U - Comhaltas Archive

Bill McEvoyOn behalf ofthe Mulligan-QuinnBranch, we extend a hearty CeadMile Failte to all who join us thisevening for the annual Hall ofFame celebration. We extend veryspecial congratulations to JoannieMadden on being inducted to theHall of Fame. She will join her veryillustrious father for thisprestigious honour. It will be thefirst time that we will have a fatherand daughter sharing thisdistinguished achievement.We also commemorate thememories of the late Jim Cooganand Dermot Grogan RIP. Weremember with fondness theirmassive contributions totraditional Irish music and ournative Irish heritage. It is withsadness that we extend to theCoogan and Grogan families ourheartfelt sorrow on their passing.They have left us a rich heritage onwhich to build a future, theirvaliant contributions will foreverserve as an inspiration to all whofollow them.Joannie Madden's contribution totraditional Irish music and herincomparable achievements on theworld stage need no elaborationfrom me. Suffice to say that aboveall others in recent years shebrought a sense of passion,vibrance and glamour to our nativetraditional music. In doing so shenever lost sight of her beginnings.Whenever possible J oannie cameto support the local sessions or togive her support to some worthycause. With her fine dispositionshe brought joy to many an Irish30heart both on and off the concertstage. Congratulations Joannie,you have truly earned this greathonour.As we assemble in the IrishAmerican Centre tonight tocelebrate 35 years of Comhaltashistory here in North America, it isimportant that we recognize therole that this Centre has played inthe life of Comhaltas here inAmerica and Canada. In March of1972 three people came together tomake plans for the first everconcert tour to America. MineolaIrish Centre was the first to accept.The late Tom Connolly ofLindenhurst was serving asPresident back then.The farewell concert for that initialtour took place here on SaturdayOctober 21 st , 1972, to a packedhouse and standing room onlyaudience. It is still rememberedas one of the greatest concertsever staged.Later that year in 1972 Comhaltaswas founded here. The first everqualifyingFleadh Cheoil was heldhere in this Irish Centre in 1974.The very fact that we are all heretonight is attributable to the visionof one man, Sean 6 Faolain (JohnWhelan), the Miltown Malbay borncultural leader who introduced amotion at a meeting here in 1990that we create a Hall of Fame tohonour musicians who hadrendered distinguishedcontributions to Irish TraditionalMusic in the New York area beheld annually.The late Tom Doherty of Brooklynand Donegal was the first to beinducted in 1990. Since then theHall of Fame has spread to allRegions in the United States andCanada. The precious gift of onecultural visionary from MiltownMalbay.It is true to state that this IrishAmerican Centre has long been ahome to Comhaltas. A successionof great Presidents and Board ofDirectors has always supportedComhaltas, but none more so thanthe man who serves in thathonoured position tonight, MikeQuinn. He is the Tulla bornneighbour of Paddy Canny and thelate P.J.Hayes RIP. We thank himfor all he has done for ComhaltasCeolt6iri Eireann. This area of richtradition in County Clare is a clearindicator of the climate in whichMike Quinn was raised.Hence, tonight we congratulatethose who will be inducted to theHall of Fame, and we thank allwho came to support this greatannual event.These sentiments were expressedin a letter to the Mid-AtlanticRegional Board by Senator Labhras6 Murchu, Director GeneralComhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireann. Dueto prior commitment in Scotlandhe could not be here tonight.We are the inheritors of a rich andancient heritage. Our music, oursongs, our dances, our nativelanguage, and the games of the Gaelare components of that rich legacy.They are the fibre from which thenationhood of Ireland is woven.