Comhaltas Award in Manchester
Each year at their annual dinner the Mayo County Association in Manchester make an award to the organisation or individual whom they feel has made a positive contribution to the Irish in Britain. This year the award was made to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
The event took place in the headquarters of the Lancashire Cricket Club. As Margaret and myself arrived, we were met by the Association President Marcella Wilkinson from Knock and the Chairman John Commins born in New York but brought up in Castlebar. As we were being escorted down a long corridor to the guests suite, I saw great portraits of famous English cricketers gazing serenely down. God knows I don’t suppose any of us know one end of a wicket from another.
After a very pleasant pre-dinner reception, the guests made their way to the top table led by Eamonn Walsh from Ballina playing beautifully on the Uilleann pipes. After a lovely meal and the usual speeches, it was the turn of Fr Pat Munvoe from Cong, Chaplain to the Association, to read the citation. He went into great detail explaining how Comhaltas was founded; its spread as he said like a giant fire across the world and laying great emphasis on the contribution Comhaltas has made to the Irish in Britain. I was then invited to accept the award which is a very beautiful piece of sculpture. I accepted the award with a great sense of honour and, indeed, humility when I thought of the start of Comhaltas in Manchester and the many, many great people with whom I have worked over the years many now sadly gone to their eternal reward ‘Ar Dheis lámh De’ go bhfuil a n-anamacha uilig.’
After thanking the association and saying a few words to emphasise the work and importance of Comhaltas and asking all the Mayo people present to make a special effort to attend Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ballina, I sat down to great applause from the 500 guests. I felt that there was genuine appreciation for the work of Comhaltas in Manchester and in Britain as a whole, and the occasion will live forever in my memory. A glorious night for Ireland and for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann.
Liverpool’s 40th
89 Claremont Avenue Maghull
Liverpool
L31 BAH1997 has arrived and we are making plans to celebrate our 40th birthday. This is to let you know when and where, so that you can put the date and place in your diary.
We have booked a Buffet Céilí for Saturday 11th October 1997 at the St George’s Hotel, Lime Street, Liverpool. Tickets will be limited because of the room size at the Hotel.
It is hoped to have some of our founder members and ‘early days’ members present.
We look forward to a great reunion, so, think about it, and let us know!
Rosaleen Clark (rúnaí)
