U - Comhaltas Archive

hEireann in Ennis in 1956 was aresounding success and a definingmoment in the development ofthis new organisation. Paddy J oeMcMahon and Sean Reid wereregional delegates up to themid 1970S.The Laictin Naofa (eili BandJ .C. Talty and most of the samegroup named above formed thenucleus of the Laictin Naofa CeiliBand and as such competed atthe fleadhanna with success. In1958 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireannwas held in Longford and theMunster Ceili Band Competitionwas held on the same weekend.During the earlier fleadhanna thewinners would compete thefollowing day with the otherfinalists on the Monday of theBank holiday. The Laictin NaofaCeili Band won the Munster withthe Kilfenora and Tulla bandstaking second and third placesrespectivetily. The Kilfenora andTulla bands were in their hay dayat the time and to win theMunster alone was a greatachievement against suchtalented bands. The followingyear the Laictin Naofa Ceili Bandrecorded an LIP titled An IrishDance Party.selections. They played 'The OldGrey Goose' and 'The Humoursof Clonmel' as their jig selection.However, it was during the finalselection of reels finishing upwith 'The Bucks of Orranmore'that the drummer who wasplaying with them on thatoccasion got a bit excited andused the full drum kit includingthe symbol, top hat with anaccompanying offbeat rhythm. Iwas fascinated with thisperformance as I saw similaritieswith the style of set dancing andthe type of drumming with Clarebands. But J.C., the experiencedbandsman, instantly knew they