By Claire Corrigan
THERE was an abundance of ceoil agus craic at Áras an Mhuilinn in Mullingar last Friday for the official launch of the Comhaltas Traditional Music Archive. The collection comprises the recordings, documents and images collected by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann during the 50 years the group has been promoting Irish music and culture and includes 78 records, EPs, LPs, tapes, fleadh programmes, photographs, stories and poems.
In Mullingar, one of the most outstanding contributions has come from nonegenarian Paddy Duffy from St. Brigid’s Terrace, whose personal recordings of Irish music span up to six decades and more. Paddy has handed over all his recordings for the Áras an Mhuilinn archives.
There was a large turnout of people for the launch of the collection which will preserve the local Irish music styles and the authentic contributions of musicians and others who were among the greatest in the country as well as in in counties Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois. People like the late Frank Gavigan, Willie Reynolds and many such greats from Westmeath come immediately to mind.
Labhrás Ó Murchú, the National President of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann performed the official opening of the collection and he praised Camillus Glynn, Cathaoirleach of Áras an Mhuilinn, for his work. He was joined by National Secretary Tomás Ó Maoldomhnaigh, National Treasurer, Padraig O Dufaigh, Attracta Brady, Cathaoirleach of Leinster Council and Joe Kinnear who is chairman of Westmeath Comhaltas.
Speaking to Topic, Mr. Glynn said the archives incorporated material collected across the entire region, not just Westmeath. “The whole idea of the project is that Áras an Mhuilinn is the Regional Comhaltas Centre including Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Offaly.”
“Áras an Mhuilinn has been in existence since early 2010 and is a hive of cultural activity. We wanted to develop and officially launch our archives which is an integral and very important part of the Comhltas archives.”
Those attending the launch were enthralled to hear snippets of the music of decades past, played by legendary traditional musicians, and were able to open their ears to the music of times past, which is now preserved in the archives.
The already impressive Archive collection is set to become even larger and more diverse with several more contributors getting in contact with Camillus. “I have been contacted by a number of people from the region who have informed me that they will be making various items that will be of interest available to the archive. All the units around the region have been notified that the archive is open. We will also be sending our archivist out to the regions to do both visually and audio recording of reels, jigs, hornpipes, story-telling, recitations and anything else of interest.”
To view the Archive, you can call in to Áras an Mhuilinn at Gaol Hill (beside the County Buildings and Arts Centre) and sign up for an account.
