Comhaltas Archive

MICHEAL 0 LOCHLAINN and MICHAELFITZPATRICK pictured at the unveiling ofthe LARRY WALL memorial.recalled the great heritage and cultureof the area, and as Co. Chairman of CCEwould also wish to make the occasion atime to reform a Craobh of Comhaltas.He went on to congratulate Michealo Lochlainn on his well-deserved appointmentas Uachtaran, ComhaltasCeolt6ir( Eireann and expressed bestwishes to him in his term of office.Domhnall b Lubhla{ entertained thecrowd by singing 'The McCormac Brothers'- a ballad made famous by LarryWall Fitzpatrick. He then lilted a hornpipefor Rev. Fr. Crosse who danced,much to the delight of all present.Domhnall also recalled the happy timesand his associations with Larry WallFitzpatrick and his teaching career inthe old School House in the village. "Itmade one sad", he said "to think thirtyyears had passed since the door closedon his classes in the school". It wasDomhnall and Larry who had organisedthe founding of Comhaltas branches inthe area in 1955.Michael Fitzpatrick thanked the organisingcommittee and all whohad worked diligently to make theday a success. Speaking from theexperience of local knowledgeheard from his grandfather, the latePaddy Wall Fitzpatrick, a flautist andpiper (brother of Larry) in Londonduring the early 1950s, he outlined thehistory of the area which included thePalatine settlement in the Commons;the Coal Mines of the district and therich heritage of our music handed downthrough the centuries to present times.He deplored the present condition ofthe 'War House' which had been the locationof the Ballingarry Insurrection in1848 and said that it should be preservedas a 'N ational Monument'. It was inthe Commons that the Tri-Colour wasflown for the first time. He thanked allthose involved in paying tribute toLarry - The Rory O'Moore Pipe Band,Laois, and all musicians, families andA step from Fr. Crossefriends who had gathered to make it agreat occasion. He then called for ashow of hands from the large crowdindicating relationship to Larry.Mrs. Anne Heaphy thanked all themembers of the Committee, also Mr.10s. O'Shea and Mrs. Is. Murphy, thecatering staff, the Clergy, the Garda,those who supplied amplification, Mr.Michael Heaphy and Mr. ThomasKavanagh for their work in erecting thememorial. She also included Mr. HarryMu llin s, the press, the Rory O'MoorePipe Band and all those who assisted inpaying tribute to Larry Wall Fitzpatrick.Mrs. Heaphy gave apologies for Labhrasb Murchu, Ardstiurth6ir of CCE andSeamus MacAuley (former Uachtaranof CCE) who were called to record a TVprogramme on that day. She went onto express her gratitude to the goodpeople of the Commons who gave theirtime organising the tribute to theirhonoured esteemed friend.At the outset of the unveiling, SarahFitzpatrick (grandniece of Larry) playeda lament on war pipes. Pat Fitzpatrick(her brother) also played a slow air onconcert flute and a selection of dancemusic in tribute to his uncle.The Rory O'Moore Pipe Band playedA section of the large attendance at theLARRY WALL memorial ceremony.'Let Erin Remember' -following theunveiling ceremony. Later in the evening,lim Fitzpatrick of Kilcooley (acousin) played a selection of music onpipes. 1 im Fitzpatrick is a piper in theArmy Band and Pat Fitzpatrick is aclarinetist with the Army No. 1 Band.MicheaI b Lochlainn and D6mhnallb Lubhla{ performed the unveiling ceremonyand Rev. Fr. Morris, P.P., Ballingarryblessed the memorial. It was aday which will be long remembered inthe Commons, reminiscent of formerdays when the 'Commons Village'abounded in traditional music. It ishoped that the organising committeewill make it an annual event.Outdoor and indoor sessions ofmusic prevailed throughout the day andinto the following morening. Musicianscame from all over the country for thecelebrations. Famous names like PaddyO'Brien and his daughter Eileen, JimEgan, Padraig Sinnott, the Bass family ,Nesbitts, M. J. and B. O'Reilly and ahost of top class musicians filled theCommons Village. The Thurles All-Irelandwinning Cashel Set Dancers - All­Ireland winning piper Michael Cooney,the Cooney sisters their father MartinCooney flautist , the Michael Cooneydancers from the Commons; Jim MaherKilkenny; the local set dancers, Fitzpatrickand Kinsella dancers, Fitzpatrick'sof Gorey, Limerick, Cork,Tipperary, Kilkenny, Laois and Carlow.O'Briens, McGraths, Purcells, Ryans,Prestons, O'Mearas, Mahers, K.1atts, Kinsella's,Hughes, all came along as relativesof Larry to join in the festivities.Some notable relatives and friendsof Larry who recalled manystories of his musical ability anddelightful personality are Mrs.Mary McGrath Cleere from theCommons aged 95 years. Mrs. Cleere'sbrother (William McGrath), a flautistand tailor was married to Aflne Fitzpatrick- musician (sister of Larry Wall19