~t:.lilt l=- '~li - Comhaltas Archive

presence in the set dancing scene,steadily gaining more notice each year.The band now plays regularly forceilithe across the country from Clareand Galway to Dublin Cork and Kerry.Visitors to Fleadh Nua 2004 will beable to dance to their music at the Coisna hAbhna ceili on Saturday, 29 th May.(Four-in-a-Row for the Banner County?)An ClairineachPOdraic O'Reilly, leader of the Ennis (eili Band,receives the Winner's Trophy, from Uachtarcln an(homhaltais Aint6in 6 Fionnagclin (nach maireann)while being filmed for RTE's Leargas programme2003 marked Three-in-a-row' for the Ennis(eili BandThe Kilfenora (1954, 1955 & 1956)and Tulla ceili Band (1957) did it inthe fifties but can the Ennis Ceilf Bandand the Turloughmore repeat this featin the 21 se century? Ennis have pavedthe way by bringing the All-Ireland ceil[band title to Clare in 200 I , 2002 and2003. Now it's up to Turloughmore tofinish the job in 2004!The ten musicians in theTurloughmore have ceil[ bands in theirblood and dedicate themselveswholeheartedly to their music - thisis evident in the pleasure, whichradiates from the stage during theirhigh-octane performances.The Turloughmore Ceil[ Band wasformed in 1999 and its foundingmembers were Pat Costello, DenisLiddy, Brfd O'Gorman and DavidSanders. The intention was to form atraditional ten-piece ceil[ band ofcommitted musicians to play goodmusic purely for enjoyment. The Bandname comes from the well-knownfeature of the Clare landscape -Turloughmore in the Burren - thelargest turlough in Europe. (turloughsare seasonal lakes common to Clarewhich only appear during the wetseason of Winter and completelydisappear in Summer).The other initial members of the bandwere Dan Liddy, Sean Vaughan, OrfhlaithNi Bhriain, Bernie Liddy, Paul O'Driscolland Jennifer Lenihan. They first played atceilithe in Clarecastle. Since then theTurloughmore has established a quietCompetition has become animportant part of the band's activities.They have had spectacular success inthe annual Munster and All-Irelandsenior ceil[ band competitions, havingwon two Munster titles and beentwice runners-up in the All-Ireland. Asa result they recently appeared onRTE's Leargas programme about thecompetition. They've also performedtwice on Ceilf House and many timeson Clare FM local radio.The Turloughmore Ceilf Band hasreleased one CD to date - The Bee'sWing'. This is their first recording, andalthough released early in the career ofthe band (200 I), is still a goodrepresentation of the blend and life thatthey have developed in their music.The Turloughmore Ceilf Band'scurrent line-up is as follows:Accordion: Brian O'Dea • Banjo:Siobhan O'DonoghueConcertina: Mary Liddy • Drums: PatCostelloFiddles: David Sanders (Band Leader),Denis Liddy & Joan HanrahanFlutes: Brfd O'Gorman & DavidO'Brien • Piano: Marie QUigneyWhatever the results of the SeniorCeilf Bands competitions in 2004, onething we're assured of - based on lastyear's performances both at Provincialand All-Ireland level - is some fantastictraditional music. Should theTurloughmore succeed in lifting thetitle, then as they said for the Clarehurlers back in 1995 'there won't bea cow milked in the county for atleast a week I!'52