sligo for all-ireland? - Comhaltas Archive

JAMES LAST AND FRIENDSTomas b CeallaighIt was nine o'clock of a damp, drizzly evening and there I was standing in front oftheBank of Ireland in College Green in the heart of Dublin waiting, but unlikemany a date I had there in byegone days it wasn't the non-arrival of an Irish cailinthat was causing me to mutter to myself and shuffle - actually I was trying topractise a few jig steps to my own lilting, in anticipation of the crack that was dueto erupt any minute now when the lames Last Orchestra came on stage, augmentedby the group 'from the Ceoltas Ceolt6iri' as my neighbour labelled them.It was, of course, Friday August 22,and I had postponed my customaryFriday trip to Fleadh Cheoil na hEireannin order to experience this rarephenomenon. Arriving at 6.30, I founda huge crowd already assembled, manyof them good-humouredly bareheaded,but thousands sporting umb rellas ofdiverse colours as a misty drizzle closeddown on the arena.Word had gone out that the Cornhaltasgroup would be on in the first half,but the 'informed sources' in this casehad got it wrong. It was J ames Last andhis orchestra who took the stage at 8.00and for fifty minutes had the hugecrowd clapping and swaying, singing andswinging, responding to the conductor'sexhortation to join him in beating theelements. And sure enough by 8.30the drizzle had virtually ceased and theorchestra finished their first half selectionin an atmosphere of revelry andoptimism.Looking around at the now incredablemass of people I could not helpwondering how the Irish traditionalmusicians, accustomed to the intimate'atmosphere of session room or parochialhalls, would gear themselves to thisoverwhelming occasion. Soon the Orchestrawere drifting back to theirplaces for the 2nd half; after an openingnumber there was a hustle of movementover to the left, a flash of green, andsuddenly ..... Eoin Kenny on the pipes,Tomrny Guihan with his concert flute ....right into the front row came the elevenCornhaltas artistes - rather like a teamemerging onto Crok Park on All-Irelandday, the lads in smart green CornhaltasJackets and ties and two ladies in bright,flowing dresses. From left to right onthe stage the line up was - to the bestof my recollection - Gerry Murphy -banjo; Fiontan b Meachair - mandolin;Dermot Kenny - whistle/flute; TomrnyGuihan - flute; Brid Harper- fiddle ;Eoin Kenny - pipes; Jimmy McGreevy- 2 row accordeon; Michelle O'Sullivanconcertina;Niall b Callanain- bouzouki;Seamus Meehan-piano accordeon;with Seamus MacMathuna who introducedthe artistes and returned later tosing 'Mo Chile Mear'.THE COMHALTAS CONNECTIONSoon James Last was introducing themembers of the Orchestra to the 60,000plus fans who were by now in exuberantmood and I must say that those musicianssurely knew how to accept andacknowledge applause. Mindful of thenonchalant nod with which I have seenmany of our best traditional musiciansacknowledge even the most enthusiasticwelcome, I fervently hoped that theCornhaltas musicians would take a leaffrom the visitors' book. I was not disappointed:as Searnus MacMathUnaintroduced each member in turn theyjumped to the feet and waved enthusiasticallyto the crowd. There was aspecial partisan cheer for each of the5 Dubs, with MacMathuna playing the"Hill 16" Card for all it was worth andan equally rousing cheer from each ofthe non-Dubs - particularly for the twolovely ladies from Donegal and- inevitable-Kerry. "Culchies" muttered mynext-door neighbour, a teenage Dub.with a pronounced Northside accent.Then it was back to James Last and theOrchestra for 'Dublin in the rare oul'times' . The crowd were singing now;next moment they were dancing andclapping as Brid Harper led the groupinto a really dynamic selection of reels.She was joined in turn by flute, concertina,banjo, etc. giving a splendid seriesof duets and trio sounds; suddendly the5