Craobh An Ráth musicians look forward to entertaining at show
THE musicians of Craobh An Rath Comhaltas branch will again feature in Charleville’s annual Agricultural Show which is on over this weekend.
Young musicians drawn from the Under 12 and Under 15 Groupa Cheoil groups will be joined by harpist Rachel O’Connor and three teachers of traditional Irish music at the branch, Ger Naughton, John Byrne and Con Ryan on Sunday afternoon from 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Ger Naughton, who hails from nearby Newtownshandrum has been playing music practically all his life, excelling in a number of instruments such as the concertina, bodhrán, drums, piano and bouzouki. Ger currently teachers concertina at Craobh an Ráth. He is also a member of the three times All-Ireland Winning Senior Ceili Band the Shandrum Ceili Band.
Teacher John Byrne is from Mallow, and has been playing traditional Irish music for the last 30 years or so. He teaches tin whistle, flute and uilleann pipes at Craobh An Rath. Con Ryan is a native of Kilfinane, Co. Limerick and is an experienced teacher and performer of traditional music. He teaches beginner Tin Whistle and also tutors in Music Theory in preparation for the SCT Exams at Croabh An Rath.
Harpist Rachel O’ Connor is a long-time member of CCE An Ráth and is fast making a name for herself on the ancient Irish instrument. She brought honours to the branch in 2017 winning the first Gold medal for the branch in a County Fleadh, winning the U18 Harp Competition.
Commenting on the participation of the branch in the annual Show in Charleville, branch chairperson Carmel Murphy said everybody connected with the branch was delighted that they were again on the entertainment programme for Sunday. “In keeping with the branch’s ethos in promoting and encouraging trad music among our young people their appearance in the spotlight playing for a huge number of people will give them confidence they require to appear on the public stage,” she said.
Branch secretary Liz Cotter extended sincere thanks, on behalf of the branch, to the committee of Charleville Agricultural Show, for their co-operation in accommodating the young musicians of the Charleville Comhaltas branch again this year.