U - Comhaltas Archive

Brothers, (Thomas and Andrew)to part with such a superbinstrument, which was made bythem to order for ColonelVandalcar for his son. Sadly, hisson was involved in a shootingaccident and was unable to playthe instrument.Evidence of Tom's involvementin all aspects of the Irish Musicrevival is evident. There arephotographs of him playingfiddle alongside his brothersJohn (fiddle) and Leo (pipes).Brendan Breathnach (pipes) andDick Neill (pipes). Tom and Leowere often photographedtogether playing the pipes as aduet or as part of the originalRowsome Pipes Quartet - Leo,Tom, Michael Padian and EddiePotts. (See photos on pages 8 and9 of The Leo Rowsome Collectionof Irish Music, a book of 428Reels and Jigs - WaltonsPublishing)Betty Nevin, Christy Downes,Jack Sheery, Terry Byrne, LeonRowsome, Tom Nevin, ChristyMcEvoy, Robert Fulham andMichael Tuohey.Leo and Tom's brother John, theyoungest family member was aformidable man whose suddendeath at the age of 48years on hisway home from Mass onChristmas Day had a profoundaffect on the family circle. Johnin the company of Tom and otherfamily members shared a quietdrink on the night before(Christmas Eve) and ondeparting the company, John,most uncharacteristically shookthe hand of each person, as if tosay farewell. This was the lasttime they saw him alive. Johnplayed the fiddle and was, likehis brothers, a talented musician.S COMHALTASTom, like his brothers, Leo andSam was tutored from a veryyoung age by his father Williamand influenced by his uncles Tomand John, both excellent pipers.Tom and Leo used to have funplaying together, each with onehand on the same chanter, aswell as duets on two chanters,harmonising together beautifully.The ability to harmonise and toperform on various orchestralinstruments was a skill instilledin them by their father, Williamwho with his own brothers, Tomand John studied music underthe direction of Herr JacobBlowitz, a German professor wholived in Ferns, Co Wexford from1878 to 1885.Tom's generosity knew nobounds. From his Clothing andOutfitting shop at 136 & 138Thomas Street he providedstylish quality made to measuresuits for the young pipers (andLiam Rowsome, fiddle) who hadto look their best at theMullingar Fleadh, which becamethe launch pad for ComhaltasCeolt6iri Eireann in 1951. Thereis a photo of the group of Leo'spupils from the Dublin Pipers'Club and his son Liam (fiddle) onpage 12 of The Leo RowsomeCollection of Irish Music -Waltons Publishing) The namesare as follows : Paddy Maloney,Liam Rowsome, BernardFlanagan, Jim Dowling,O'Carolan Comhaltas Ceoltairi Eireann branch, Kilmainhamwood members, were presented withtheir SCT musical certificates. Back from left: Jude (Tierworker), Lydia O'Halloran (Nobber), RaisinMclntyre (Shercock), Aodhcin McEntee (Nobber), Niall Donohue (Kilmainhamwood) and Fiachra M(Nobber). Middle row: Danielle Moran (Cormeen), Mary and Lissy Corbally (Nobber), Sarah Clarke(Kilbeg), Brendan Argue (Tierworker), Ellen 0 (Kilmainhamwood), Joan Owens, Tony McEntee,Emily Jane O'Halloran and Shaunagh Carolan (all Nobber). Front row: Ciara Potts (Navan), Shauna(Cormeen) Noreen McManus (teacher), Sean 0 Laoire (Leinster CCE vice-chairman) and AnnMcDowell O'Carolan CcE chairperson.Two members of the Corduff Pipe Bandjoined young harpers Declan McGuinness(Lobinstown), Michael O'Neill (Ardee), andShane Taaffe (Lobinstown) as well asO'Carolan Harp Cultural and HeritageFestival chairperson, Ann Finnegan and CCEnational Trustee Padraig 0 Ceallaigh, at theO'Carolan monument wreath laying(pictured) during the festival.43