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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
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Page 17 and 18: A COSTLY HOR-NPIPE By E.P. Sherry H
Page 19 and 20: ~ SEAMUS GLACKIN
Page 21 and 22: ~~~~ LITREACHA "Lister House", 6 St
Page 23 and 24: FOLKLORE DE L'ANJOU. L' Angevincia"
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Page 33 and 34: IRISH TRADITIONAL DANCING By Joe 0
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