sligo for all-ireland? - Comhaltas Archive

were all loyal to each other, worked topromote traditional music with little interestin personal gain . Why my reminisence?As I write, the dark , drearymonths of winter are here, evoking nostalgicmemories. I recall a house on OakRoad, the home of Peter and MargaretFlynn. They had a passionate love oftraditional music and of uilleann pipesand were fired with above all, patrioticzeal. I cannot forget their kindness toLeo and myself when, after our marriagewe were coming to reside at thisside of Dublin. They surely welcomedus. They have earned and deserveremembrance.While in pensive mood I recallanother, who too soon wore himselfout, doing good for others, going, whilein failing health, to musical events andtraining young athletes. Of course Iwrite of Sean Reid. Although born inCastlederg, he went as a young engineerto work in Ennis. He was a saintly soulwho had a devoted love of music andpipes, who put himself in a prematuregrave because he was too involved indoing good for others to look after hishealth. He was a humble but very learnedman. I recall him playing music inthis house until the early hours of themorning, in a trance, dazed with themelodious sound of pipes. What a superiorbeing he was, never seeking fame,over modest of his talents, always helpingand encouraging! Words are inadequateto describe the character of SeanReid. He was one of the most unselfishmen I ever knew. He was a storehouseof knowledge. His musical talents havebeen passed down to his grandsons who,I am told, show great promise.Leo Rowsome - my dear husband -completed a set of uilleann pipes forSean Reid in 1936. Made of ebonyand silver and ornamented with ivorythey were and are still, melodious andbeautiful. Sean could not see a talentedmusician without an instrument to fur-SEAN REIDther his musical ability. Consequentlytoday our own Liam b Floinn playsthat instrument which was made in1936, doing justice to the memory oftwo kindred souls, Leo and Sean.It is heartening today to hear youngmusicians who show much promise.They are, no doubt, products of thegreat revival of traditional music, duelargely to the masters of the past, andfurthered today in Cornhaltas Clubs andin the Henrietta Street Pipers Club.What trojan work Breandan Breathnachdid in a short time. What a loss!Readers - forgive me if I have boredyou, if I have omitted to mention somewho deserve mention. These few lineswhich I read somewhere surely apply tothose I have mentioned:We owe life more than a livingWe must put something backSomething that will last after we aregone.You, older readers, remember someof the men " who have left their footprintson the sands of time."BILLY CAPLESIt is with regret that we announcethe death of one of Boston's bestknown and best loved traditional musiciansBilly Caples, ar dheis De go raibha anam uasal. Billy was one of thecolourful personalities of the traditionalmusic scene and a music teacher ofrenown. His love of Ireland's nativemusic was legendary. Our photo ofBilly is probably one of the last taken ofhim. This is supplied by Joe O'Donovanand was taken at a Ceili in Boston onFriday, May 30. The picture shows himwith friends from Boston and Cork: (I-rstanding) Billy Caples; Siobhan O'Donovan((Cork); Pat Lynch (Cork- Boston);Paddy Joe O'Brien (Cork- Boston).Seated (I-r) Mrs. Noreen Lynch, Peg andJohn Kelleher (all Cork-Boston).3