J 1 - Comhaltas Archive

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