ENNIS FLEADH NUA - Comhaltas Archive

A MUSICAL SON OF KNOCKNASKATributes have been pouring infrom all over the country to the late JoeO'Dowd of Sligo, one of Ireland's bestknown and highly acclaimed traditionalmusicians, who died recently followinga short illness.Joe, who was seventy-four years old,was widely regarded as the country'stop exponent of the unique Sligostyle of fiddle playing and he was alsoa noted adjudicator of traditional musiccompetitions, having judged atFeiseanna and Fleadhanna throughoutIreland. He was President of the SligoBranch of Comhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireannnfor the past ten years.A native of Knocknaska, Gurteen,the late J oe came to live in Sligo townin 1948 and resided with his wife,Sheila, and seven children, at Maugheraboy,where lovers and students of traditionalmusic were always welcome.J oe's influence in the world of traditionalmusic was profound throughoutIreland and even in England andAmerica but nowhere was his brillianceand skill as a: fiddle player moreappreciated and admired than in hisnative Sligo where he became virtually alegend in his own lifetime . He was dueto tour America later this year.He was one of the driving forcesbehind the formation of the Sligobranch of Comhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireannin 1958 and he was very much to thefore again when the branch wasre-formed twelve years ago .Since then, he has been a regularparticipant at the Comhaltas sessions inSligo Trades Club where his enthusiasmand energy was matched only by hismajestic fiddle playing which earned theacclaim and admiration of locals andvisitors alike at the weekly gatherings.J oe O'Dowd was born inKnocknaska, Gurteen, in 1913, andgrew up in an area where there was apassionate devotion to traditional musicin general and fiddle playing in particular.Joe's uncle John O'Dowd, was awidely respected fiddle player and hadtwo well-known reels called after him,"O'Dowd's Favourite," recorded byMichael Coleman in the 1920s and"O'Dowd's Number Nine", recorded byHugh Gillespie.Inevitable, loe O'Dowd quickly becamean accomplished fiddle player,playing by ear and learning most of hismusic by listening to Michael Coleman'srecords.He went to England in the early1930s and from 1935 to 1940 playedwith a traditional music band which had·regular dates at the Garryowen Club inHammersmith, London.On returning to Ireland, J oe took upan appointment with the Irish LifeAssurance Company in Ballymote in1942 and was transferred to Sligo townsix years later. In 1954, he formed theOwenmore Ceili Band with HenryDwyer, Paddy McDonagh , ThomasCollis, Jerry Fallon, Thomas O'Dowd,Michael Feeney and John Scanlon. The. band enjoyed widespread popularitythroughout the 1950s and early 60s anddid much to maintain interest intraditional music at a time when otherforms of entertainment were coming tothe fore.Joe helped to establish the Sligobranch of Comhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireannin 1958 and although activities ceasedduring the 1960s he was a leading figurein it~ reformation in 1975. Since then4