IrishMusicInfo
The Sunday Tribune Weekly Traditional Music Column by Fintan Vallely
990509
Forty three written submissions on Traditional music now been received by the Oireachtas all-party committee on Heritage and the Irish language, and oral submissions have been set in motion as well. Certainly a tribute to the democratic potential of such a body, and particularly to their willingness to listen to public criticism. But since this the first time in the history of the institution that the work of an all party committees has been agreed by its members to be so deficient as to merit re-opening the issue, it seems odd that it has made no official comment. All the more remarkable since the questioned report's editor, Senator î Murchœ, continues to publicly defend it as the unanimously supported work of all the committee's nineteen TDs and Senators. Surely it is absurd that in the absence of the original document being withdrawn, the implication now is that the research for a report is being done after the report had been printed? Despite this depressing hoo-ha the fleadh season approaches its mid-summer with the Meath, Louth, Tipperary and Waterford events next weekend. The harp features strongly in other festivals during the summer - on Thursday last Janet Harbison performed with the Colmcille Harp Ensemble in a millennium bash at Hillsborough Castle, and today the Co. Armagh Edward Bunting Harp event concludes its workshops in a 6pm concert with Ailish McMahon at T’ Chulainn, Mullaghbane. Indeed the Belfast Harp Festival is coming up on June 5th at the Waterfront, Cairde na Cruite's 'Cœirt Chruitreachta' is at An Grian‡n in the end of June, and the O'Carolan event is on over the August weekend at Keadue, Co. Roscommon. The Ennistymon singing festival comes round again on the June bank holiday, this year featuring Tr’ona N’ Dhomhnaill, Jimmy Crowley, Sean Corcoran (Drogheda), Brian î Domhnaill (Annagry), John Flanagan (Corofin), Caitr’ona N’ Ghealbh‡in (Ring) çine U’ Laoithe (Ceann Tr‡, Kerry), Jim McFarland (Derry/Ashbourne), John Moulden (Portrush), Peadar î Ceannabh‡in (Carna) and Diarmuid î Muirithe (New Ross). The Nenagh Singer's Circle news-sheet now finds itself eclipsed by Irish Concern for the Environment's news-sheet - also called 'Voice' - with its agitation political emphasis suggestive of the 1960s Folk movement's linking of the songs and troubles of the plain people. Music Newtork's Traditional tour begins on Monday week, this time featuring outstanding whistle player Mary Bergin, Irish-English fiddler Mick Conneely, piper Joe McKenna and Clare/Cork singer Noel Shine. Never one to drag out something longer than necessary Sharon Shannon is back again with a new music-buzz in an all-strings fiddle band - the Woodchoppers. With her sister Mary, Letterfrack fiddlers Liz and Yvonne Kane, guitarist Jim Murray and James Blennerhasset on bass ("two Shannons, two Kanes and two Jims") they test the tempting-Scandinavian style out on Ireland all this month before heading for England, Portugal, France and the US to pay the rent.
©Fintan Vallely, IrishMusicInfo.com
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