n ill . 1 - Comhaltas Archive

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TREOIR President of Comhaltas 1982-1985. The year 1986 was one of the greatest years for Comhaltas concert tours. There was top rate talent and great diversity. They included in the caste a Seanchaf, the late John Cowley from Ballinagore near Castletowngeoghan, County Westmeath, a legendary character with great ability for putting his thoughts and impressions into verse. During his lifetime. John Cowley wrote and published 26 brilliant pieces dealing with every aspect of Irish life. One of his masterpieces was about the Blacksmith and his forge. a trade that has now faded from the scene in Ireland. The Blacksmith's forge just like the old firesides of long ago was a gathering place for young and old. especially on rainy days. News and stories from miles around would be subjects of great debate. Recalling the memories of yester-year, John Cowley penned the following lines in verse about the Blacksmith and his forge: In pensive mood my boyhood visions surge, To recreate the Blacksmith and his forge . The Smith at work once viewed in high esteem Can now be only witnessed in a dream. Beneath the dredging roar of the exhaust, A noble trade forever more is lost. To add flair and beauty to this very popular show. Clfodhna Dempsey, formerly of Dublin and then living in Luxemburg was selected to present the show. No better choice could be made. Resplendant in ornate gown, she thrilled audiences everywhere. Her angelic appearance on stage created a new dimension for the show. Clfodhna had made a huge impact as Presenter of the 1985 Concert tour of Europe. Her father, Martin Dempsey was the well known Irish actor. The every popular John McCracken, now R.l.P., was tour manager that year. John hailed from Buncrana. He had chaired the 1975 and 1976 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann held in Buncrana, also 1979-80. But it was Mary Brogan who added a special treat to the show. The mother of 13 children thrilled audiences everywhere with her haunting voice and rendition of such lovely traditional songs as Carrig River and Boolavogue. Mary also brought along her Mouthorgan as well, to add more to her multi talent. She is also a fine IiIter. Glad to repeat here again that she hasn't lost any of her fine talent as was very obvious on her recent vacation trip to Long Island. There were 18 concert venues in 1986. covering a vast area. Starting out in Long Island and on to Schenectady, New haven. Waltham. Buffalo. Detroit, Toronto. Ottawa. Saskatoon. St. Albert, Vancouver. San Francisco. San Antonio. New Orleans. St. Louis, Kansas City. Chicago. and Bronx, New York. The regional coordinators then were household names in Comhaltas. Jack Pendergast, Helen Gannon.Jim McGinty, Eamonn O·Loghlin. Tom McSwiggan. The concert chairs and cochairs were staunch and true. We recall with pride the great names of Hugh Smith. Dan O 'Kennedy,Tom Masterson. Colum Mulligan, Paul Curry and Johnny McGreevy now R.l.P. Still happily with us, Jack Whelan, John O'Donovan,Anne Marie McLoughlin, Larry Reynolds. Mike Winston, Mike Meehan, Danny Lucey, Jim Coyle, Helen Gannon. Meena Sennott, Joanie Scanlan,Anne McConnell, Sean Gorman, John O 'Grady, Steve Welch, Mary Ann Folan, Mary Burke Downs and Michael Flatley. They came from many counties in Ireland an some from the United States and Canada. All of them together understood what our culture and heritage was all about. Many were born into it. There were no half measures. They set about organizing the tour with diligence and resolve, just as others had done in preceding years. The Comhaltas branches here were strong in 1986. In preparation for the concert tour. hospitality committees were formed. The artistes on tour were housed. cared for and looked after while in town. There was no thought of putting them in motels back then. Host families came to airport and other terminals to meet and greet the talented group from Ireland. There was a sense of pride all around. Newspapers carried inspiring articles on the show. Town Supervisors and community leaders very often issued Proclamations declaring a Comhaltas Day of Recognition in their respective towns and cities. 1986 was our 14th year promoting Comhaltas here. it was a labour of love in its simplist form. 16 years have passed since that historic time. Many have passed on to their eternal rewards. others are still happily with us. But to all who served they will always hold a special place in our memory and in the annals of Comhaltas history. They were loyal and committed people whose massive contributions to Ireland and our native tradition will forever remain a shining jewel in the Comhaltas crown of success. 16
TREOIR SEAN RYAN'S DREAM The Second Collection of Irish Traditional compositions of Sean Ryan Compiled by Brian Ryan Sean was born in Nenagh. Co. Tipperary. It was his good fortune to grow up in the Newtown area, an area that produced in the same generation, such fine musicians as Paddy O'Brien and P.J. Moloney. His father, Thomas was an outstanding fiddler. Sean's first instrument was the flute from which he quickly graduated to the fiddle. He was a noted step dancer and a very fine singer. He brought a different approach to fiddle playing with his own unique personal style, sweet and rich, which instantly distinguishes his music from that of any other fiddler. He had a style noted for sweetness of tone, a steady, gentle legato style in which there were many lonesome notes and many subtle ones. His playing was as smooth as silk with gently rippling ornaments and no hint of sharp attack or brusque articulation. He could dress up and refurbish an old tune so that it sparkled like a jewel. His outstanding accomplishments stand as testimony to the quality of his fiddling. He was living in the Portarlington area when he won the Gold Medal at the Feis Ceoil in Dublin in 1949 and the Oireachtas Gold in 1954. He was one of the few to win the All Ireland Senior Traditional Fiddle title twice in a row at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Loughrea in 1955 and Ennis in 1956 were the scenes of his victories. In 1958 he joined the Ballyoran Ceili Band with Danny Coughian before forming his own band in 1962. He was a frequent performer on radio broadcasts. He recorded with both bands as well as with P.J. Moloney, Peter Carberry and Pat Lyons. I met Sean in 1961 . I had fallen in love with his music previous to that. He had already many compositions to his credit at that time. We got married in 1966 and from then on I heard his compositions at first hand. His flair for composition was remarkable. He composed scores of tunes that have the sound and feeling of the old music. Over 200 tunes have flowed from the warmth of his heart, the depth of his soul and the gende stroke of his bow. The first volume of 82 compositions was first published in 1988 under the tide of ' The Hidden Ireland'. Sean bestowed honour on many of his friends, admirers and fellow musicians by naming tunes after them. Many tunes got their tides from place-names associated with the composing or playing of them. Aptly enough Rev. John Quinn and Rev. PJ. Kelly also 'christened' many of his tunes. Sean was very close to nature and his music reflects this. Often he got inspiration or 'a run of notes' while listening to the birds or a flowing stream. Later in the peace and solitude of his own home he would get his fiddle and work on these notes. Sometimes after a session with great musicians he would be inspired to compose new tunes. His whole heart and spirit went into that music. Each tune reflects the personality of the man himself, kind, gende. genial and witty. The late Pat Lyons hoped the publication of Sean's compositions would give some idea of his greatness as a composer: ";r would he impOSSible to put down on paper with a pen what Sean could do with his nngers, especially his excellent technique of treble and grace note, rolls and so on" He was a frequent performer on Irish traditional music pro~rammes on radio and television. On two occasions he toured the U.S.A. The audiences were so thrilled by his performances in 1968 that plans were made for his return in 1969. Ireland's First 'Concert of Champions' under the direction of Sean Ryan performed in all the major cities of the U.S.A. that year. As Labhras 6 Murchu said at Sean's Memorial Concert in 1986: '1 had the honour in 1969 to tour North America with Sean and a number of other musicians. I remember tralJellin~ throu~hout the United States, and each hall, one after the other packed to capacity. It was quite oblJious that each time Sean Ryan came out on sta~e that the audience was fully aware that they were in the presence of a ~reat artist and he was held in hi~h admiration. It is a ~reat thin~ that someone is thou~ht 50 hi~hly of 50 far away from home. But it does underline in no uncertain manner that Sean Ryan was a ~iant amon~ ~iants" . Sean was called to eternity on 15 November 1985. That he did not live to see his works published is to be re~retted but I'm sure it will brin~ happiness to him now as it does to us to see his lon~ cherished ambition fulfilled. I treasure all the happy memories I have of Sean. I really miss his ~entle lovin~ disposition, his calmin~ peaceful influence, and his unique sense of humour, wit and charm. I am very happy to be instrumental in making 'Sean Ryan 's Dream' come true. Taimid faoi chomaoin an mh6r a~ gach duine a chabhraigh linn an leabhar seo a fhoilsiu: Pat Lyons (R.I.P.), Frank McCollam (R.I.P.), Rev. John Quinn, Rev. PJ. Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, Eddie Kelly, Caitriona Ryan agus gach duine a chabhraigh linn. Without the expertise, interest and dedication of Brian, Sean's son, this book would not have materialised. I ~comluadar na Aln~eal sna f/aithis ~o raibh Sean. Go gcuire an leabhar seo aoibhneas agus son as ar ghach leitheoir. Kathleen Ryan
Page 2 and 3: Irnl 34 Uirnhir 3 2002 I SS No 790
Page 4: As we go to press, the new Arts Bil
Page 7 and 8: ;:;;;';;' __ The Oondllf ~ NewIt eI
Page 9 and 10: BILL McEVOY The recent visit to Lon
Page 11 and 12: TREOIR O'Dwyer's Hornpipe This tune
Page 13 and 14: It's a cool crisp evening in late N
Page 15: TREOIR hornpipes, were pretty enoug
Page 18 and 19: TREOIR For his and for Ireland's sa
Page 22: Ever since his untimely death on 20
Page 25 and 26: Ceist a cuireadh orm a spreag an pf
Page 28 and 29: The passing of Paddy Fallon at his
Page 30 and 31: TREOIR Na Cleaganna 6 Shean 6 Liath
Page 34 and 35: GAA Urged to Drop Ceili M usic at I
Page 37 and 38: 5eamus 6 Dubhthaigh is one of Irela
Page 39: I would like to con~ratulate Joe O'

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