This article is from page 20 of the 2008-08-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
DESPITE the rain, hail and winds they danced, played and sang in Kil- rush at the weekend as visitors and locals made the most of the Eigse Mrs Crotty.
The public houses and workshops were a place of refuge and entertain- ment, as the crowds forgot one of the wettest Augusts on record with the help of an accordion, tin whistle or bodhran.
The Eigse Mrs Crotty Festival is in its 13th year and the traditional mu- sic festival has grown to incorporate music, singing and dancing work- shops, a Mrs Crotty memorial con- cert, singing sessions, recitals and a vibrant session trail.
The five-day festival would not be possible without the hard work of the local committee and the influence of the talented Mrs Crotty.
Born Elizabeth Markham in 1885 near Cooraclare, Mrs Crotty, was the youngest of the large Markham fam- ily. By the time of her death in 1960
she had become recognised as one of Ireland’s foremost exponents of the concertina
She married Miko Crotty and to- gether they established Crotty’s Pub- lic House in the Square, Kilrush. It was from this House of Music that Elizabeth Crotty’s reputation qul- etly grew. Ciaran MacMathuna’s first excursion to rural Ireland in the 1950’s with RTE’s mobile unit was to record the talented woman for the nb usa bE Toe
Mrs Crotty was described as a gentle and unassuming woman and a natural musician who enjoyed a unique mastery of the concertina.
It was said that people would seek out her company and sit quietly cap- tivated as she played. According to the official website “what she loved most of all was teaching and encour- aging young musicians”.
The spirit of this inspiring woman was well and truly in Kilrush this weekend as young people learnt from talented musicians and singers as part of the many workshops.