Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

1Jim Hogan, an elderly gentleman insuit and tie, was sitting in the hotellobby near a seisiun of youngmusicians from the Barefield CeilfBand of Ennis, Co. Clare.A formermember of another Clare ceilf band,the renowned Kilfenora, he waslistening intently to these youngsters,all between 13 and 18, playing flutes,fiddles, and other instruments.I walked over to him to pay myrespects, and before I could speak, helooked up at me and said, "Beautifulmusic, isn't it?" I nodded, realizing thatthe traditional music of his homecounty still deeply stirred Hogan, anemigrant from Clare to NorthAmerica almost half a century ago.Turning his gaze back to the teens, headded, "The music's in good hands."It was a sentiment shared by 1,200other attendees of the NorthAmerican Convention held byComhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireann in theHoward Johnson Plaza Hotel, Toronto,Canada, during April 20-22. This yearwas special, marking the 50 thanniversary of CCE, an organizationheadquartered in Dublin that firsttook root in 195 I in Mullingar, Co.Westmeath, to promote andshowcase the best of Ireland's musicaland dance traditions. And thosetraditions were on overflowing displaythroughout the weekend, aptlythemed "A Musical Odyssey". My ownran nearly round-the-clock fromFriday to Sunday.Sleepless in TorontoA set-dance workshop led byTipperary's Pat Murphy, author of thepopular dance book "Toss theFeathers", had hundreds out on thewooden floor of the main ballroomearly Friday evening. In groups ofeight, they heeded the gently proddinginstruction of Murphy, who movedaround the floor with a cordlessmicrophone to guide the dancersthrough their steps.Afterward, a formal concert in a largedownstairs space began auspiciouslyElizabeth McDonald (centre) of Nova Scotia who received a special presdentation at Convention 200 IDevotees of traditional music and danceflock to TorontoEarle Hitchner, Irish Echowith New York's Felix Dolan onkeyboards accompanying threemusicians from Galway: Killimorbutton accordionist Ena O'Brien, whoimmigrated to Canada in 1964;Ballinakill f1utist Mike Rafferty, whocame to the US in 1949, and Ahascraghfiddler Larry Reynolds, a state-sideresident since 1953.This quartetplayed a set short in length but long inpleasure, including two spirited jigs, "ATrip to Athlone/Killavill".They were followed by two groups of13 musicians each from the BarefieldCeilf Band, and it was clear that theirteacher and leader, Denis Liddy, anexcellent fiddler himself, had done hisjob well. These Clare teens showed alevel of musical maturity beyond theiryears, something also apparent ontheir self-issued CD from a couple ofyears ago.Traversing the floors of the hotel, Iheard music seeping out of rooms invirtually every corridor. In thesubterranean Sean Gorman's Pub,musicians congregated to play longinto the night and morning.Elsewhere, performers young and oldnudged into nooks and crammed intocrannies, and even a bank of payphones in a remote part of the lobbyprovided an impromptu venue forsome tunes by half a dozen musicians.In the main ballroom, a ceilf was in fullSenator Labhras Murchu greetingO'Loghlin in front of The Scatteringpresentation. This look on Clare personalitiesabroad features Eamonn as one the Banner'sfavourite sonsHe/en Gannon (next year's Conventioncathaoirleach in St Louis) receiving apresentation from Minister Mary Coughlanwatched by Frank Kennedy17