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TREOIRpioneering self-help revivalism whichshaped Irish culture in the early 20thcentury, and made traditional culturalforms central to national progress andself-realisation. His final completedproject illustrates his resource. Hewanted a major monument toO 'Carolan which would ratify thecommunity's work and heritage. Withapparent ease, he rapidly galvanised abroad range of supportive interestsand then triumphantly unveiled asplendid bronze sculpture ofO 'Carolan at the Festival in October:an eloquent symbol of O'Carolan'senduring legacy to later generationsRealising Tony's VisionTony Finnegan RIP35 Sewell StreetEast FremantleWestern Australia, 6158dcusack@central.murdoch,edu.au5 February 2004I am Western Australia-born but lived in Ireland 1985-99. My paternalgrandfather was a native of Kilmainhamwood, Co. Meath. During my fourteenyears in Ireland I spent a good deal of time in that locality culminating in mywriting the history of the parish for the centenary of the church in 1998. Ialso attended the O 'Carolan Festival at Nobber each October from 1988. Ithus got to know Tony Finnegan, his wife Ann and family well.When I was in Ireland on a brief visit last November I visited Tony knowingthat, while responding well to the treatment for cancer, he was still quiet ill.We sat in his livingroom and, with his customary unfailing politeness andcourtesy, he outlined in some detail his vision for the conversion of a derelictpublic house/residence in Kilmainhamwood village into a cultural centre andmuseum.Uachtaran an Chamhaltais Tony Finnegan (RIP)congratulating Nuala Hehir of the Ennis CeiliBand at F/eadh 2003 with Ardchisteoir Padraig6 Dufaighfor whom his music is a unifying andcreative heritage.We little knew then that Tony's passingwas so near. He rests now in Nobbercemetery, close to O'Carolan'sbirthplace in Spiddal townland, andwithin earshot of O'Carolan Collegewhere he hosted so much superb Irishmusic. He will be sorely missed byAnn, his family and his many friends.Yet, part of his rich legacy to us is thatwe understand that for Tony thestrength of tradition was a greatstimulus to innovation. Tradition forhim was an inspiration, not a barrier.Tony's work teaches this truth to hiscommunity and to Comhaltas, as weface into the challenges of modernity.It is valuable wisdom. Go dtuga Dialeaba i measc na naomh do.- Seamus Mac GabhannJust days after my arrival back in Perth in December I got a phone call withthe sad news that Tony had passed away. Only last August, the currentPresident of the Western Australia branch of Comhaltas Tom Kearns and withKathleen met Tony at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Clonmel. Tom and I have bothsent cards of condolences to Ann. I would now like through you to convey bycondolences to Comhaltas Ireland. Even though Tony never made it toAustralia, he is remembered here and his loss mourned.Tony was a very fine man. I am only too aware of the trojan work that he andAnn did for Comhaltas - at local, county, provincial, national and internationallevel - over the years. he was also encouraging and supportive of me in myown endeavours. He arranged a farewell function for me in a pub in Nobberprior to my departure from Ireland in June 1999. His premature departure soearly in his term as Comhaltas President is a cruel blow. It is hard to believethat he is gone.As a memorial to Tony I would love to see his vision of a cultural centre atKilmainhamwood enacted. I realise that, without his energy and perseverance,this will now prove much more difficult. I do hope, however, that Comhaltasmight find some way of bringing this project to fruition. At this distance, thereis little practical support I can offer. But I can at least firmly state my moralsupport. And my appreciation ofTony's work.Yours sincerelyDr Danny Cusack(Research Associate Historian, Murdoch UniverSity)PS It is still my ambition, given the right circumstances, to return to Irelandand make a contribution to preserving the cultural traditions of Meath.3