O'ConneU, 

Eamonn 0 h-Argain and Danny O'ConneU. 

Absent from photograph: Bemie O'ConneU, 

Kathleen Scott, Ian Scott and Michael Guirin. 

26

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 

For an annual subscription of only 

£1.50 you will receive 6 copies of 

TREOIR (post free). 

An Annual Subscription in the U.S. 

is $ 5 .00 and applications should be made 

to John P. Ryan, 29 Beaumont Place, 

Newark, New Jersey, 07104. 

LEICESTER'S NEW BASE 

Since it was formed less than two years 

ago , the Leicester branch of Comhaltas 

has had a constant problem - lack 

of space to accommodate its evergrowing 

membership and range of 

activities, writes BRENDAN FARRELL. 

But this is the sort of problem which 

any organisation would welcome. It's 

the stamp of success. 

Now, however, the branch has a new 

base - St. Patrick's Club, right in the 

heart of Leicester. It's the perfect venue. 

Weekly sessions take place every Monday 

evening in the main concert room. 

There are also all of the usual club 

facilities . 

In another room the branch has 

tuition - provided by energetic Northampton-based 

Fergus McTaggart. He has 

no shortage of eager young pupils. 

The branch has also attracted the 

participation of the various Irish dancing 

schools in the Leicester area and those 

Monday evening sessions are something 

to be experienced. I certainly recommend 

them to anybody within driving range of 

Leicester who wants an up-lifting real 

Irish evening. 

Let me add, too, that Fergus 

McTaggart has an open door policy for 

oilier children requiring tuition. 

The branch hosted the Comhaltas 

touring concert on February 14. 

On June 25 , Leicester will host the 

all-Britain fleadh - so it's quite a year 

for the branch. 

For more details on all Comhaltas 

events in Leicester, telephone Rosaleen 

Duddy at Leicester 359354. 

24 

Ainm: 

Seoladh: 

Amount enclosed: 

To: Treoir, 32 Cearnog Belgrave, Baile 

na Manach, Co. Atha Cliath. 

AN OIGE IN MUILEANN 

GHEARR 

Im make no apology when I say that one 

of the most important and beneficial 

"sessions" took place in the Greville 

Arm's Hotel recently. I refer of course, 

to the Junior Ceili which was sponsored 

and organised by the Mullingar Branch 

of C.C.E. 

Mullingar, though short of talent 

in the senior section of Comhaltas, has 

an abundance of talent in the Junior 

Ranks and it stands as a model to the 

rest of the county. The hard work done 

by Mrs K. Mullally and Mrs Mullen with 

their respective students in the past 

years, came very much to the fore , with 

the music and dancing at a very high 

standard. 

Martin Farrell (Castlepollard) gave an 

exhibition of dancing as did the Cunningham 

children, all were loudly applauded. 

Mrs Nancy Mulligan, chairperson, 

Mullingar Branch C.C.E. thanked all who 

helped to make the gathering such a 

successful and memorable event, especially 

Mrs K Mullaly, Mrs Mullen, Mrs Nolan, 

James Keane, Willie Byme, Michael 

O'Reilly and all the ladies who prepared 

sandwiches and helped with the tea and 

refreshments. Music was supplied by the 

Daly Family, Sean, Joe, Ann and Father 

John. 

I can recommend this band for any 

Ceili, be it junior or senior, as their music 

was magnificent and most pleasant to the 

ear. 

Pat Smith, chairman, Westmeath 

County Board C.C.E. was also in attendance 

and praised the Mullingar Branch 

committee for having such a large attendance 

of junior members and remarked 

on the fact that the future of Irish culture 

and folklore will be secure and flourishing 

with so much enthusiasm among the 

youth. 

DEMAND FOR CLASSES 

IN WESTMEATH 

The Westmeath County Board Secretary 

Mrs Katherine Mullally, in her annual 

report advocated: Co-operation, increased 

membership, regular sessions and classes 

where possible. Ceilidhte and a genuine 

expansion of the aims of Comhaltas 

were detailed in the County Secretary's 

Annual Report. 

A heartening aspect is the increase in 

junior membership. We had eight 

branches, Moate, Mullingar, Delvin, Clonmellon, 

Castletown-Geo., St Mary's 

Athlone, Rathconrath and Walderstown: 

Classes, weekly sessions and ceili practices 

were well organised. 

There is a great demand for classes 

throughout the county. My knowledge of 

other counties varies from ours. The 

C.E.O. asks branches to recommend a 

traditional teacher and that's it. Westmeath 

has one teacher acceptable to the 

C.E.O., and he takes classes under Offaly, 

Roscommon Vocational Schools and the 

limited ones in Westmeath, and does his 

day's work - no human could cope. 

There must be some redress to such procedure 

The promotion of our culture 

is more vital than ever before and the 

dedicated are ensuring the continued 

survival of our heritage. 

I am genuinely happy with the present 

state of Comhaltas in Westmeath and 

hope for more branches. I would suggest 

branches hold regular seminars anQ one 

for officers would be beneficial. 

The branches I was privileged to visit 

for the A.G.M. revealed wonderful team 

work and co-operation - programme 

planning well in hand and meetings were 

good and lively. 

Congratulations to Mullingar for running 

the 1977 elimination contests. 

Thanks to the Westmeath Examiner for 

good coverage of any data given, to the 

Greville Arms for facilitating us with 

venues for meetings and activities; to 

branch secretaries anu children attending 

classes, also their parents; to our vicechairperson, 

Mrs Mulligan, who carried 

on since the regrettable resignation of 

Mrs C Byrne, chairman, Clonrnellon 

C.C.E.; and to the Treasurer, Mr Seamus 

Keane, Delvin C.C.E.

FOLKLORE DE L'ANJOU. 

L' Angevincia" vieille dans de I' Anjou. 

Fait vitevolteer robes moirees et jupons blancs 

la "Brise d'Anjou" dans le cadre du chateau du 

Plessis-Bourre. 

UACI!TARftN NUA CHOMHDHAIL 

NAISIUNTA NA GAEILGE 

Ta Maire Bean U( Ghogain ceaptha 

mar Uachtaran ar Chomhdhail Naisiunta 

na Gaeilge , comhdhml na n-eagras deon 

acha Gaeilge . Is (an che'ad bhean a bhl 

mar uachtaran ar an eagralrlcht 

sin a deir raiteas bn ~Comhdhail. 

Rugadh Bean U1 Ghogain sa Charraig 

Dhubh, Co. Bhaile Atha Cliath, ach 

chaith s( an mhorchuid da saol i gceantar 

na teorann i mBaile na Lorgan, Pettigo 

agus Dun Dealgan. 

Bhlbaint aici le Gluaiseacht na Gaeilge 

bn bhliain 1935 i leith. Bhls( mar bharl 

de chraobhacha Chonradh na Gaeilge i 

nDun Laoghaire agus sa Charraig Dhubh 

i dtus a saoil. Bhl s( mar bhunaitheoir 

ar An Realt i nDU'n Laoghaire agus mar 

c h ea ""d uac h tar an "" ar an eagrruoc .... h t sm . 1 . 

1945. 

. "" ..... ;,. ,. 

Churugh SI chun cona1 1 nDun Dealgan 

i 1956 agus choinnigh slan bhaint a bhl 

aici le is an gConradh 

i gconaCBhls(ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirt 

Chlub na gCailinl ansin. Thog s( prurt 

ghnlomhach sa bhfeachtas - "Let the 

Language Live" i 1966 agus on bhliain 

1969 ar aghaidh bhl baint mhor aici 

le Eigse Oirialla - daonscoil deireadh 

22 

seachtaine a tionoltar gach dara bliain 

"" ,. ~ 

agus ag a ndeantar comoradh ar scnohneoir 

no me eigin mar le r~ trena chuid 

saothair a athfhoilshl agus leacht 

cuimhneachain a thogain t dO'. 

On bhliain 1974 ar aghaidh, ta s( mar 

Uachtaran ar Chomhaltas Uladh - comhdh~ 

na gcraobhacha de Chonradh na 

Gaeilge i gCU1.ge Uladh, agus bh( s( mar 

ionadal acu ar Choiste Ghno an Chonradh. 

Ta' s( mar bhall de Chomhdhrul 

NmsiU'nta na Gaeilge on bhliain 1974 

i leith. 

Ta Bean U( Ghogain pasta le seisear 

clainne agus is fan Ghaeilge a bhl mar 

theanga bhaile ag an teaghlach i gc6nal. 

Famille de l'Anjou. Costume masculine du Val 

de Loire. 

Costumes et coiffes des Ponts de ce et Chalonnes. 

La "Brise d'Anjou" dans le cadre du chateau 

du Plessis-Bourre. 

MAURICE DELANEY 

At the funeral of the late Maurice 

Delaney in Adamstown Cemetery, Mick 

Quigley, on behalf of the Dungeer 

Mummers, laid a wreath on the grave. 

Leo Carty, who won an international 

award with Dungeer Mummers in 166, in 

a graveside tribute, said Maurice Delaney 

was one of the great characters of our 

time who believed in the simple things 

of life. He played traditional music not 

for gain but for the real love of it. 

When Cornhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann was 

established in Co. Wexford, Maurice was 

one of the first to answer the call and he 

afterwards helped Cloughbawn to All 

Ireland Cornhaltas scoraiocht honours in 

1966 

His musical contribution helped 

Dungeer Mummers attain international 

fame . It was Fr. Peyton who said families 

who pray together stay together. This 

quotation could also be attributed to 

Maurice because wherever he travelled 

with the mummers he always saw to it 

that the Rosary was recited every night. 

Leo Carty extended sympathy to his 

widow and family.

MUSIC AND THE MEDIA 

By CAOIMHIN MacAODHA 

Traditional music is undoubtedly one of 

our greatest natural and cultural 

resources. Throughout the world there is 

no other musical form quite like it. In 

fact the vast number of our native dance 

tunes are in what are called model keys, 

that is to say , keys which differ from the 

modern "do, re , me" type of western 

keys. The history of musical scales 

indicates that model scales were in use 

long ago and were for the most part 

replaced by the modern western scales, 

thus leading one to conclude that 

many of our tunes, if not the vast 

majority of them are quite old indeed. 

The popularity and world wide 

acclaim for our native music is easily 

demonstrated. Each year many groups 

of traditional musicians are invited to 

play to packed halls from Western 

Australia to the Western United States, 

from Germany to Libya. The tourist 

trade, a commodity which we in the west 

constantly hear a lot about by no means 

suffers from the attractiveness of our 

music. 

This summer, the Ballisodare Folk 

Festival attracted 30,000 people for a 

single weekend. If you were there you 

might have noted the incredible number 

of German, French, Norwegian etc. 

etc. visitors. At the All-Ireland Fleadh 

in Ennis there were an estimated 100,000 

people in attendance. Again a very 

sizeable proportion were foreigners whose 

primary reason for visiting Ireland was to 

hear traditional music. 

With all this interest and budding 

natural talent in abundance throughout 

the country one might easily assume that 

traditional music would receive a fair 

amount of coverage via the various media. 

This, however, is unfortunately very 

untrue. In fact our natural television 

system, namely RTE, broadcasts on 

average 77 hours per week. 

Of those 77 hours a grand total of 

30 minutes or .64% is devoted solely to 

traditional music, and even that one 

show, Fonn, is at the moment rebroadcasts 

of summer shows which are conveniently 

tucked away for Sunday afternoon 

viewing. Besides Fonn there are 

20 

also two other shows which include, 

but do not feature Irish music. They are 

Trom agus Eadrom and a new Friday 

afternoon programme featuring Spiddals 

own Sean Ban, called "SBB ina Shui". 

If you look to your radio for traditional 

music I'm afraid that you are more 

likely to hear "A Bar In Toledo" and 

other such great songs which require the 

intelligence of your average blade 

of grass to appreciate, rather than 

something like "Sean a Duibhir a 

Ghleanna" or else the fourth movement 

of Beethovens ninth rather than "Rakish 

Paddy". 

RTE radio broadcasts on average 113 

hours per week and of that time 2 

hours and 45 minutes are .devoted to 

traditional music, bringing the total ' 

percentage of air time up to a 

glorious 2.43%, and of that total, 30 

minutes is sponsored, in other words, 

someone had to BUY air time from 

RTE to play traditional music. 

With radio, however you do have a 

Paddy Griffin (back row, left) presents a 

plaque to Tom O'Brien, in recognition of his 

services to Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann as 

treasurer of the Tralee branch. Other committee 

choice. For approx. 3~ hours every 

evening you can receive Radio na 

Gaeltachta. They broadcast some very 

good music,much of which is recorded 

especially for them in their studios 

by top performers. It is truely a 

pity that their air time is not 

increased to 8 or even 10 hours per day 

as their shows are usually excellent and 

entertaining. 

As for the coverage of 

traditional music in the newspapers of 

Ireland the standard is even worse than 

that of RTE. Of all the papers, 

both daily and weekly, you are 

reading the only column which deals on 

a weekly basis with the aspects of 

traditional music. It is true that there 

are "Folk" columns which appear weekly 

in the Dublin dailies, however, these 

columns generally deal with announcing 

new LP releases and the playing dates for 

various in artistes. 

Unfortunately they never seem to look 

into the subject itself. 

members pictured include, from left, back row: 

Maire Griffm, Ann Cronin, Michael O'SuUivan 

and John Mason. In front are,MuguetSlattery, 

Mary Ennis, Bridie O'SuUlvan, Leo Griffm, 

Sr. David and Eileen CuUoty.

In our last edition of TREOIR we omitted 

the following monologue from the article 

on Cratloe by Seamus Ruane. So, here 

now is the story of Cratloe's visit to 

Skibereen! 

Remember Skibbereen 

Can I tell you a story Oh! tis no lie, 

Sure it happened in '76 about mid-july, 

For we went to the Munster Fleadh, it 

was held in Skibbereen, 

And I'll tell you something for nothing, 

it was one thundering scream. 

We made our plans and we made a date, 

Cratloe school half-past seven - "don't 

be late". 

Well upon the dot, at Cratloe Cross 

Our troops were reviewed by His 

Excellency - The Boss. 

We hit the trail 

Through the Golden Vale 

And through Cork's own city grand, 

And we reached the Fleadh just in time 

for our trio to take the stand. 

How our gang did cheer when the 

adjudicator did say - 

Cratloe sticks at secofid place, 

Well that was it, our tails were up, 

Come on The Banner! 

Our solo then and our Ceili Band, did 

their stuff in no uncertain manner 

And raised again our colours, 

With first and second honours. 

How we clapped and how we cheered, 

it really was some scene , 

The day that Cratloe won at the Fleadh 

in Skibbereen. 

Our competitions over, sure we though 

we were in clover 

And as day into night did yield, 

We pitched our tents in a farmer's field , 

It was then our noble cooks opened up 

their canteen, 

On the outskirts of down-town Skibbereen. 

What did we have, did you say Well what 

did we not! 

We had chicken and ham and slices of 

lamb, 

And, I think - raspberry jam, 

And soup in bowls with buttered ro11s 

Absolutely delicious. 

But sure, table dote, and a la carte, 

Don't hold a candle to home-made 

soup and rhubarb tart, 

We sang and played, and chatted and 

joked, for we - 

18 

- We Who was there did you say 

Well who was not! 

We had two Thornburys for a start, 

Of course we loved them. they brought 

apple tart, 

We had Ben and Mrs. Neylon, 

Anne-Marie and Mary Deegan, 

A family of Keohanes 

And four of the Ruanes, 

From Newmarket-on-Fergus 

Oh! the Liddy'~ came in earnest, 

We had McInerney's from the top of 

Gallow's Hill, 

And two Dillons, absolutely fantastic 

on the tin whistle , 

And teacher in a Mini, ah! Miss Woods be 

the holy, 

Plus a Harney and a Hickey and a Foley, 

And not forgetting a Pat & Noel a 

Chrissie Keane, 

Were all with us when we camped at the 

Fleadh in Skibbereen. 

And later on when some decided to 

retire, 

And others sat for a final cup around 

Keohane's gas fire, 

An anxious mother whispered, did I 

hear someone screaming, 

Yerra 'no' said Danny Liddy 'tis only 

Keanes kettle steaming! 

Well, that's my story such as it is, 

But it is to be hoped that the adults 

who numbered nine, 

And the kids, a total of sixteen, 

Will for many a day to come - 

REMEMBER SKIBBEREEN. 

PROGRESS IN BALLYMACBERY 

Ballymacarbery Branch of Comhaltas has 

been making steady progress and has 

achieved some excellent results since its 

foundation, writes Ena Doocey of Waterford. 

Members of the branch visited 

Culturlann na hEireann and were 

accorded a cead mile failte. Following 

the luncheon, we were taken on a most 

enjoyable tour of the Culturlann and then 

down to "Geantrai" where it was music, 

song and dance for all. The group was 

veryimpressed with the Culturlann. 

At tne AGM of the Ballymacarbey 

Branch the following officers were 

elected : presidents - Thomas Ahearn 

and Patrick Ormonde; Chairman - 

Pat rick Halpin ; Vice-Chairman - Kathleen 

Fenton; Secretary - Margaret Cliffe; 

Treasurer - Ena Doocey; Auditor - Mrs 

C O'Brien ; Delegates to Co. Board - 

Margaret Cliffe and Michael Ryan; 

Committee - Michael Ryan, Patrick 

Melody, Ann Ryan, James O'Brien, Mrs 

Cliffe , Mrs Hyland, Mrs Sullivan, Mrs 

Moore and John Power. 

Our photo shows some members of 

the branch at the Culturlann. 

Members of Ballymacarbery C.C.E. Co. Waterford, 

who visited the Culturlann on 22nd 

October 1977. Back row: Mrs. Cliffe, Mrs 

Hyland, Mrs Fenton, Mrs. Halpin, Mrs. Ormond, 

Margaret Clitle. Front row: Mrs. Sullivan, 

Kathleen Cliffe, Paddy Halpin, (chairman) Eva 

Doocey.

THEY CROSSED 

THE IRISH SEA 

By Barbara Callaghan. 

Granada T.V. studio was the scene. Tony's 

banjo was broken. What were they to do 

It would take too long to repair. Marion 

Flannery, flute, whistle, accordeon player 

and music teacher of St. WilfridsComhaltas 

Branch in Manchester, slept unconcerned 

for three hours during rehersals. She was 

accustomed to the minor mishaps. Kevin 

Barnard, guitar player and third member 

of Tony Sullivans group, paced up and 

down. The group had been "discovered" 

by the well known T.V. producer Trevor 

Hyett. He had seen them involved in a 

session in Manchester. He was so impressed 

with the excitement and intensity of 

traditional Irish music that he invited them 

to make history and present this fine 

music for the first time on Granada T.V. 

After frantic appeals, the day was saved. 

Tony and his finacee Marion, who are 

hoping to be married in '78, have since 

appeared on another T.V. programme. 

They leave a great and lasting impact 

where ever they play. But I'd better 

start at the beginning. 

Tony Sullivan, better known to his 

friends as Sully, is a quiet, unassuming 

young man, born and bred in the Lancashire 

town of Bolton. A town more 

noted for it's mills and factories than for 

music. With grandparents from Cork and 

Co. Down, and a mother who simg he 

should have known sooner· where his 

musical satisfaction would come. His 

search for this took him on many a wild 

goose chase, through various instruments 

and tours of Bolton and surrounding 

districts. The folk clubs and pubs were his 

stomping grounds. He found other music 

bland until he stumbled on to the traditional 

'Irish music scene and a pre war 

banjo. 

He crossed the Irish sea to learn a lot 

under the able eye of John Keenan of 

Dublin with whom he stayed a while. He 

spent every summer since the age of 16 

in Ireland. He pursued the sessions and 

hunted down the talented players·, 

picking up tunes and tips where ever 

he could. He attributes much of his 

skills to the patience and expertise of 

Dr. Galligan of Cavan, a founder member 

of Comhaltas and great musician. He 

studied the . various styles and holds much 

admiration for Bobby Casey, the late 

16 

Denis Murphy and Tommy Peoples, to 

name but a few. He spent 3 years in 

London where he gained a degree in 

Geography and naturally took an active 

interest in the famous London/Irish 

traditional music scene. 

Sully, All-Ireland champion banjo 

player, didn't seem too keen to tell me 

about himself; he was more interested in 

saying how grateful he was to the many 

big hearted people who had helped him 

along the road to success. He recounted 

to me about Kevin's mother's friend, Mrs. 

Margaret Reilly, a beautiful traditional 

singer from Cavan, of Dr. Galligan, Paddy 

O'Brien of Dublin and many many more. 

The list was endless. He told me tales of 

the sessions both here and in Ireland and 

about the night they really brought the 

roof down. 

It was in Maloneys, Listowel, at the 

'74 Fleadh. A marathon session was 

under way. Joe Burke was in great form 

with the late Denis Murphy and the 

crowd from Manchester. They played as 

if the night had no end as the rain lashed 

mercilessly down. A sudden gale blew up, 

taking the roof skylight in its wake. Water 

cascaded down and spilled ruthlessly all 

over the musicians as they played merrily 

away . A local farmer, popularly known as 

the "King of Doolin" was not undaunted 

by the deluge and lay re-cuperating from 

his lack of sleep on a bench under the 

protection of an umbrella. 

Sully often played till 6 in the morning 

with the late beloved fiddler Des· . 

Donnelly in a famous Manchester pub, 

the legendary Exiles of Erin, now sadly 

demolished. No doubt that venue will be 

well remembered by the Dubliners, the 

Furey Bros., Joe Burke and numerous 

other splendid muscians. 

Sully's time is well filled musically. He 

teaches with Marion at St. Wilfrids a 

really progressive Branch, and hopes to 

continue with his music professionally. 

He has already composed some fifty five 

tunes, no mean feat by anyones standards. 

My favourite one being The Arkle Mountain 

Reel which is already well known, 

recognised and played by the likes of 

Tommy Peoples etc. 

Marion Flannery, as I remarked 

earlier, is an accomplished musIcian on 

many instruments. Her greatest love being 

the under-rated simple tin whistle. A 

humble looking instrument but unashameably 

embracing a vast wealth of spirited 

music in her nimble fingers. Dedicated to 

Comhaltas and actively involved with 

about fifty children at St. Wilfrids, she 

has quietly, and not surprisingly, inspired 

some of the adults to "have a go". 

Born in a Sligo cottage, a next door 

neighbour to Deirdre Collis, she admits 

that her interest in traditional Irish music 

has been revived since she crossed the Irish 

Sea and came to live in the vastly different 

environment of Manchester City. She 

finds gratification in her very essential 

occupation as Social Worker for the 

Catholic Rescue Society. Her free time is 

completely absorbed in traditional 'Irish 

music evenings with Sully. 

Marion and Sully have a promising 

future ahead of them, travelling.extensively 

all over the Country. The fruits of 

their labours at St. Wilfrids Comhaltas are 

already showing. The children under their 

wings have recently proudly claimed the 

coveted Coventry Cup and one of their 

three bands, the 14 -16 years, won the 

All-Britain Ceili Band Competition. 

Good luck, good health and a wealth 

of musical happiness to them both. They 

crossed the Irish Sea in opposite directions 

to find a mutual love for the music. An 

English youth to Ireland, an Irish girl to 

England. There must be a message in 

there somewhere 

TONY SULLIY AN 

Marian Flannery (photo courtesy of C.P. 

Madden).

cfibair Amhrall 

THE BOYS OF MULLAGHBA WN 

On a Monday morning early as my wandering steps did take me 

Down by a fanner's station of meadow and green lawn, 

lheard a great lamentation that the wee birds they were making 

Saying 'We'll have no more engagements with the boys of Mullaghbawn. 

Squire Jackson was unequalled for honour and for reason 

He never turned a traitor nor betrayed the rights of man, 

But now we are in danger from a vile, deceiving stranger 

Who has ordered transportation for the boys of Mullaghbawn. 

For roving and for rambling, for sporting and for gambling, 

There was none could equal Francheen, young Neil or gallant John 

But harsh, oppressive landlords, most curelly they pave acted 

And sent our boys in transport from the hills of Mullaghbawn. 

As those heroes crossed the ocean I'm told the ship in motion 

Did start in wild commotion, as if the seas ran dry, 

The trout and salmon- gaping, as the cuckoo left his station 

Saying 'Farewell to dear old Erin and the hills of Mullaghbawn' 

Now to end my lamentation, we are all in consternation 

For want of education I now must end my song. 

Since without justification or due consideration 

They were sent for transportation from the hills of Mullaghbawn. 

A Choimln mhallaithe, guidhim-se deachair ort agus gram Mhic De 

Ar an ghasr(a) lid ta ceangailte go dluth led' thaobh 

Mar 'siad a dhearbhaigh na leabhartha ar a' dtiur bhfear seimh 

'S do chuir na Connerys thar na farraigibh do dtls na New South Wales. 

An te bheadh 'na sheashamh ann is a dheanfuadh mactnamh ar ar gcuis da phie 

Mar do sheasaigh SI

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The Brindle Puck Goat 

Mick Kane, from Lacken, Rosenallis, is 

a poet with an unusual talent - he 

composes dittys and refrains on local 

happenings which are highly emotional 

and picturesque. 

His method of work is choosing an 

air and then putting the words to it. 

He has been doing this since he was 

twelve years of age and never got 

musical tuition. Mick also plays the 

accordion and is associated with the 

Clonaslee branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri 

Eireann. 

When he is asked to sing he is always 

asked to sing one of his own compositions. 

People never like to hear him sing 

any of the modern ballads. So far Mick 

has made about eleven or twelve songs 

about different things. 

One of the funniest songs he - has 

composed was about the time he went 

to the summer fair in Mountmellick in 

1964. Mick was bringing cattle to the fair 

when he saw this brindle puck goat, 

which he decided he was going to buy. 

He went to Larry Hogan, the owner, and 

offered him £1 . 

Larry said it would cost twenty two 

shillings as there was a few words of 

advice to be given with the goat. Mick 

gave the twenty two shillings and the 

words of advice were that the goat liked 

to wander on the mountains whenever 

he got the chance. 

Mick's story goes on: "I got the goat 

by the horns and was heading home. Just 

as we were leaving Mountmellick the 

goat gave a jump and twisted out of my 

grasp, so I jumped on the goat's back and 

held onto his hair. Both of us went hell 

for leather towards Rosenallis and when 

we reached Craze Hill the goat stopped. 

I was afraid to get off in case it ran away 

so I slept on his back all night. 

"In the morning we headed for 

Clomislee. When we reached Tinnahinch 

Bridge we met a traveller and the goat 

ripped off his coat. The traveller began to 

shout for help and this frightened the 

goat and it made for the mountains. I 

14 

fell off his back but managed to grab hold 

of his tail. 

"Up we went to the strand beside the 

River Barrow, across Denis Feirighy's 

pastures, past Packy Dunne's house on 

the top of the mountain and flew past 

Owen Clear. When we reached Upper 

Cone, there was a water fall and the goat 

swam it like a tadpole. We never stopped 

until we got to Roscrea where sadly the 

goat got away. 

"From that day to this, I have not 

seen sight nor light of the puck goat 

but t have two theories, as to its whereabouts 

; one, it found its way back to 

Larry Hogan, the owner, or the other 

that it found its way back to the mountain, 

where its ancestors still roam." 

- "Leinster Express". 

KILKENNY 

FEILE CHEOIL 

August 12/13, 1978 

Jim McCauley of Kilkenny reminds us 

that the above-mentioned Feile Cheoil 

will be organised by the Kilkenny Branch 

of Comhaltas in St. Kieran's College and 

will consist of: 

(a) Competitions in all Comhaltas 

Instruments for all age groups. 

(b) Competitions in Irish Dancing. 

(c) Music Session on Sat. Night 12th 

August. 

(d) Prize-winners Concert on Sun. 

night 13th August. 

Accommodation: 

(a) Rooms for the various competitions. 

(b) Rooms for individuals or groups 

to have refreshments which they 

may bring with them. 

(c) A Restaurant where refreshments 

will be on sale. 

e d) Rooms where musicians may meet 

and play music. 

(e) Overnight accommodation (Bed & 

(Breakfast) at moderate cost. 

In his own words Jim McCauley tells us 

the purpose of the Feile Cheoil: - 

(a) Many of our traditional musicians 

from Britain and America take their 

holidays in August. Our FEILE CHEO IL 

is intended to offer them a 'platform' 

on which they may display their 

musical talent while they are waiting 

to go to the All-Ireland FLEADH 

CHEOIL. 

(b) The date and venue of our FEILE 

CHEOIL will, we hope, fill a 'lacuna' 

in Comhaltas activities leading up to 

the All-Ireland FLEADH CHEOIL. 

(c) The historic city of Kilkenny is a 

'Mecca' for our tourists. Very many of 

them came looking for Irish Cultural 

activities which are truly traditional. 

Our FEILE CHEOIL is intended to 

satisfy such a demand. 

All Enquiries to: 

Mr. Jim McCauley, 

"W oodpark", 

Great Oak, 

Callan, Co. Kilkenny. TeI. 056 - 25162. 

Or 

Mr. Peter McCauley, 

6 Radnor Gardens, 

Enfield, 

Middlesex, England. 

TeI. London 353-1726.

"CEOLTOIRI CRAOBH NA hINSE" 

Front L to R: Dinny McLaughlin, Anne Maire 

Doherty, Seamus McLaughlin, Michael Carey, 

Teresa Doherty. Back L to R: Oran McBride, 

Noleen Doherty, Phillip Doherty, Jirnrny 

McBride, Jirnrny McCay, Ciaran Tornish, Peter 

Carey. 

The O'Oowd Family frorn Ard na Crusha, Co. 

Clare, playing at Craobh na hInse dinner and 

Siamsa in BaUyliffin. 

12 

A MEMORABLE NIGHT 

AT CRAOB NA hlNSE 

The function room of the Ballyliffin 

Hotel was packed to capacity for the 

Annual Dinner and Siamsa organised 

by Craobh na hlnse (Buncrana). 

The record turnout of over 300 

members, friends and guests enjoyed 

the sumptuous dinner - a good beginning 

to what was to be an unforgettable 'night 

of music, song and dance. 

Seamus J McBride, Craobh Chairman, 

in his address welcomed all present. He 

spoke an apology from Labhras Vas 0 

Murchu, director-general of Comhaltas, 

for his inability to attend, but he conveyed 

his good wishes to all and hoped 

that the function would be a great 

success. 

The chairman then welcomed the 

special guests for the night - Mairtin 

Vas. MacCaba, president of Comhaltas, 

and Mrs MacCaba (who is also secretary 

of the Ulster Council); the special guest 

mUSICIans Jim McKillop from 

Carnlough in Co. Antrim, the 1976 All 

Ireland fiddle champion, and Mrs Mc 

Killop ; the O'Dowd Family, all the way 

from Ard-na-Crusha in Co. Clare, (they, 

of course, had special connections with 

Craobh na hlnse for it was while living 

in Buncrana some years ago that this 

talented trio first took an interest in 

traditional music and were then tutored 

by Dinny McLaughlin); and last- but by 

no means least Prionnsias 0 Maonaigh 

agus Ceoltoiri Altain from Gaoth 

Dobhair. 

Paddy Rice, chairman Co. Derry 

Comhaltas and Clement MacSuibhne, 

Secretary Co. Donegal Comhaltas, were 

welcome visitors. The Chairman welcomed 

members of Comhaltas from 

various branches in Donegal, and a special 

welcome for those who came from 

Counties Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. 

He thanked Feardorcha 0 Colla and Pol 

o Gallchoir from Radio na Gaeltachta 

who travelled so far to record the session

greenkeeper for Ballymoney bowling club. 

It is important that the contribution 

of men like loe Holmes to the folk culture 

of this country should be put on record: 

He will be remembered. 

The "Irish News" of Ianuary 7 said of 

Ioe Holmes: "He was one of Ireland's 

finest traditional singers who came from a 

family of singers and musicians. Both his 

grandfather and elder brother were 

fiddlers. His mother, lane Getty, was also 

a very fine traditional singer and it was 

from her that Ioe got a lot of his song. 

"On leaving school at 14 years of age 

Ioe worked in. various jobs until he met 

Len Graham 13 years ago and struck up 

one of the greatest traditional 

partnerships in the country. 

"Since the time that they met Ioe and 

Len have won the hearts of many an 

audience with their expert way of singing 

and lilting. As Tommy Sands said last 

night, Ioe Holmes was the epitomy of 

warmth and friendliness in Irish music." 

Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam uasal. 

AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO 

SPREAD JOY 

By Caoimhin Mac Aodha 

Ioe Holmes from around Ballymena, Co. 

Antrim, died the other week .. He was a 

man who was continually surrounded by 

friends as he was very fortunate indeed to 

have never known the meaning or 

definition of the word enemy. He was a 

harmless man who had the uncanny 

ability to spread joy and happiness to all 

who met him. Ioe Holmes, traditional 

singer and fiddler, will be sorely missed 

by all who met him or heard his music 

and songs. The world of traditional 

Irish music is somewhat poorer as a result 

of his passing away. 

I had a great chat with Ioe only a few 

days before he passed away. We were at a 

session together in Bellaghy, Co. Derry 

As usual Ioe was in great form. He was 

asked to sing and complied by rendering 

two unusual settings of otherwise wellknown 

Antrim songs. Later he sat down 

and played the fiddle non-stop for two 

and a half hours. After that I found him 

in a small room in the back of the hall. 

He was supposed to be getting a cup of 

tea; however this was all to no avail as 

there was no time between his endless 

string of songs. No sooner had he finished 

a song when he'd start another. Sadly, yet 

appropriately enough he sang a song of 

farewell which included a salute of love 

10 

and friendship to all of his acquaintance. 

little did we know then and there that 

this bright sparkling gem would soon be 

taken from us. 

Ioe Holmes was a great man and 

a fine musician and singer. His music has 

spread throughout this entire island. 

While we were together he insisted 

that upon my return to Galway I must 

personally call upon the Keane family 

of Caherlistrane and extend his best 

wishes as there were many the happy 

GLOR NA nGAEL 

Glor na NGael is a competition held 

annually to discover the town which has 

done most to promote and encourage the 

use of Irish in its everyday life. It was 

inaugurated in 1961 under the auspices 

of Cum ann na Sagart, the society of lrishspeaking 

priests. Glor na nGael has as its 

patrons president Padraig S. 0 hlrghile 

and Archbishop Tomas 0 Fiaich. Who 

may enter A town may be entered in 

the competition by the Local Authority, 

a development association, a branch of a 

language organisation or any other 

national body or even by a specially 

formed local committee. All entrants are, 

however, encouraged to base their efforts 

on as wide a section of the community 

as possible. 

There are different sections in the Glor 

na nGael competition for towns of varying 

popUlation, for suburbs of cities and 

for Gaeltacht areas. Prizes are awarded 

in each section and the total prize-fund is 

in the region of £4,000. The Glor na 

nGael trophy is awarded to town with 

highest overall marks. 

Special prizes are awarded for 

different aspects of the work. In the 

1977 /78 competition special prizes will 

be awarded to: 

1. £1,00 to the winner of the Glor 

na nGael trophy. 

2. £250 to the best entry from the 

Gaeltacht (This prize has been made 

available by Gaeltarra Eireann). 

£100 each to: 

3 The best entry from the six county 

area. 

4. The best new entry. 

5. The town that does most to promote 

the sale of publications in Irish. 

6. The town whose Glor na Ngael com- 

night and day Ioe spent withthem 

playing, singing, and trading songs. 

Whenever I hear the hornpipes, 'The 

"Peacocks Feathers", I'll think of Ioe. It 

was he who gave them to everyone. 

Wherever loe Holmes is now, you can 

be sure he'll be sitting there, fiddle on his 

lap, a smile on his face and singing away 

to his heart's content. The heavenly 

choir will be enriched beyond compare 

with the inclusion of the voice and songs 

of Ioe Holmes. 

mittee does most to promote Irish 

manufactured goods. (presented by 

Forbairt, the National Development 

Association). 

7. Advertising Trophy (presented by 

C.I.E.) 

The Glor na nGael competition lasts 

from October to the following September. 

There are two adjudications - the principal 

adjudication held in the late Spring 

and the fmal adjudication which takes 

place at the end of September. Marks 

are allotted in both adjudications. A brief 

written commentary on their efforts 

and the best means to improve them are 

supplied to the entrants after the judging. 

Gash eolas is fail 0: Oifig Glor na 

nGael, Comhdhail Naisiunta na Gaeilge, 

86 Sraid Gardnar locht., Baile Atha 

Cliath 1. Teil: 752231. 

SCIENTIFIC MUSICIAN 

Sixteen year old Laurence Kavanagh 

from Island, Craanford, won first prize 

in the senior Biological Science section 

of the Aer lingus Young Scientist 

Exhibition. 

Apart from science Laurence 

Kavanagh has several other interests. He 

is a very talented accordion player and 

was a member of the Gorey Iunior 

Ceili Band which won the 14-16 year 

ceili band championship in the All 

Ireland Fleadh Cheoil held in Eilnis last 

August. He is also a very active member 

of the Gorey Branch of Comhaltas 

Ceoltoiri and plays hurling and football 

with St Brendan's (Craanford) G.A.A. 

Club.

DANCING AT THE 

Maguiresbridge Branch of Comhaltas was 

only a few months old when one of the 

members suggested running a crossroads 

ceili. As far as is known there is no tradition 

of such ceilis around Fermanagh 

but traditions have to begin somewhere 

so the branch decided to start one. 

Several ideas were considered. Among 

them was to have an open-air ceili on the 

shores of Lough Erne, within the parish 

boundaries. Various reasons ruled that 

out, including the possibilities of the 

dancers being eaten alive by midges. 

Then one · member suggested using his 

silage pit and the concrete apron in front 

of it, all ideally situated at a place known 

locally by the rather odd name of Congo 

Cross - so the first. Congo Crossroads 

ceili was decided on. The limiting factor 

was naturally the fact that the farmer 

had to work to earn his living and would 

be putting in silage early in June so naturally 

we had to have it all over by then. 

Preparation of the silage pit etc. began 

in late May and we knew that all the 

dancers might not be enamoured with the 

sweet smell of silage, so a lot of scrubbing 

washing down, and decorating had to be 

done, and there was no scarcity of willing 

hands to help. One advantage we thought 

of early on was that there would be 

plenty of cover in the pit if the weather 

was wet and in fact it poured the day 

before, and the day after, but the sun 

shone brilliantly all day just when we 

needed it and brought out the crowds. 

They came from "all arts and parts" 

and over 500 soon filled the pit to overflowing, 

but what odds, there was plenty 

of God's room outside and out they went 

to dance the evening away to the sweet 

music of Jim Lyan and the Greencross 

from Bellaghy, Co. Derry. The Ceili was 

advertised for 8.30 p.m. and by that 

time the crowds had arrived, and the 

whole thing was over at 11.45p.m. Who 

says that dances must start at 11.00 p.m. 

and finish after 2.00 p.m. We had a 

fine variety of dancers, from the very 

young with their parents; (lots of teenagers 

too) to those who just came to hear 

the music and watch the fun. And there 

were no sleepy eyes on Monday morning. 

8 

The silage pit was cleared of all the 

tins and crisp bags and other debris of a 

good night and our friend Pat Maguire 

the hospitable farmer of Congo was ready 

for the silage next day. 

This year it was decided to tempt fate 

by having two crossroads ceilis at Congo. 

On Sunday, June 4th. we willl be dancing 

to the music of Deirdre Hodge and the 

Pipers Club from Dublin and on June 11 

to Siamsa from Dundalk led by Rory 

Kennedy. With the help of the hurlers 

and footballers and camogie lassies, as 

well as musicians and dancers from other 

parts of Fermanagh and beyond, it is 

hoped to make the week in between a 

Presen tation by Cumann Chiarraioch 

to the Duchas Management 

Committee at the Annual Dinnear 

agus Ceili of Coiste Cho. Chiarrai. 

Front: Jeny Lenihan, Treasurer of Cumann 

Chianaioch and Searnus 0 Conchubhair, 

Cathaoirleach of Duchas Management Committee. 

really Gaelic week. If you can, drop in 

on us in this wee friendly corner of 

Fermanagh and you can be sure of at 

least a thousand failtes. And if you're 

not too sure of the steps or movements 

of the Haymakers' Jig or the Sixteen 

Hand Reel, Pat 0 Loane will be on hand 

to lend a hand - surely one of the fmest 

and best tempered instructors any 

Comhaltas branch could ever have for its 

ceili dancing classes every week. The 

revival of Ceili dancing we are now seeing 

in West Ulster owes much to the genial 

Pat, long may he and his hard worked 

V.W. continue to wear away the roads 

of Ulster. 

First Row : Tom Lynch, Chairman and Joan 

Murphy, Runai of Cumann Chianaioch; Treasa 

Feiriteur, and Diarmuid 0 Cathain, Cisteoir of 

Duchas Management Committee. 

Back Row: Breandan Feiriteur, Matt Mooney, 

Runai; Jerry O'CanoU, and Michael Dowling, 

all of Duchas Management Committee. 

The presentation consisted of the proceeds 

of a Concert held recently at Slatterys' Terenure.

IRISH TRADITIONAL DANCING 

By Joe 0 Donovan 

PART I 

Over coming issues of Treoir, I will be 

dealing with the various forms of traditional 

Irish dancing: step, figure, ceili 

and set dancing. But to deal with Irish 

dancing in isolation would be to overlook 

the universality of dancing and to 

ignore the influences of other 

forms on our dances. Dancing is as old 

as man and the oldest of the arts. 

It has been defined, depending on its 

type and form, as spontaneous emotional 

expression, social entertainment, acrobatic 

gymnastics and a disciplined art 

form. It is claimed that geographic 

location, topography and climate have 

all played a part in the development 

of dance forms. 

Primitive man celebrated all the 

important occasions of life by dancing 

and even to-day in the more remote areas 

of the world, war-dances, rain-dances, 

fertility and initiation rites are still 

performed. Stone-Age cave drawings, 

hieroglyphics and reliefs etc. all point to 

the age of the art. Early dancing had great 

religious significance and later organised 

religion was very much responsible for 

formaliSing dancing and raising it from 

the spontaneous to the disciplined form. 

Dancing was the spur for the invention 

of musical instruments, for musical 

accompaniment is a necessity if rhythmic 

and co-ordinated movements are to be 

achieved. 

religious connotations, dancing for 

amusement and relaxation, as an expression 

of joy and gaiety is also very 

ancient. Circle dances and skipping about 

are mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. 

Eastern dancing is probably older than 

Western dancing and Hindu legend has 

it that the God Siva created the world 

in a dancing mood. It is mainly concerned 

with the facial expression and 

gestures of hands and arms while Western 

dancing seems to have concentrated on 

foot movements and the interchange of 

dancers along geometric patterns. In 

some countries men only were allowed 

to dance while in others where women 

6 t 

were allowed to dance, they had to do it 

separately, there being no 

intermingling of the sexes. 

If dancing is so old and universal, 

what then was the situation in Ireland 

There are no references to dancing 

in early Irish literature. This is not to 

say, however, that it did not exist. 

Dancing is too common an activity or 

folk form to suppose that it did not 

occur in Ireland where a high level of 

culture and a recognised competance 

in the arts existed. Since music and dance 

go hand in hand and there are many references 

to music and musical instruments 

in early Irish literature, it would 

appear natural that some form of dancing 

must have been performed. 

Breandan Breathnach in his book 

"Folk Music and Dances of Ireland" 

and Donal 0 Suilleabhain in his "Irish 

Folk Music and Song" both mention the 

lack of an appropriate Irish word for 

dancing in a 12th century Irish version 

of the Passion of John the Baptist. 

Breathnach says: "In the Biblical story 

of Salome dancing before Herod, for 

instance, three terms, "cleasaiocht", 

"leimneach" and "opaireacht" are used 

in the Irish Translation where the Latin 

text would have one, "saltare", and this 

has been taken as proof that dancing was 

unknown here in olden times, and if the 

lack of a term for the activity indicated 

the absence of the activity itself." 

o Suilleabhain says: "A curious 

illustration of the lack of an appropriate 

word in the older language occurs 

in an Irish version of the Passion of St. 

John the Baptist which dates from the 

middle of the 12th century. In dealing 

with the daughter of Herodias who 

danced before Herod, the scribe had 

no exact equivalent for the Latin 

"saltare" or "saltatrix", so he had 

recourse to a periphrasis, stating that she 

excelled "Fri lemenda ocus fri 

opaireacht." ("In feats of leaping and 

activity"). 

The scribe of course did not have to 

recourse to periphrasis, in fact he 

translated quite accurately. The Gospel 

according to Mark contains the incident 

referred to and was written in Greek 

Koi-ne and not in Latin. The Greek word 

used is "orkheomai" meaning "to leap 

with regularity of movement". The Latin 

term "saltare" means "leaping with 

related activity". The error is made when 

translating these terms to the English 

"dance" or "dancing". 

Folklore has it that St. Colman of 

Cloyne, poet and musician, referred 

to the "puss music" used by the people 

to accompany the dance. 

However from 1300 onwards, odd references 

do appear and from 1700 on 

hardly a traveller/author failed to 

mention the custom of dancing and it 

is only from that period that we can 

really speak with any authority on Irish 

dancing. From that period onward was 

dancing not only mentioned, but specific 

dances were named. The golden era of 

step dancing was towards the end of the 

18th century and it is with this aspect of 

Irish dancing that I will deal with in the 

next article. 

PADDY HORGAN 

A great lover and an enthusiastic supporter 

of traditional Irish music who could be 

seen at all major fleadhanna in recent 

years, busily recording the music sessions 

and other functions, was laid to rest 

recently in Listowel. 

Paddy Horgan, one of the most 

popular men with both young and old 

in the town, has gone to his eternal 

reward at the early age of twenty-six 

years. 

Though his approach to people and 

life in general was always serious, it was 

always mingled with good humour and 

profund respect. 

To his bereaved family and wide 

circle of friends we offer deepest 

sympathy. 

Go raibh ceol na n-aingeal ina chluasa 

i rith na sioraiochta.

were self supporting and the teachers 

made their living by them, which some 

were aided with grants of land by the 

chiefs of the districts in which the schools 

were situated. 

The convention of Druim Ceata, 

presided over by Saint Columcille, 

a.d.S74, reorganised the system of public 

secular eduation, so far as it was 

represented in the Bardic schools or 

those for general education. The bards 

being a highly privileged class, not 

confining themselves to their official 

duties, became greedy and oppressive 

even to the extent that the high king 

Aedh macAinmire expelled them from his 

palace. He accused them a the convention 

and with his chiefs sought the abolition of 

the Bardic Order for ever. Saint Columcille 

defended them, saying that he did 

not deny the existence of grave abuses - 

let them be corrected - and in future let 

the guilty be punished. If the Order was 

destroyed he asked who would then 

preserve the records of the nation - 

celebrate the great deeds of it's kings and 

warriors - or chant a dirge for the noble 

dead. His eloquence carried the assembly 

with him and the Order was preserved 

from destruction. It was, however, 

reformed and restrained by salutary laws 

which prevented repitition of past irregularities. 

In gratitude to Columcille the 

'Ard Ollamh', or chief poet of all Ireland, 

Dallan Forgaill , composed the celebrated 

poem Amhra Cholmcille. The 

convention devised a scheme by which 

there was to be a chief school or college 

for each of the five provinces and under 

these a number of minor schools, one in 

each tuath or cantred. They were all 

endowed with lands; and those who 

needed it should get free education in 

them. The head of each of these schools 

was an ollamh of poetry and literature, 

all laymen. Many of them, as time went 

on, became noted for the excellence of 

their teaching in subjects more or less 

special, according to the individual 

taste or bent of mind of the teachers or 

the traditions of the several schools. 

The Bardic schools survived through 

many centuries of invasion and 

oppression. They struggled on despite the 

rigour of the penal laws and it was only in 

the early seventeenth century, after 

Kinsale, that the old Order came to an 

end. 

4 

Comholbrlu' ar son na T:eanga 

Roghnai'odh Craobh Ardscoil Ris, C.C.E. , 

le haghaidh tionscadail teanga faoi 

leith d'fhonn an dui chun cinn agus na 

deacrachta( a bhaineann leis an 

bplean forbartha chun usaid na Gaeilge 

in eagras naisiunta a mheas agus a sharu 

faoi stiuradh choiste saineolaithe. 

Ta Bord na Gaeilge agus an 

chraobh tar eis plean a dhreachtadh i 

gcomhar lena cheile. Ti an Bord tar eis 

cabhair a thabhairt don Chraobh freisin 

chun aiseanna teiliflse agus uirlisl ceoil 

a cheannach mar chuidiu ina cuid 

imeachtai agus i bhforbairt usaid na 

Gaeilge. 

Faoin plean seo, deanfaidh an Chraobh 

usaid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn i 

ngnlomhruochta( agus i measc comhaltru 

na Craoibhe, cabhrG le leathnU' na 

Gaeilge i dtuaisceart na cathrach trt 

chomhoibriu le dreamanna eile, 

agus treoir a thabhairt i leith leathnu na 

Gaeilge i gcraobhacha eile an 

Chomhaltais. 

I measc prtomhphoint( an phlean 

ta:- 

Comchoiste Gaeilge a bhunu - 

cuirfear failte roimh ionadaithe 0 scoil- 

~ 

eanna agus colais!! " Gaelacha sa chomharsanacht 

mar aon le hionadaithe 0 

eagralochta( eile ar sPeis leo an Ghaeilge 

a usiild ina gcuid gnfOmhalocht~( 

Clar oibre a leagadh amach gach raithe 

agus tuairisc a chur ar fail de Bhord 

Chontae Atha Cliath den Chomhaltas 

agus do Bhord na Gaeilge chun meastoireacht 

a dheanamh ar an dui chun cinn. 

Tus a chur le ranganna ceoil agus rince 

tr( Ghaeilge agus speis iontu a chothu. 

Tcipeanna agus tearmal Gaeilge a chur ar 

fail mar chabhair do na muinteoin. 

Timpeallacht Ghaeilge a chothu - 

oiread Gaeilge agus is feldir a usrud go 

nadurtha agus seisiui~ ceili the srI.; 

bolscaireach t, postaein, ticeid( agus 

comhfhreagras na Craoibhe a bheith tn 

Ghaeilge no datheangach. 

An Chraobh a chur i dteagmhrul le 

muintir na Gaeltachta agus le saol 

Gae~ch ~ . cathrach agus pairt 

ghmomhach a ghlacadh ann. 

Teagmhiil le Colmste OiliU'na Mhuire 

(Cola'iste Oiliuna na mBriiithre CnostaJj 

a leathnu. 

•• 

Polasa( Gaeilge a chur chun cinn in iris 

na Craoibhe "Sceala". 

., I',ia ranganna.,. Gaeilge ata ar siul faoi 

lathair a mheadu agus a leathnu. 

Ranganna a chur ar fili, don aos ag, do 

dhaoine fasta agus do mhuinteoiri sa 

Chraobh at'! as cleachtadh na Gaeilge. 

Ta suil ag an mBord go 

mbeidh eolas tabhachtach le fail aige 

on tionscadal seo maidir le treoirlinte 

a aimsiu chun labhairt na Gaeilge a 

fhorbairt ar bhonn leathan i measc eagras 

eile. Ta speis ag Comhaltas sa 

ghno freisin, d'fhonn an Ghaeilge a 

leathnG in imeachta(craobhacha eile den 

eagras sin . 

AG TEACHT ABHAILE 

One of the greatest of traditional 

Irish singers, Seosamh 0 hEanai, is leaving 

the United States after a stay of 14 

years to settle once more in Ireland. 

At present he is giving farewell concerts 

at various centres on the east coast and in 

the mid-west and truly packing them 

in. 

After his successful "Farewell Chicago 

Concert" the music critic of a prominent 

Chicago paper wrote, "No amount of 

farewells to J oe Heaney can ever take 

away the impact he has made on 

America." This is astonishing praise 

indeed for a singer that has yet to receive 

full recognition in his own land. 

IRISH RECORD CENTRES 

N"'S 

161 Adington Road, Camden Town, 

N.W.!. TeI: 014854880 

4 Kilbum High Road, London N.W.6. 

(Maida Vale end). Tel: 01~24 2546. 

65 Cricklewood Broadway, London 

N.W.2. TeI: 014529456. 

Traditional and Folk Music 

a Speciality 

Speedy worldwide mail order service-Discs 

Cassettes, 8-Track Stereo. Catalogues 35p ~ 

Open weekdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Sunday 10 a.m.·2 p.m. Closed all day Thurs:

NPR!N 

CIPIO ... 

€RATU€RB1JOO' €TU€R.B\J 

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blCUENITTNT6S]',roONlU

IN AMERICA 

CONVENTION '78 - 

KILLARNEY 

Sunday June 25 

Ireland's cultural movement COMHALTAS CEOLTOIRI EIREANN 

welcomes the ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS in America to the 

homeland with an unique and exciting programme of traditional music, song 

and dance ..... . 

3 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

FEILE CHEOIL - Great Southern Hotel : A great outdoor 

display of Ireland's native music, song and dance. An 

opportunity to meet the neighbours in a friendly Irish 

atmosphere reminiscent of the old crossroads dance, and 

you, too, may join in the fun . Aifreann i nGaeilge 

at 1.15 p.m. in St. Mary's Cathedral. 

Parade at 2.15 p.m. from Cathedral to Great Southern Hotel. 

50p 

(20p) 

9 p.m. - 1 a.m. 

SEISIUN-CEILI - 

entertainment for all the family. 

Aras Phadraig, Lewes Road: Lively 

75p 

Monday June 26 

9 p.m. - 1 a.m. 

SEISIUN-CEILI - 

Aras Phadraig, Lewes Road: Come and 

join the fun! Well-known Seisiun Groups plus a ceili band. 

75p 

Tuesday June 27 

8.30 p.m. 

CONCERT - Great Southern Hotel: An exciting and 

colourful show of traditional entertainment. A gathering of 

champions from the four provinces of Ireland - a glimpse 

of the real Ireland; the "hidden" Ireland. 

£1 

Wednesday June 28 

9 p.m. - 1 a.m. 

CEILI - Great Southern Hotel: Ceoltoiri Luimni. The recreation 

of a traditional house-dance. It is fun for all the 

family to learn the steps and participate in the "Haymaker's 

Jig". "The Siege of Ennis", "The Walls of Limerick", the 

"Kerry Set", and many more. 

£1 

Thursday June 29 

9 p.m. - 1 a.m. 

FAREWELL SEISIUN-CEILI-Aras Phadraig,Lewes Road: 

Not an" American Wake" but a fond farewell to"old friends". 

75p

J 1 - Comhaltas Archive

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