Íoslódáil (PDF) - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIR
MEMORIAL TO BALLYNONTY
MUSICIAN UNVEILED
John Guiton, Tipperary Star
The majestic Reen scenic site
perched on the Slieveardagh hills
overlooking Glengoole village
provided the perfect setting for the
unveiling on Sunday last of a
memorial to commemorate
legendary traditional musician Pat
Lyons.
The sun beamed on a delightful
afternoon as the sounds of
traditional music perforated the
sultry air in salute to one of
Ireland's best known accordeon
players. The late Pat Lyons, who
resided at Ballynonty, had a few
peers when it came to traditional
Irish music and musicians, singers
and dancers, had travelled from all
over County Tipperary, and much
further afield, to pay tribute to a
talented and most unassuming man.
Pat Lyons passed to his eternal
reward last year, and shortly after
his death a local committee was
formed with the objective of
erecting a memorial in his name. Pat
had travelled the length and breadth
of Ireland, and indeed abroad,
entertaining wide audiences, and had
a long list of distinguished
achievements to his name. It was
very fitting, therefore, that on
Sunday last in the heart of his
beloved Slieveardagh that the local
community gathered in great
numbers for the unveiling of a
beautiful piece of work produced by
skilled craftsmen Jimmy and Bart
O 'Keefe.Among the guests at the
ceremony were Pat's wife Maura and
family, his sister Mary, brother, Sean,
and relatives. In a very fitting
address, Mr Padraig O 'Oufaigh,
National Treasurer of Comhaltas,
who unveiled the memorial said that
he was honoured to perform the
function in memory of 'a great
friend, brilliant musician, a lovely
character and family man: Mr 6
Oufaigh said he was delighted to see
that a local committee had set
about remembering Pat Lyons in this
way. 'Not enough is done to honour
people in the calibre of Pat who
have beavered so hard to keep
traditional music al ive in Ireland' he
said. He added 'I knew Pat mostly
through his association with two
great friends on mine Sean and
Kathleen Ryan. When Sean died Pat
kept up the legacy of the great
tradition established by the Sean
Ryan Quartet. I'm delighted that the
music of Sean, Pat and friends is
now on CO:
Mr 6 Oufaigh in a warm tribute to
the late Pat said that he never
'hogged the limelight' and always had
'a generous word: He added The
musicians here today to honour the
memory of Pat Lyons got their
inspiration from people like him who
played in the halls and at the firesides
with a pure love of their music. We
have great memories of Pat.'
Fr John O'Keefe, CC Gortnahoe­
Glengoole, Chairperson of the
Memorial Committee, marvelled at
the beauty of the location for the
memorial, and expressed his
gratitude to everybody for their
support during their fund raising
campaign. He praised committee
members for their work, and the
craftsmen involved in the project for
their expertise. He spoke of Pat
Lyons's talents and popularity and
said he was delighted to be
associated with the tribute to him.
Fr O'Keefe performed the blessing
of the memorial.
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