Farewell to a native son of Kilbaha
By Bill McEvoy
It is with profound sense of sorrow and deep regret that we record the passing of Frank Thornton, Chicago, Illinois on October 21, 1997. He was 89. Frank was born in Kilbaha near Moyvane, County Kerry on August 29, 1908. It was then and still is an area rich in Irish heritage, culture and tradition. He played a leading role in the founding of Comhaltas here in North America.
Of all the great personalities who illuminated the Comhaltas scene here in the early seventies, there is little doubt that Frank Thornton was one of the most memorable. An extraordinary man in every sense of the word, the very embodiment of a joyous spirit, in love with all things Irish, particularly traditional Irish music, song and dance. He brought consistent and unflagging enthusiasm into his work for Comhaltas. One could only gasp with wonder at the sustained energy with which he had been endowed.
At a very young age, Frank got his first lessons on the flute from his Uncle Jerry, a renowned flute player in that time period. He came to America in 1929 during the Great Depression. It was very hard to find work. He often recalled how he stood in line for hours at Montgomery Wards while job applicants were being interviewed. When my time came to be interviewed, I was extremely polite. The man asked me where are you from?’ I said ‘Ireland.’ Moved by his sincerity of heart and his meaningful approach, Frank was hired. He was one of a very few hired on that occasion. He went on to serve at Montgomery Wards for the next 9 years, when he joined Chicago Police in 1938. Most of his distinguished services with the police department was on foot patrol, in an area near Lawrence and Milwaukee Avenues, where he endeared himself to the business community and citizens alike. He retired from Chicago Police in 1965.
Almost from the time of his arrival in Chicago, Frank threw himself wholeheartedly into promoting Irish music. He started to teach tin whistle to the young people in his area. The basement room of his home would be filled. Lessons were free and many times he bought instruments as well for those who couldn’t afford them. He went on to form the Thornton Fife and Drum Band, a colourful and spectacular group of musicians all dressed in green and gold, solid reflection of his great love for Ireland and for his native County Kerry. His three sons, Jimmy, Jerry and Frank were all members of the Band.
In 1959, Frank led a group of Chicago-based Irish musicians on a tour of Ireland. It was the first ever performing group from America. They performed 23 concerts in 27 days. The great Chicago Pianist, Eleanor Keane Neary, was part of that group.
This trip to Ireland would always have a profound bearing on Frank’s life thereafter. The weather was just dreadful over the North Atlantic. The plane developed engine trouble and was forced to land at Gander, NewFoundland. Soon after departure, the trouble reoccurred and the plane had to return to Gander again.
Recalling the awful experience Frank said, ‘my thoughts went back to my mother who prayed daily for our safety. All on Board were praying the Rosary as the plane bounced from one air pocket to another. ‘I swore in my heart I would never fly to Ireland again.’ However, this transatlantic experience and pledge for the future did not keep him away from the Emerald Isle. He made 12 more trips, mostly by boat.
In 1956, Frank thought the time had come for a more positive and unified association of Irish Musicians in the various cities of America. Together with a few distinguished musicians here, among them the late Ed Reevy of Philadelphia, Louis E. Quinn of New York, and Johnny McGreevy of Chicago, others too. He founded the l.M.A. Irish Musicians Association of America. Guided by Frank Thornton as its first president, the organisation quickly grew in strength and number. In 1963 there were 27 IM. clubs flourishing all across America. In 1969, Frank organised the first ever concert tour of Irish champion musicians from Ireland. This prestigious group was led by the then Comhaltas President Labhras O Murchú. This led to the founding of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Eireann here in 1972, when the then Chief Comhaltas Organiser, the late Diarmuid O Cathain came here as the Ardchomhairle representative. He soon made contact with Frank Thornton, who supplied a list of names and contacts that played a vital role in the establishment of Comhaltas here, especially the Annual Concert Tours.
