This article is from page 31 of the 2007-10-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
MORE than 300 people turned out to witness the induction of four leg- endary east Clare musicians to the Tulla Comhaltas roll of honour.
To coincide with the 50 year anni- versary of Tulla Comhaltas, Paddy Canny, Kathleen Moloney, Martin Hayes, Seamus Connolly, Vincent Griffin and Mary MacNamara were all recognised for their significant contributions to Irish music and dance.
Each musician was presented with a token by Senator Labhras O’ Murch, Ardstiurthoir of Comhaltas Ceoilte- oiri Eireann.
Paddy Canny, who won the senior
all-Ireland fiddle in 1953 and recent- ly celebrated his 88th birthday, was honoured for a lifetime contribution to traditional Irish music.
Kathleen Moloney, who has won four all Ireland set dancing titles, was recognised for her teaching of set dancing in the east Clare area over a 20 year period, and giving every young child in the area the chance to learn the Caledonian set.
Indeed, many of her students have gone on to win county, provincial and national awards of their own.
Vincent Griffin was recognized for his marvellous contribution to the teaching of Irish music over the past 40 years. Vincent, who is still teach- ing music in the Ennis and south
Galway areas, is also the holder of a Senior All Ireland medal for the fid- dle and for the slow airs.
Mary MacNamara was recognised for her wonderful achievements with the teaching of Irish music. Today the Tulla ‘Music Room’ is full of as- piring young and not-so-young mu- sicians all learning her lovely east OES AY (or
Many of her students have had great successes at provinical and all Ire- land fleadh’s. Mary won all Ireland senior solo Concertina tile in 1979 and duet with Martin Hayes.
Both Martin Hayes and Seamus Connolly were honoured for their in- ternational contribution to Irish Mu- sic by putting it on the world stage.
Martin and Seamus are all Ireland senior fiddle champions.
The Tulla Céili band received their award in recognition of their contri- bution to Ceili music over the last 60 years. Mark Donnellan accepted the award on behalf of the great Tulla Céili band.
The Tulla Ceili and all musicians mentioned above will appear on RTE Radio’s Céili House with Kieran Hanrahan on Saturday, November 17. The show will be broadcast from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla as part of the 50 year celebrations.
A book based on the musical her- itage of east Clare entitled The Hu- mours of Tulla was also launched on the night and is available locally.