ENNIS FLEADH NUA - Comhaltas Archive

THE GENIUS OFCHRISTOPHER O'CONNELLLe 'Reachtaire'Christopher O'Connell, or 'Christy'as he was known to his many friends,was a native of Main, Ardfert. As anaccordion player, he was years beforehis time, being the first known performerin Kerry to master the chromaticstyle of playing on the two row box andto make proper use of the bass keys. Inthe late thirties and early forties, he wasin great demand in the dance halls inNorth Kerry and with his "box" strappedto the carrier of his bicycle, hetravelled as far afield as Crotta hall, the'Hut' hall at Mountcoal and Jer Dan'shall in Causeway. Among his pupilswere such well known players as theCooke brothers - Harry and Tom Joeand ] erry Flaherty. His ramb lings inall kinds of weather eventually took itstoll, and in the early forties, he wasdiagnosed as having the dreaded diseasetuberculosis,and was sent to EdenbumSanatorium. At a time when few recoveredfrom the disease, Christy wasone of the few lucky ones and in twoyears, left with a clean bill of health anda warning that for the future he wouldhave to be very careful. Unfortunately,he did not heed the warning and in ashort time resumed his travels andwithin two years was back in Edenburnwhere he died some months later. Ashis strength failed, he found the accordiontoo heavy to handle and he borroweda fiddle and made considerableprogress on this difficult instrument beforehis death. The good sisters inEdenburn remember him as a modelpatient who was the life and soul of thehospital, thus following in the footstepsof his father Paddy Connell, R,I.P.Some weeks before he died, and at atime when he was well aware of whatlay before him, he resorted to writingpoems, which he duly sent to 'TheKerryman'. When his first poem "Ardfertby the Sea" appeared in print, therewas scarcely a dry eye in North Kerryon that weekend. This was followed by"Short and Sweet," in which he badefarewell to his countless friends and twofurther poems. The many old timers,still alive who knew Christy will relishA session in Edenburn in the early '4Os. Christy O ' Connell ill holding the accordionin the front row.reading his master pieces reproduced inthis journal.ARDFERT BY THE SEAThere's a dear little spot where withpleasure in childhood,With small friends I wandered so happyand free,When fragrant wild flowers were inbloom in the wild wood,Round my old cottage home in Ardfertby the sea.Through the long summer's day whenthe bright sun was shining,How often we played by the hawthorntree;In a gay noisy group 'til the eve wasdecliningOn those green mossy banks in Ardfertby the sea.Then the years stole away with ourinnocent pleasure,We were boys as no longer we childrencould be;And we drank from the cup full of life'sjolly measure,At the dances and sport in Ardfert bythe sea.Through the long winters' nights wewere dancing and singing,Round the old kitchen floor we werewheeling with glee,As the notes of a jig were so cheerilyringing,In my oid cottage home in Ardfert bythe sea.But now there are changes, the placeseems so lonely;Those bright happy faces no more I cansee,And the kind-hearted parents whoreared me so fondlyAre asleep in their graves in Ardferl bythe sea.No more on the roadway the passer bylingers,50