*PACKIE DUIGNAN TRADITIONAL WEEK-END 2008*
2 Feabhra 2008, 12:02 PM GMT
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Drumshanbo Branch – PACKIE DUIGNAN TRADITIONAL WEEK-END 2008
“Play you a tune, why wouldn’t I” words of a song composed by Drumshanbo’s Charlie McGettigan about the late Packie Duignan. And the words in a way sum up the man who was Packie Duignan, one of the last of the wandering minstrels. The most important musical influence in his life was the famous flute player, John McKenna( 1880-1947) who was born and reared in Tents, in the parish of Tarmon, Co. Leitrim, just a few miles from Arigna. McKenna had emigrated to the United States some years before Packie was born, and it was through his gramophone records that Packie heard his music. Packie developed a flute playing style similar to McKenna, a breathy, rhythmic driving style with plenty of lift. He had great admiration for McKenna’s flute playing and he got a lot of his repertoire from McKenna’s records.
From 1958 to 1973 he played in Drumshanbo based celi band, “Shannon Star”. Members of this band were Ned McGowan, Tony McGowan, Kevin Dowler, James Earley and Packie Duignan. In his later years Packie mostly played in and around Drumshambo, Keadue and Arigna with Seamus Horan and Ciaran Emmett .
Packie was a character with a keen wit and a great sense of fun. The “Packie” stories are legion and told with great affection by friends and acquaintances like Sean Gilraine, Charlie McGettigan, Paddy Ryan, Patsy Hanly, Brid O’Keeffe and many more. Packie was one of life’s “free spirits”. He went with the flow of life. If there was a lift into Drumshanbo he took it, had a few tunes, took a lift back to arigna and often took another lift back to Drumshanbo again. He was willing to travel to anywhere in the country at the drop of a hat, as long as there was a lift and one of his most quoted sayings was “you’ll be along with me so” although he didn’t actually drive himself.
The first annual Packie Duignan Traditional week-end took place in 2007 and was a resounding success. Approaching 2008 The organising committee from Drumshanbo Comhaltas were very relieved and thankful to have their number strengthened by the addition of some new committee members in the persons of Mary and Brian Mostyn, both wonderful organisers. Brian Mostyn Knew Packie in the 60s when playing with the Coleman Country Ceili Band [Seamus Tansey, Peter Horan, Fred Finn (RIP), Peggy (McGrath) Needam (RIP) & Alfie Joe Dinneen (RIP)]. Remembers meeting him at ceilis in Arigna, Keadue and Drumshanbo. Brian did not meet him again until the early 80s while at a session in Paddy Mac’s., Drumshanbo with Maureen Doran. Mary is attending the VETOS Music course in Drumshanbo which is given by Mossie Martin and is an aspiring whistle player and a fine Sean Nos Dancer. So the organising committee of Nancy Woods, Deirdre Parnell, Sven Paetz, Mary Mostyn, Brian Mostyn, Padraig McManus ably helped by Derval, Maura, Monica and Tony set about getting Packie Duignan Traditional week-end 2008 up and running.
Fundraising was our first priority and events like draws, raffles, busking at Christmas, churchgate collections were organised. For 2008 we decided to extend the festival by one day with a singers night on Thursday 24th January in the Ramada Hotel. We also decided to introduce a Childrens art element into the week-end. Through the good offices and kind encouragement of Vince Hearns, Reactaire we were fortunate to get funding from Comhaltas which enabled us to extend the festival and bring it to a wider audience.
Two appearances by Drumshanbo Comhaltas and friends on Shannonside FM Radio and plenty of coverage locally and nationwide saw a great interest in the Festival grow. Without going into great detail the 2008 Festival was a huge success, the town resounded to the sound of the best in traditional music, song and dance for the whole week-end. The childrens drawings of Packie decorated all the shop windows in the town. A group of young musicians from Beaumont Comhaltas paid a visit and Padraig Sweeney hosted two huge junior sessions for them and the local musicians. Lots of friendships were made and mobile numbers swapped and we look forward to welcoming them back again.
Large numbers of aspiring musicians attended the workshops in Flute, Whistle, Concertina, Button Accordian, Bodhran, Fiddle, Sean Nos Dancing . The highlight of the week-end was the Flute Gathering on Saturday night in Berrys Tavern. MC was the wonderful Charlie McGettigan and the line-up included the finest of local and national talent. Some names that come to mind are Tommy Guihan, Patsy Hanly, Frank Jordan, Sean Gilraine, Aidan and Breda Shannon, Fiachra and Roisin O Torna, Drumshanbo Comhaltas Group, Mick Woods, Mae Hernon, May Harte, Eileen McGowan, Dave Sheridan, Mick Mulvey, Shane Meehan, Lorraine Sweeney, Louise Davitt, Catriona Horan, Aileen Mulvey, Sweden McPartland, Martin O’Brien, Paddy Ryan, Junior Davy and many others. The finale of the night was the appearance of our special Guest Seamus Tansey who brought the house down with his own brand of virtuoso flute playing. He then called each flute player individually to the stage to join him in a final set of tunes and a tribute to Packie Duignan. A very moving end to the night.
Sunday saw us all in very relaxed mode in Henrys Haven enjoying a Leitrim Boxty Brunch and a wonderful session led by Seamus Tansey which lasted into the small wee hours. A week-end not to be forgotten and definitely to be repeated.
Póstáilte ag Druimseanbhoth
