Saint Patrick’s Day concert in Saint George’s a great success
This year on Saint Patrick’s Day there was a full house at Saint George’s Arts and Heritage Centre in Mitchelstown for the 3pm concert, hosted by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Baile Mhistéala, along with their friends Claisceadal na gCarad. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cork County Council, this event was free of charge to the public.
Kayren Ní Aodha opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone to the concert, in Irish, English and in Ukranian, welcoming those who were with us in Ireland for their first Saint Patrick’s Day, and assuring them of the ‘céad míle fáilte’ (hundred thousand welcomes) with which the Irish people are associated. She thanked Bill Power, Andrew Dineen and Tom Hyland for their co-operation and hard work in setting up the venue for the day and commended them and the other board members for their insight in preserving such a beautiful building for future generations.
She also mentioned that, as a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Mitchelstown, one of the oldest branches in the country having been founded in 1960, that the job of preserving the folk music, dance, song, Irish language and storytelling, and handing it down from generation to generation, has been both a privilege and a responsibility which has brought much joy to the members. She welcomed Tadgh Ó Síocháin and the members of Claisceadal na gCarad, who like themselves had survived the challenges of regrouping after the pandemic. With this, Claisceadal na gCarad opened the concert.
Tá Claisceadal na gCarad ar an bhfód le sé bliana agus cailleadh dhá bhliain díobh sin mar gheall ar an bpaindéim. Thosaigh an cór ag cleachtadh arís i mí na Bealtaine seo caite agus ní raibh sé furasta an caighdeán a bhí acu roimh an bpaindéim a bhaint amach arís. Agus í ag labhairt ag tús na ceolchoirme san Ionad Ealaíon agus Oidhreachta, dúirt an Cathaoirleach, Mairéad Uí Bhriain go raibh ardáthas ar Chlaisceadal na gCarad bhéith páirteach le Comhaltas Bhaile Mhistéala i gceilíuradh na féile Pádraig. B’é seo an chéad uair acu ag canadh i mBaile Mhistéala agus pléisiúr ar leith ab ea é bheith ar stáitse san fhoirgneamh álainn sin, Ionad Ealaíon agus Oidhreachta Naomh Seoirse.
Bhí slua mór i láthair agus ba léir gur thaitin an ceol agus na hamhráin thar barr leis an lucht éisteachta. Chan an Claisceadal ceithre hamhrán Gaeilge le chéile: ‘Molta Bríde’ agus ‘Anois Teacht an Earraigh’ faoi stiúrú Thaidhg Uí Shíocháin agus, faoi stiúrú Myles Uí Mháille: ‘Slán agus Beannacht le Buaireamh an tSaoil’ agus ‘Cill Aodáin’ – amhrán íocónach Mhuigh Eo a chum an file cáiliúil, Raftery. Dúirt ceathrar ball den Chlaisceadall amhráin aonair le tionlacan ó Myles: Gerry Lane (‘The Old Jaunting Car’), Mary Dennehy (‘Siúil a Rún), Flan Groarke (‘Óró mo Bháidin’, le tionlacan uaidh féin ar an ngiotár) agus Mary O’Brien (‘Remember Mitchelstown’). D’inis Tadhg Ó Síocháin scéal gairid Fiannaíochta agus sheinn ceoltóirí an Chlaisceadail cúpla dreas ceoil traidisiúnta. B’iadsan Evelyn Sheehan (veidhlín), Máiréad Uí Bhriain (consairtín) Myles Ó Máille (giotár), Amhlaoibh Ó Síocháin O Beoláin (bosca ceoil) agus Tadhg Ó Síoicháin (feadóg stain). Ba phléisiúr ar leith don chúigear sin seinnt in éineacht le ceoltóirtí an Chomhaltais chun clabhsúr achur ar an ócáid.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann began their part of the concert with a rousing rendition of Dingle Regatta and the Road to Lisdoonvarna, followed by a duet on whistle and flute by Colm King and Odhran Brennan. During the concert there was a solo from our youngest member Órna Joy (aged 12) on the fiddle when she played ‘Grace’ and her sister Niamh played a beautiful air ‘Das Slockit Light’, also on fiddle. Our dancer Colm King danced the traditional dance ‘Saint Patrick’s Day’ to the tune of the same name. Laura Fogarty sang a beautiful interpretation of ‘A Song for Ireland’. John Walsh, a friend of CCE, played ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ on the accordion.
The full group then continued with polkas, jigs, hornpipes, marches and waltzes. The different sets of music were introduced by Anne-Marie King and Lil de Róiste. The musicians played with great passion, honouring this special day, including Liam de Róiste (button accordion), Eilís Watson (fiddle), Lil de Róiste (flute and whistle), Anne-Marie King (fiddle), Colm King (whistle), Odhran Brennan (flute), Niamh and Órna Joy (fiddles) and Kayren Ní Aodha (piano accordion and piano).
At the end of the concert, the musicians from both groups joined forces and played ‘John Brosnan’s Polkas’ followed by the ‘Coolea Slides’.
As appropriate, the evening concluded with Amhrán na bhFiann. Tea, coffee and refreshments were provided and many people thanked the groups for their music and song and suggested that it should become an annual event. Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís!