U - Comhaltas Archive

ca COMHALTASBallintogher Traditional MusicFestival and Fiddler of DooneyFIDDLER OF DOONEY 2006Teresa McCormackcelebrate this event, the Feiscommittee decided to organise afestival on the weekend followingthe Feis.With the support of the FredFinn Branch of Comhaltasa programme of events wasarranged.Fiddler of Dooney Junior winners: (L -R) Rosie Ferguson, Caoimhe Kearns, MaireadHickey, Ruaidhrf Mac Aodhagain with committee members Teresa McCormack,Francis Taaffe, Martin Enright and Seam us McCormackIII Li' l{Fiddler of Dooney Senior winner: (L-R) Breege Harper (adj.); Seam us McCormack; TaroBreen, Ennis - Winner and Manus McGuire (adj.)The John Egan 9 th annualtraditional weekend commencedwith the Ballintogher 29 th annualFeis on the bank holidayweekend of October 2'1hj29th.The music and dancing Feisattracted a very large entrycompetitors coming from all overthe N orth West and NorthernIreland. The Feis has beenrunning since 1977 and over thepast 28 years it has become asignificant event i?;~e: culturalcalendar of the North East.In 1998 the Feis was 21 years inexistence and in order toIt was decided that the festivalwould also commemorate a localmusician, John Egan who wasborn in Ardlebeg, Ballintogher in1903. He started playing the fluteat a young age. He was involvedin the local fife and drum band inSooey before leaving the area towork in Donegal. He settled inDublin in 1937, joined the PipersClub where he met and playedmusic with many of the wellknown names from the NorthWest including John Joe Gardinerand Kathleen Harrington from theBallymote area. Tom and JoeLiddy from Killargue, JohnBrennan from Kilmacowen.He was a member of the KincoraCeili Band and recorded an LPwith this group.He was a major figure in thetraditional music world in theDublin area and his Sligo style offlute playing influenced manymusicians.In 1952 John and other musicalfriends established the st. Mary's33