sligo for all-ireland? - Comhaltas Archive

, ,BOITHRIN NA SMAOINTEHelena RowsomeSince this article was written byMrs. Helena Rowsome, the legendarypipe-maker Matt Kiernan hasgone to his eternal reward-ar DheisDe ro raibh a anam uasal.We are glad to report that Mrs.Rowsome is fast recovering fromher recent illness and we look forwardto receiving many morereminiscences from her in thefuture. Go raibh Rath De uirthf.The picture of Matt Kieman on thecover of TREOIR stirred memories forme. May he live long to continue hisgood work, guiding, helping and encouragingall who cross his threshold. Leospoke with admiration for Matt, who,when God called his wife from thisworld, reared his children up to be acredit. He (Leo) spoke of Matt's character,his fairness, honesty and eagernessto help and reassure , but never to criticise.The picture of the pipe maker inhis workshop bears out what my sonLeon recently told me i.e. that theworkshop is neat and orderly matchingthe character of the man. Whatmemories that foot lathe had for me!For years Leo worked on a similar latheand what beautiful instruments wereborn of that old lathe- the same onewhich William Rowsome worked, aswell as the anvil which Leo used. Leobelieved that the keys for regulators andchanter which he produced by using theanvil were far more durable than the"cast" or machine made keys which are,I think, used. today. Beating out rods ofsilver or brass on the anvil used takenearly a week . Keys were meticulouslyshaped, filed and polished.As I remember, Jack Wade whoplayed pipes and fiddle and who livednear us advised Leo to save laboriouswork and to invest in a motor for thelathe. Jack was a most cheerful andwitty character. He met his death asthe result of a car accident. The lateJirn Seery and Jack were here oftenwhen Leo's workshop was being built.If only we had recorded or taped someof the jokes that were told. Jirn Seeryof course, played the fiddle and was astalwart member of the early pipers'LEO ROWSOMEclubs. He was, of course, father of Seanwho was and is one of the very gifteduilleann pipers, while his sister Eileenhad a true, sweet singing voice. TheSeery home in Manor Street was attimes like a Pipers' Club . Businessconcerning the Moleswo rth Street andThomas Street clubs was often discussedthere while dear kind Mrs. Seeryever obliging, provided the tea and sandwiches.They were truly the good olddays.I remember some of the great musiclovers who now have been called to abetter world - Thos. McCabe, Thos.2Brazil, Hugh Byme, Maura Reid, GerTuohy, Sean Dempsey and, of course ,Thos. Rowsome whose car was availableL.vays and was consequently called the"Club" car. Comhaltas wasn't bornthen and cars were not so plentiful.Tom Rowsome had a drapery shop inThomas Street and J im Seery and othersused drop in to chat, joke and pretendto argue. I recall a picture of a line ofyoung pipers at a fleadh in Mullingar allin very smart suits tailored by ThomasRowsome. My son Liam tells me thatFleadh in Mullingar was the first FleadhCheoil and was or~anised in associationwith Feis Llir na hEireann in 1951.The men of the clubs in those days