Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

KILLORAN-CLANCYBRANCH CCE, QUEENS, NYSean 6 FaolainThe Paddy Killoran Irish Musiciansclub was founded in New York in thelate 1940's at a time whenimmigration from Ireland was at apeak. The Paddy Killoran IrishMusicians Club, as it was known atthat time, played host to many Irishmusicians arriving here from Ireland.In those early years the club waslocated at the Irish Institute on 48 thStreet, New York City. The monthlysessions on the 3 rd Sunday of themonth attracted huge attendancefrom all over the Tri-State area. It wasnot unusual then to find as many asSO musicians spread out in a hugecircle playing reels, jigs, hornpipes,polkas, with an occasional MazurkaSet led by musicians from Donegaljoined by all present.The club grew in strength andnumber for the next several years.Among the early founding memberswas the well known fiddler PaddyBawn O'Sullivan from the Spa, Tralee.In addition to the master himself,Paddy Killoran, other renownedmusicians such as fiddle player EddieChisholm from Donegal, flute playerTim O'Riordan from Kerry, Uileannpiper Tom Busby from Fermanagh.One of the great traditional eventsthat took place in the mid 50's andearly 60's was the Irish Musicians'Annual boat ride on the HudsonRiver from New York to BearMountain. More than 3000 peopleclamoured on this floating bandstandfor a trip up the Hudson to BearMountain National Park. It was musicall the way all day until late into theevening as the sun was setting on outhomeward journey.When Comhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireannwas founded here in 1972 the PaddyKilloran Club was the first to becomeaffiliated with the new organization.There was always that great affin itywith Ireland. It was not surprising thatthe Paddy Killoran Irish Musicians Clubshould lead the way to be followedsoon thereafter by other renownedmusic clubs in the New York areaincluding, Michael Coleman Club,Bronx; PatsyTouhey Club, Brooklyn;Ed Reevy Club, Long Beach; and theLouis E. Quinn Club, Long Island.As the years went by the KilloranBranch had great Chairmen includingPat Noble (RIP. Galway); MikeMcGurn (Fermanagh); John Whelan(Clare); Jim Shannon (Clare); MaryO'Halloran (Leitrim); RichieO 'Connor (Cork) and the presentChairman, John McGurrin (Cavan).The Irish Advocate, a weeklynewspaper at the time, alwayspublished an account of the activitiesof the different branches and wasinstrumental in helping spread theactivities of Comhaltas in themetropolitan area.Venues for sessions changed over theyears and were held in such wellknownplaces as the Breffni Inn(Sunnyside), McLoughlins (Astoria),TowerView Ballroom (Woodside),and St. Mary's Church Hall(Woodside).As the years passedchanges took place. Ceili dancing hada resurgence of popularity. The13