Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIREarle Hitchner, 'Irish Echo'In 1957 at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireannin Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, the TullaCeilf Band, led by fiddler P.J . Hayes,finally overtook their main rival, theKilfenora CeiH Band, to win first prizein the senior ceilf band competition.The Kilfenora had won the previousthree straight years, making the Tulla'svictory in this perennial clash of Claretitans all the sweeter after so manyrunner-up finishes.In March 1958, the Tulla came to theU.S. for a two-week tour as reigningAll-Ireland champions, and one oftheir performances was at New York'sCarnegie Hall. Also on the bill wereIrish-American songstress CarmelQuinn and Pat Boone, then a hugelypopular American singer in whitebuckshoes who had amassed morethan 50 hit singles and had his ownnetwork TV show from 1957 to 1960."Pat Boone was dressed to the ninesand really looked like a star," recalledEyrecourt, Co. Galway-born buttonaccordionist Martin Mulhaire, whohad played with the Tulla on thatstateside tour. "I was very impressed,having just arrived in this country, andI said to P.J. "Gee, I cannot believe thatthe Tulla will be on the same stage asthe famous Pat Boone".And P.J. said,"Who's Pat Boone?" And I said, "P.J .,you never heard of Pat Boone?" Andhe said, "I haven't a clue who he is."Then I said, "I can't believe that," andP.J. replied, "Well, I'll tell you one thing- I'll bet he never heard of me either."Over the phone from his home inQueens, N.Y Mulhaire lets out aripple of laughter at the memory. "P.J.had a very wry sense of humor andcould be quite witty and droll ," hesaid of his former friend andbandleader, who died at age 80 fromcomplications of Parkinson's diseaseat his home in Maghera, Caher, Co.Clare just before noon on May 6.A 55-year commitmentA founding member of the Tulla CeilfBand in 1946, P.J. Hayes was theirleader from 1952 onward, takingthem to All-Ireland senior titles in1957 and 1960. (After 1962 theyretired from competition). Thisextraordinary half-century of serviceand dedication kept the Tulla afloatwhen many other ceilf bands hadstruggled or sunk from Sight."Even if the Tulla had never entered acompetition, they would haveachieved the same amount of fame",believes Mulhaire. "It was P.J .'sgUidance that made the band last. Hehad a very diplomatic way of dealingwith things. He got the job done, butyou never realized he was doing it."That was as true in 1996-97 as it wasin 1958. The Tulla Ceilf Band hadrecorded "A Celebration of 50 Years"(Green Linnet, 1996), marking theirgolden anniversary, and in November1996 they performed at the GreenLinnet Irish Music Party weekend inMonticello, N.Y. The following May, theband made an unforgettableappearance at the Washington, D.e.,Irish Festival in Wolf Trap,Vienna,Va.Joining them on stage were twodistinguished alumni: Martin Mulhaireand flutist Mike Preston, who wasborn in Ballymote, Co. Sligo, but laterlived in Crusheen, Co. Clare."I was never as happy as when Ijoined the Tulla again in the Catskillsand at Wolf Trap," Preston said byphone from his home in the Bronx.He was a member of the band from1952-62, the year he immigrated toAmerica. "P.J. was a great leader, verydecent and kind."Mulhaire's recollection of that WolfTrap appearance is as warm asPreston's. "When we were picking outtunes to play together, P.J. would askeverybody if they were happy withthem. Somehow you never felt he wasthe leader or the boss, even thoughhe was. At WolfTrap, I thanked himfor keeping the band alive, especiallywith all the people who came throughit over the years. He just smiled at meand said, "Why do you think my hairis so white?"In his liner notes to "A Celebration of50 Years", P.J.'s son, Martin, wrote thatthe Tulla "was the first example ofparticipatory democracy I had everencountered. Nothing was done andno choices made that went againstthe wishes of any individual musician.Everything ... required collectiveagreement."Peadar O'Loughlin, a flutist whoplayed in the Tulla from about 1957-65, also emphasized the diplomacyand kindness of P.J. Hayes. "He never39