Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIRThomas O'Sullivan, Milltown CCE"How delightful to standon the Hills of KilderryWhen the sun in the west shedits rays over this sceneAnd the boatmen of Lurriga*are crossing the ferryAnd casting their nets in therushy Tureen*"(from Hills of Kilderryby Robert Turner Eager)(Lurriga and Tureen areplacenamesalong the River Maine - favourite fishinggrounds of fishermen from Callinafercy)The Milltown/Listry ComhaltasCeolt6irf Eireann Branch proudlydisplay the Hanafin Brothers, Michael(1875-1970) and William (1885-1924)on their crest - taken from 0 Neill's100 I Tunes (or the Irish TraditionalMusic Bible).They were born on a farm 'coisfarraige' in Callinafercy or 'Caladh naFeirste' near Milltown, County Kerry.Their house became a second hometo the travelling pipers, fiddlers anddancing masters - none other thanDick Stephenson, who on more thanone occasion fell into 'bad drinkingcompany' in Milltown, never reachinghis musical destination in Callinafercy.Another musician was Mike Hurleyfrom neighbouring Keel - "overMaine" - a talented fiddler, making abig impression on young Hanafin whotook up position behind the fiddlemaster'schair. Michael got whistle anddancing lessons from a FlorenceHartnett and soon learned to play theKerry sets on the flute but nothingcould quench his thirst for the fiddle.His youthful exuberance oftenambushed the fiddler Hurley alongthe way to the Hanafin homestead toplay "The Pidgeon" on the gate, "Starof Munster" and the double jig -"Apples in the Winter" - whichincidentally O'Neill gives MichaelHanafin credit for in 0 Neill's 1800Tunes Collection.The first we hear of the Hanafin inBoston Massachusetts is October1889 when he befriended the famousDan Sullivan. They instantly becamebest friends, playing duets and later tobe joined by fluter Daniel Moroneywho came from Kilderry. They playedthe length and breath of music hallsacross the United States. with theShamrock Band with hits such as"Good-bye Mick, Good-bye Pat andGood-bye Kate & Mary" . Theyrecorded with at least three recordingcompanies and had their own weeklyradio show on WNAC in the 1930's.Michael also won a gold medal at theBoston Feis 1906 in Dancing.Billy Hanafin got the call for theuilleann pipes from the visitor to theHanafin homestead - DickStephenson. He then befriended JohnHarney in Boston and acquired a bag,bellows and chanter. As the story hasit, he was practicing his scales in hisroom one night when a guest stayingin the nearby Saint Leon Hotel heardthe familiar sounds of the chanter andreed. The mystery guest was noneother than Patsy Tuohy, the acclaimedpiper who took Billy under his wingand any time in the Boston vicinitygave him a lesson into the intricaciesof the "Maid in the Cherry Tree" andother jigs and sets. Billy died in 1924and Michael at the ripe old age of 95in 1970. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneassioraf d6ibh."yet wherever I wander I'll thinkof KilderryThrough the waves of the oceanbetween us do dwellSo I'll now bid adieu to thisKingdom of KerryAnd charming Kilderryforever farewell"(from "Hills of Kilderry"by Robert Turner Eager)To celebrate the memory and thecontribution of those talentedemigrants from the Callinafercy areawho took with them to the UnitedStates of America the tunes, lyrics andsteps of Ireland it has been proposedto erect a memorial on a site in thetown - a fitting tribute. TheMilltown/Listry CCE Branch inviteanyone interested in contributing orholding events in aid of the memorialto contact: Dan Cronin, Chairman,AnChraobh Baile an Mhuilin,lLios a Tri,Comhaltas Ceolt6irf Eireann,Milltown, County Kerry, Ireland.Telephone: 087 685054251