Comhaltas Archive

A Sour Note in CookstownCookstown District Council has refused an application for a grant towardsthe running of the Tyrone County Fleadh Cheoil in Pomeroy. At the Council'slast meeting before the local government elections unionist and anti-unionistcouncillors clashed over whether or not to make the grant and on a 6-3 recordedvote the Council decided against it.The Clerk to the Council, Mr.William A. Bownes was about to read aletter from the Tyrone County Board ofFleadh Cheoil asking for a grant towardsexpenses for the annual event and alsothe provision of portable toilets. Aspart of the name was in the Irishlanguage the Clerk said he could notmake it out.Official Unionist Councillor EspieDonaldson interrupted and proposedthat as part of the letter was in Irish theCouncil should have nothing to do withit.SDLP Councillor Mrs. Brigid Neesonpsoposed that the Council make thegrant and said the event not only containedtraditional music but also benefittedthe traders of Pomeroy.She was seconded by her party colleagueMiss Peggy Laverty .Supporting Councillor Donaldson,DUP Councillor Alan Kane said he hadseen a similar kind of event being stagedin Omagh and he described it as nothingbut an excuse for the flaunting of Republicanpropaganda, emblems andflags. Went on Councillor Kane "Surelywith the same IRA type of supporters inthis district they will use the sameexcuse and the event will be used as aplatform for the IRA" .After the vote SDLP CouncillorDonal Davidson accused the Council ofhaving on previous occasions made contributionsto other organisations includingpipe bands.In reply the chairman Official UnionistCouncillor Victor McGahie said pipebandscrossed the entire political divide.Traditional music, song and dance enjoysvery substancial patronage in theCookstown district council area, particularlyPomeroy.Secondly it is a widely held viewamongst the vast following of traditionalIrish music that the music itself andthe associated festivals i.e. FleadhannaCheoil servc admirably as a catalyst forthe bringing together of people of varyingreligious and political beliefs.Cornhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann is theorganisation universally recognised ashaving saved traditional music, song anddance from extinction and nourished itto the healthy state which it enjoys atpresent. The constitution of Cornhaltasdeems it to be non political, non sectarianbut no apology is made for holdinga great sense of pride in our Irish distinctivenessand in particular the joy wederive as a people in the playing, singingand dancing of our native art forms.Against this background the organi-sation enjoys temendous support fromvery many people who would undoubtedlyalign themselves with unionism.Within the Cornhaltas framework theyare afforded every respect for theirpolitical views and find no problem insharing their mutual interests with theirfellow Irishmen. The native culture ofour Country constitutes a threat to nooneexcept those who might deny ourpeople the right to exist within the parametersof a native people. Is it thatsuch people as those in Cookstown districtcouncil who were so vocal in theirobviously bigoted attitude towards allthings Irish feel so insecure that theymust distance themselves at all timesfrom people of a different backgroundlest they might loose their false sense ofdominance.Such outbursts as were experiencedin Cookstown council chambers do littleto enhance mutual respect in our community,but the example of people togetherplaying music, singing anddancing as the bards have done at majorgatherings for generations will lay afoundation upon which a great nationwill one day emerge.CO. BOARD STATEMENTThe following Statement has beenissued by the Tyrone Co. Board of Comhaltas:Without wishing to enter into anypolitical wrangle about the refusal bythe Cookstown district council to grantaid the 1985 Tyrone County FleadhCheoil in Pomeroy, we would like toreflect the views of our organisation andsupporters.Firstly the application for grant aidwas submitted because it is our beliefthat public money should be used in accordancewith the wishes of the people.WELL DESERVED TRIBUTE: Roscommon-born LDy Lawrle bascelebrated her 70th birthday and a larlle sUce of Blrmlnllham's Irishcommunity extended to her their congratulations and affection. Above,Michelle McCourt, on rlllht, presents LDy with a bouquet. That presentationtook place at the Tower Ballroom In Edllbaston. There was alsoa great party at St. Teresa's Centre, Perry Barr.Lily and her husband, Bob, on left In our photograph, are ratherspecial people. He is from Lancashire and now a retired doctor. Theirhome in Birminllham has down the years been a IIreat fount of Irishculture, especially of Irish music. Bob, who a lonll time allo becamemore Irish than the Irish themselves, has even been a member of theBirmlnllham Ceili Band.But it is those sessions of Irish traditional music down the years atthe Lawrie home which so many people recall with atrectlon.37