J 1 - Comhaltas Archive

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.