Ceol Cois Tine - Comhaltas Archive

A Glimpse of the McCallsBy Gear6id b BroinSixty two years ago Ireland's muchlovedballadeer, Patrick J. McCall, passedaway suddenly at his home,"Westpoint", in Sutton, Co. Dublin- ashe stood excitedly at his halldoor watchingan aeroplane pass overhead. He wasthen only 58 years of age. According to aDublin newspaper he died intestate,leaving assets valued at £70,000, includinga Library of rare Irish publications. Buthe bequeathed to posterity a life-longCollection of over 3,500 Irish ballads, and250 Poems of his own composition.By all accounts "P.1." was of a shyand retiring disposition, and did notmarry until he was almost forty years ofage . He was then oflow stature, stockilybuilt, with dark features, piercing browneyes, and a fme moustache. But heinstantly fell for the pretty looks ofMargaret Furlong, sister of Alice , the renownedPoetess, who was then living at37 South Frederick Street, Dublin.Living relatives depict her as a most attractiveperson- cheerful friendly , andgood-natured, and of equal height withP.1. himself. She was seven years youngerthan he, and lived for 25 years after hisdeath. She died an invalid at " Westpoint"on March 27th 1944.They were married on October 3,1900- her sister, Alice , as Bridesmaid andLouis Eily O'Carroll as Best-man. Theironly child was a still-born son. He wasinterred in the family grave in GlasnevinCemetery. She participated in most ofher husband's cultural pursuits. She wasregarded as a charming hostess, alwaysentertaining his many friends- prominentIrish personalities of the period, at 25 ,Patrick Street, and at " Westpoint" inlater years.She always accompanied him on histrips to Rathangan and feis Charman.Local residents recall seeing them at SundayMass during the summer months,where they were always a great attraction-the best-dressed of the Congregation!Margaret was specially renownedfor the very fashionable hats she wore.P.1's last visit to Rathangan was in 1918,we learn.Apparently, P .1's father was a shrewdbusinessman. He made good profitsselling " bonded Whiskey", and built up asteady trade in his Bar and Grocery Storein Patrick Street. But P.1. his sole survivingoffspring, was little attracted to thatin composing new songs, and in identifyinghimself actively with the Pan CelticSociety, The National Literary Association,The Gaelic League , Sinn Fein, TheFeis Ceoil, The National Theatre Society,Feis Charman, and kindred culturalorganisations. These, in turn, led him toa deep study of the history and folkmusic of Ireland.Undoubtedly, he acquired much of hisliterary talents from his father. Followingin his footsteps, he was elected amember of Dublin City Corporation forthe Wood Quay Ward- from 1896 untilhe resigned in 1911. From time to time ,too, he travelled in France, Germany,and Italy, and was a keen collector ofVenitian glassware. He was a competentballad singer, according to his acquaintances,and could play innumerabletraditional Irish airs on the violin. Hebusiness. Eventually, his first cousin,John McCall from Clonmore, Co . Carlow,was invited to take charge of it. P.1'sabiding interests lay in ballad collecting, '--____ ____________of times played the organ at SundayMass in Grantstown Church, too. He wasan avid collector of Irish dance tunes. ANote Copy containing 40 well-knownJigs, Reels and hornpipes (dated November1, 1886, when he was 25 years old)is now in the possession of MichaelLeacy , a Gorey Draper. His famous Collectionof "75 Feis Ceoil Melodies" waspublished in 1915 .P.1's interest in the Ballad Lore ofIreland actually stemmed from his nativeenvironment- from the rich ballad traditionof the "Liberties" where he was bornand reared. Patrick Street, Francis Street,Thomas St., and Cornmarket, especially,were the mecca of the Street singers.There broadsheets were sold in large numbers.In fact, the entire area was honeycombedwith Ballad Printers like Hardingsof Werburgh St. ; Wards and Arighos ofDungloeCO. Donegal22·25 October 1982A gathering of Se1siGnGroups an:! their friendsfron the four oorners ofIrelan:!.Join us for this Autumfestival ..nere there's anattractive programre tosuit all tastes: an:! plentyof tirre an:! qJpOrtlmity forthe infornal sessioo.BI Unn .. Seisi6n na Samhna tit • mbeidh sar-