ENNIS FLEADH NUA - Comhaltas Archive

WORDS OF ADVICEBootleMerseyside.As a great admirer of the successfulhistory of Comhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireann,I felt I should write to your very interes·ting magazine, which displays perfectlythe world of Irish traditional music andthe workings of Comhaltas. Bu t I hopethat the reader will see this letter not asbeing negative, but truthful!Having attend the recent FleadhCheoil na Breataine, I witnessed, alongwith many other first-generation Irish,the remarkable achievements of first.second, third and fourth generatio~(and non·Irish) people playing, singingand dancing and proving that Comhaltasmust be the most successful culturalorganisation in existence.But sadly from my experiences at therecent Fleadh and the ordinary businessof the Comhaltas branches, I realised avery sad reality - the attitude of manyof its members. To see the innocenceand beauty of the children who lovetheir music, but to see that scarred bysome parents (and others) interested intheir own glory and not the youngperson: it is very harmful both to theyoung musician as well as the organisation:might I add at this point, theencouragement that many parents givetheir children in promoting the cultureof their homeland we shouldcongratulate those parents.An organisation which is organisedon such a huge scale will have itspro blems - but jealously, argument,one-upmanshlip, are not part of ourculture but they should be left at homealong with the people who think likethat, and let the rest of us enjoy ourmusic, let us genuinely congratulate thewinners ~ but get on with the joy of playingand enjoying our music. Musicshould bring people together, but some(who think that there is nothing betterin the world than winning a medal orcup) seem to think that "competition"is a modern translation of "culture".When you see recently James Galwayand the Chieftains sharing theirdifferent musical traditions but unitingthrough the medium of Irish music andJames Last teaming up with Comhaltasto produce an unique recording, whydo our members here in England andelsewhere build barriers when others arerapidly knocking them down? We maybe only speaking of a minority - butthey certainly make their presence felt!And to see it rubbing off on the youthis unforgiveable.I hope that out of respect for ourgreat organisation, but especially theyoung people, that we can all keephealthy competition and the goodhumour which will preserve and promotethe aims of Comhaltas Ceolt6iriEireann and Irish culture generally andlet the disease of jealousy and backbitingfmd a home elsewhere.Congratulations on the magnificentwork being undertaken by Comhaltaswhich is unconditionally appreciated bythe dedicated members of Comhaltas,notwithstanding the writer of this letter., , ,SEAN 0 GRIOF ASCOIL EIGSE '87It's only those who own could shareIf treasures were to wealth confined,But there are riches far more fair -The treasures of the genial mind;And glad am lone hour to shareIn social riches such as this,To feel about me everywhereThe endless joy of friendship 's bliss.Here where all students strive to gainAnd teachers towards perfection strive;The soul soars to a higher plainAnd native culture stays alive.As down the corridors I strolled,Through mingled thrills of musics soundAs if from bird-throats sweetly rolled,Their varied songs and woodlands'round.And strangers too from foreign landsWere natives while our wealth theyshared;While youth and age in common bondsBy song and sweetness still ensnared.Let gratitude and memories liveIn feelings filled with tenderness,I'm privileged my days to giveAs guardian of such loveliness.CHAMPIONS ALL - The members of theCorey Senior Ceili Band who captured theLeinster title during Fleadh week-end inEnniscorthy, the band have now qualified forthe All-Ireland for the 11th year running, (l·r)EAMONN O'BRIEN, PAT BASS, PATKAVANAGH, PADRAIGSINNOTTand PATFLOOD. (Front I-r) JOHN BASS Snr.,NORA BYRNE, MICHAEL FITZPATRICK,ANN ETTE COLEMAN and JOHN FLOOD.-DAN KEANE41