A bright new home for Kerry’s trad music

COMHALTAS OFFICIALLY OPENS ITS PURPOSE-BUILT RECORDING AND CONCERT CENTRE DÚCHAS

KERRY Comhaltas organisers under county chairman Tony O’Connor knew exactly their goal in working for the new Dúchas Centre: Keeping music alive as a spirit-lifting medium of expression for the people of Kerry.

That was the message the President of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Labhrás Ó Murchú had on the official opening of the new purpose-built Comhaltas centre on Friday evening. In a moving address to all gathered he paid tribute to the vibrant Kerry branch for working away ‘quietly’ in recent years on a project that is now taking the traditional arts into the 21st Century in this county.

‘There’s a fair degree of negativity out there at the moment, it’s very apparent and good news doens’t always rise to the top but that doesn’t mean it’s not there, and I think it is important for us to realise that music is a medium for lifting the spirits of the people,” Mr Ó Murchú said.

“Our Irish language is a reminder that we are a distinctive race of people and all our culture, which is now celebrated throughout the world, is a national treasure.

“And I think you can go to China or go to Japan, go to Columbia, Argentina, Chile, go to any part of North America, right throughout Britain, Moscow in Russia, 18 countries in all, that’s where Comhaltas is now operating.

“But [it is] only for the musicians who played their music by the fireside when it was less popular than it is today.

“I always believe they felt that they had confidence in the future of the Irish people so they kept that music going,” he continued, adding:

“As a result of that it didn’t become a museum piece like traditional music became in other countries, it was still a living expression of the people.”

The incredible efforts of the existing Kerry branch are keeping the traditions alive like never before, now harnessing the next generation of architecture and technology. “This is another milestone... everytime Tony O’Connor rang me, early morning or late at night he inspired me because, even on the phone, I could sense his enthusiasm, his commitment and his skillful guidance and I knew all his colleagues as well who were committed. They worked away in a very quiet way but they knew what their goal was.”

Just as with the partner institution of the IT, the goal of the new centre, he said, is above all else to give young people the opportunity to develop their full potential in the true spirit of Comhaltas.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, including President Labhrás Ó Murchú centre front, at the official opening of the organisation’s new Dúchas centre in the North Campus of the IT Tralee on Friday evening.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Former All-Ireland accordion champion John Lucid from Ballyheigue, with Josephine Walsh, Lyreacrompane, Kerry County Council Arts Officer Kate Kennelly and Jackie Walsh from Lyreacrompane.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Concertina virtuosos Maura Walsh, Lixnaw, and Michelle O’Sullivan, Tralee, at the opening of the new Dúchas Centre.

Photo by Domnick Walsh TG4 Gradam Cheoil Lifetime Achievement award winner and general trad music legend Nicky McAuliffe imbuing the new building with the pure sounds of Sliabh Luachra on Friday.

Listowel branch organisers Eugene Moriarty and Bob Barkess at the official opening.

Mayor of Kerry Niall Kelliher with Comhaltas President Labhrás Ó Murchú at Friday’s opening.