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Yes, itsEnniscorthy again!/van Yates, TO, Oerek Keofih, Chairman ofMillennium Festivals Lld and SenatorLabhr,ls 6 Murchti focus on Fleadh 2000 inEnniscorthy, Co. Wexfordwas a group of dedicated peopl e w ho a few short weeksbefore had just completed a years' hard work organisingthe Fl ead h and now w illing shoulders were already tothe whee l for 2000.Fl eadh 2000, the first of the new millennium, promisesto be even bigger and better than Fl eadh '99 ('if this ishumanl y possible', queri ed one Fleadhgoerl.Cathao irleach Niall Wall predicts th at 'it w ill be aneven greater success than thi s year's has been.'The Fleadh w ill be preceded by the Scoil Eigse w hichthi s year had up to 600 parti cipants.Fl ead h week 2000 is the 20-27 August.Buiochas le DiaEnni scorth y were the unanimouschoice of the <strong>Comhaltas</strong>Ardchomhairle when they met fortheir September meeting atCultu rl ann na hEireann to selectthe Flead h Town for the year2000. W hen the news wasconveyed from the meeting to thelarge contingent from Co. Wexfordwho had travelled to Dublin forthe occasion there were loudcheers. Thi s enthusiastic receptionof the news is indicative of thespirit w hichprevailed inEnni scorth yat Fl eadh'99: hereWexfords Ballad maker.Paddy Berry /As we approach the end of 1999 and prepare for the Holy Season of Christmas, itis understandable that a sense of nostalgia arrests our attention. It is part of ourmake-up - as much a part of our tradition as our music.We are deeply spiritual people. We thank God for a 'soft day'; implore his blessingon the homes visit and the crops we grow; we ask him to save the company weenter and daily request his protection for those we who have departed this life.We in Ireland are keenly aware of the close relationship between faith and nativeculture. In many way they have become .synonymous. Perhaps that is one reasonwhy our music appeals so much to the spirit and transcends barriers of manykinds. It is certainly a classless music which denotes worth rather than wealth.At this time of year we remember in a special way those who have enriched usby their friendship. Even memories of sadness have an enriching quality: this ispart of our inheritance which does not allow for a brooding sorrow which canonly erode and distort.It is a time to thank all those who have worked with us in the last year: those whohave encouraged us by their selfless example and those who gave of themselvesin the cause of others. We wish you a traditional Irish Christmas - consolation,hope and joy. We think in a special way of those who are 'far from the land' andsend them special greetings and look forward to their company in the not toodistant future.Go mbeirimid beo ag an anseo aris.The Ballad ofSean 6 Murchu(A ir: The Felons of our Land)'Tis sad to say this October dayHis voice we'll hear no more,This artist fair from near BelclareWho.was Irish to the core,On RTf for you and meHe played such music grandOn that programme fineWhich was you rs and mineWith many a ceilf band.He loved Knockma in his gentle wayWith its store of legend strong,The Gaelic tongue and sean-nos songThat he heard when he was young,The warm tone of his voice aloneWill live in many a heart,Both here at home and acro ss the foamFor those who are apart.He had words at will and ourhomes did fillWith th e songs our fathers loved.Th ose ballads great about ninety-eighrAnd va lour often proved.His scripts were bright every wordwas rightAs you pictured a vivid scene,That he would portray in hismagic wayWith a mind that was sharp and keen.As fear-a-tf with a golden keyHe opened many a door,With jigs and reels you couldalways feelHis precious music store.His comments grand on someceilf bandA piper or bosca ceoi l,Were picked with care as gems so rareAnd touched at your very sou l.At the church th at day in a moving wayTh ere were hymns and music grand,For ou r noble Sean to hisGod now goneTo join that heavenly band,And friends go lear will be at the door'Cead Failte Isteach' they' ll sing'When down below we lovedyour showSuri of Ceilf House your're King' .------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
Sing us a song PaddySeamus beag 6 Murchu/""""7"1 addy Berry, one of Ireland's( IJ best known and much lovedJTraditional Singers had his longawaited latest record in g 'Sing us asong, Paddy' launched during FleadhCheoi l na hEireann 1999. Held inEnniscorthy, Co. Wexford the tape/CDwas formally launched by Fleadh '99Chairman, Niall Wall himself a si ngerof note.Very much a 'greatest hits' thisretrospective co ll ection featuresrecordings made since the early 1960'slovi ngly remastered by producerPadraig Sinnott in both his BoolavogueSutd ios a'nd in col laboration w ith IvanLevingstone's John Street Studios inEnniscorthy, Drawing from archivematerial and from Paddy Berry's privateco llection the 23 songs feature Paddy athis best sing in g the full spectrum oftraditional songs. From the moving andhaunting 'Ballyshannon Lane'to thesongs like 'a Duffy's Grand Parade' allbeautifully sung with the voca l variety,ornamentation and the atte ntion todetail that have been Pa.ddy Berry'strademarks for nearly half a century.Other tracks included are suchfavourites as 'Bagnal Harvey'sFarewell', 'The May Morning Dew','Moorlough Mary', Thi s album is a'must buy' for anyone w ith any interestin the Iri sh Folk tradition.In his address, FleadhChairman Niall Wallpaid tribute to PaddyBerry describing himas one of the mostremarkableWexfordmen of hisgeneration . Comi ngfrom a family whohave always beento the fore inpromoting allthings Irish, MrWall praisedPaddy'scontribution toIri sh culturewhich, he sa id 'given Paddy'shumility would always be understated'but which, he said, needed to beacknowledged' for the important part ithad played in the elevation of thetradition to new heights'.Praising all invo lved, Niall Wallthanked them for bringing thecoll ection to the wider audience thatwi ll undoubted ly enjoy this CD/Tapefor the delightful songs and thebeautiful singing which it contain s.Of the tracks themselves the FleadhChairman stated that there was 'beautyin the singin g, respect in the treatmentof the tradition, love in theinterpretation and artistry in theperformances' wh ich, he said, ' was asclose to perfection as he could find'.The acid test, Mr Wall stated, as hechallenged the audience, was to try tosing along with any of the tracks, whichMr Wall promised would be beyondthe ability of all except the very best.Finally, rather than launch the tapehimse lf, the Fleadh Chairman cal led onPaddy Berry, using the title of thealbum 'Sing us a song, Paddy', towhich Paddy ob li ged and brought thehouse down.231RlshCRad1tlona'Son{)sBuy it, I isten toit, enjoy itTape £8.00, CD£12 .00, fromPaddy Berry,Drinagh,Wexford.-Sully's Banjos:• Finest qualitybanjos• Banjo makers'parts• Accessories• Strings• Tutors• Irish MusicBooksHalshawMusic37 Catherine Street, MacclesfieldCheshire SKll 6ET. UK.Tel: 01625 610849Fax: 01625 267136email: sully@hatshawmusic.co.ukwebsite: www.halshawmusic.co.uk21-
Page 7 and 8: Gaeltachtai Q fuair bassachead sea
Page 9 and 10: Convention 2000in WashingtonIrish M
Page 11 and 12: Cion6l Leo UowsomeJoe Doyle's Works
Page 13 and 14: 'Fleadh '99 -L\ Celebration thatwas
Page 15: The lovely Four Green Fields,~ ! t.
Page 19 and 20: Where to? Padraig 6 Dufaigh andCear
Page 21 and 22: Bronx Box Brilliancelistening, tune
Page 23 and 24: ehe Uowsome eraditionKevin nowsome'
Page 25 and 26: M ick himse lf reca ll ed tri ps fr
Page 27: Eibhlin Ni Mhaille, Carn a cct Co.n
Page 31 and 32: .S:::=~Sean Tiern ey, USA, U- 12 Co
Page 33 and 34: Seamus Feted at Cion6l2hiS yea r's
Page 35 and 36: hEirea nn ! In every corn er of th
Page 37 and 38: The teachers Rob Stafford, fiddle;T
Page 39: Che 200,000Millennium Fleadh Cheoil
Page 42 and 43: Oakum a phriosuinl2 IJ J'l~ ~ B J J
Page 44 and 45: Th e Comhaltas ladies: Assunta UfCh
Page 46 and 47: 'Che Matchmaker"Researched by Kay L
Page 48 and 49: With President and Mrs Ciinton are
Page 50 and 51: Tomas 6 Duibhir ag insint scealta l
Page 52 and 53: Co each tune its placeD r Gear6id 6
Page 54 and 55: Diary of a MusicalOdyssey 1999!P6dr

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