Jackie’s Sé mo Laoch showing at Willie Week

A Sibéal Teo / Sé Mo Laoch TV crew from TG4 visited Scartaglin earlier this year, in February, to shoot part of their documentary on the life and times of box player extraordinaire Jackie Daly.

In the Scart segment of the shoot Jackie was accompanied by Matt Cranitch. The programme, now completed, includes interviews with Bryan O’Leary, Conal O Grada, Colm Murphy and many more. They filmed in Lyons’ Bar for the first half of the day and spent the rest in the kitchen of the heritage centre.

The musically historic Lyons’ Bar was ideal and produced ‘a serious session’ according to Handed Down co-founder, PJ Teahan – who helped tie up the loose ends at the Scart side of the project.

The documentary examines aspects of Jackie’s life which may not have been aired before.

Of course, for its principal role, it follows his meandering path – from the youngster who was invited to play a few tunes in a pub in Kanturk after Sunday mass – to his position on the height of respect where he is today.

The completed Sé Mo Laoch programme was screened at a special showing in the Central Hotel in Miltown Malbay on Thursday, July 7. All in the packed function room applauded both the film and its subject as the credits rolled.

And the man himself is well pleased with how it turned out. He was in typically topping form on the occasion as he threw out a few ideas for new business ventures.

He started close to home with his ‘Kanturky Fried Chicken’ and ‘Oil of Cúl Aodha’ and there were other Dalyisms to entertain those who were there to pay their own tributes to one of traditional music’s true gentlemen.

After the Scart experience in February, I remember writing here that the programme would be aired in the autumn or early winter. I was wrong on both counts.

TG4 is celebrating its 20th anniversary and its schedule is packed with iconic programming from its own Fiche Bliain ag Fás.

So, the Sé Mo Laoch on Jackie Daly has been moved out to the early spring and I’m sure I heard February being mentioned in the magic of the moment in Miltown Malbay. I’ll tell you when I know for sure.

That’ll make for an ‘All Sails Aloft’ kind of evening – as the late Mike Kenny would label occasions with that class of gathering potential.

Photo by John Reidy At the showing of the Sé Mo Laoch on Jackie Daly in Miltown Malbay were: Mick Culloty, Currow; PJ Teahan, Castleisland; Jackie Daly and Susan Cox, Miltown Malbay.