ENNIS FLEADH NUA - Comhaltas Archive

A TRIBUTE TO THE LATEPA.DRAIG 6 GRIOFA"Vch, a bhais, gur leag tu choiche,Blath as sceimh ar ngeige is aoirde;Monuar, nior shasamh ar do bhuadhGan ceap ar ndaoine dhul san uaigh."These words of an Irish poet in theearly 17th century, lamenting the deathof a close friend, are indeed most appropriatewhen referring to the death somemonths ago of that great Comhaltas stalwart,Paddy Griffin of Craobh Thrall.Paddy was neither a musician, singeror dancer but as an organiser he had fewpeers. He was ever-conscious of thevalue of the sean-chultur and the urgentneed to salvage it in all its facets forposteri ty. In Comhaltas he recogniseda movement with tremendous culturalpotential and he immersed himself heartand soul in it. For Paddy nothing wasimpossible in the cause of our uniqueheritage and his contribution to the succesof Comhaltas in Kerry was immense.When Craobh Thrili was reorganisedin 1969 Paddy was unanimously electedCathaoirleach, a post he held with greatdistinction until his death. He was alsoleas-cathaoirleach of B6rd Chiarrai for anumber of years and Auditor in thelatter years of his life. But his greatpride and love was Craobh Thrall, theSliabh Mis Ceil{ Band and the children.He transported children to functionsand fleadhanna all over Ireland and enjoyedevery minute of it. God help anyonewho dared make a sound whilecompetitors were doing their piece.Wherever Craobh Thrall were in competitionwith Craobh Leacsna the exchangeof banter between Paddy andDiramuid b Cathain was always worthwitnessing.On one such occasion at aKerry Fleadh Cheoil in Kilgarvan, theSliabh Mis Ceili Band and Diarmuid bCathain's Bricside Ceili Band "clashed".Paddy of course reminded Diarmuidthat in spite of his great knowledge ofmusic, the Bricside hadn't a snowballschance in hell of winning.The bands performed and we alllistened to the adjudication, the Bricsidewere informed that their drums werehopelessly out of tune. But who hadbeen playing the drums? - none otherthan Diarmuid b Cathain himself,Paddy and Michael Dowling could beheard laughing as far away as Kenmare.Paddy was also a "doggie"man and, "PADRAIG 0 GRIOFAtook a keen interest in the greyhoundindustry and indeed kept a few greyhoundshimself. His love of Gaelic football,especially Kerry football, wassecond only to his love of Comhaltasand his repertoire of reminiscencesabout games and players of the past wasendless. Probably few people in Kerryknow that Paddy was brother-in-law ofthat great Kerry football trainer of thepast Dr. Eamonn O'SuUivan.But behind every great man is a greatwoman - on this occasion a great ladyBean uasal Ghaelach,Maire Bn ViGhriofa. Maire (nee Conway), a nativeof Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary has beento the forefront in Irish culture in heradopted town of Tralee since her arrival.Being a secondary teacher, she takes akeen interest in the children in herbranch and as secretary for a big numberof years she has been their guide anddriving force - teaching music and singingand producing cultural shows, notalone in Comhaltas but for other culturalbodies and special occasions. Badhual athar di e sin because her latefather, Salbheastar MacConnmhaigh wasCathaoirleach na Mumhan and held theexalted position of Vachtaran CCE . Herfavourite instrument is the fiddle andher favourite music the Slow Air inwhich she became All-Ireland SeniorChampion.At the removal of the remains, KerryCo . Board officers and members formeda guard of honour and accompanied theremains, in formation, to St. John'sChurch, Tralee.Craobh Thrall musiciansand singers rendered a musical tributeat the funeral mass which wasattended by Comhaltas President,Micheal b Lochlainn and the huge congregationwas representative not only ofComhaltas in Kerry and outside but ofall other cultural and business organisations.It was fitting but poignant that thegraveside oration at Rath Cemetery wasdelivered by his old classmate and friendDiarmuid b Cathain.Paddy has gone to his eternal rewardand Craobh Thrall and Comhaltas inKerry are left t