J 1 - Comhaltas Archive

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.