SPEECH BY MAYOR OF CLARE AT CIVIC RECEPTION FOR KILFENORA CEILI BAND ON MONDAY, 08 FEBRUARY 2010
“A dhaoine uaisle, Aoinna speisíalta…is mór an ónóir dom beith anseo ar an ocáid spesialta seo
County Manager, Fellow Councillors, Invited guests
. . . On behalf of Clare County Council, I would like to welcome all of you to Àras Contae an Chláir on this very special occasion.
It gives me great pleasure to address you this evening as we gather to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions made to the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music by the past and present members of the Kilfenora Ceili Band.
A Civic Reception is the highest accolade at the disposal of Clare County Council for any individual, group or organisation and one that is, for those in receipt of it this evening, thoroughly deserved.
This is not the first time we have gathered in this Council Chamber to celebrate the achievements of the County’s Irish traditional musicians.
In May 2008, Clare County Council bestowed Civic Honours on Maghera fiddler Martin Hayes in recognition of his contribution to Irish traditional music.
And again in September of last year, we celebrated the achievements of one of Clare’s finest Irish traditional musicians – Sharon Shannon.
Like Sharon and Martin, the Kilfenora Ceili Band are an enormous source of pride and inspiration for the people of Clare.
The Band has not only successfully managed to keep an Irish tradition alive – but alive and kicking.
I want to briefly outline the history of the band since their formation in 1908. I understand there is a long tradition of music making in Kilfenora and surrounding area and that originally the village boasted a fife and drum band since the 1870’s and that this provided the foundations for the founding of the band in 1908.
In the early days the bands engagements included house dances which later progressed to playing in local parochial halls and gradually the bands excellence was attracting attention and the band were being called on to fulfil engagements far beyond the boundaries of their parish.
The bands first broadcast on radio was from Athlone in 1932 and one can imagine the excitement in Kilfenora that this event generated with radios being so scarce and novel at the time. This broadcast was no doubt a very important milestone for the band and a clear evidence of their growing reputation.
The All Ireland Fleadh Ceol victories in the Ceili Band Competition in 1954, ‘55 and ‘56 brought the bands reputation to a higher level throughout the country and beyond. This three in a row All Ireland Fleadh Ceol victories was repeated by the band with different personnel in 1993, ’94 and ’95.
There have been many television performances by the band over the years as well as performances at Glastonbury Festival in Britian, at the Irish Festival in Milwaukee in the U.S.A. and many other appearances.
The significant increase in the number of young people picking up traditional instruments is a testament of the Band’s work.
The considerable involvement of local people of all ages in the many traditional music festivals that take place each year throughout the County is evidence of a flourishing Irish traditional music scene.
In hosting a Civic Reception in honour of the Kilfenora Ceili Band this evening, we are also recognising the contribution of traditional Irish music artists and groups throughout County Clare over the years to preserving a unique part of Irish culture and heritage.
This honour also recognises the Kilfenora Ceili Band members that have gone before you.
Your success today is down to their collective efforts and passion for Irish traditional music down through the years.
As Mayor of Clare, I am delighted to see that the Band’s contribution to the traditional Irish music scene and invaluable work in enhancing Clare’s image is now being officially recognised.
Clare County Council congratulates you on receiving this honour and we thank you sincerely for enriching all of our lives with your music.
Congratulations to each and every one of you and I wish you continued success for the next 100 years.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh.”
COUNCILLOR TONY MULCAHY
MAYOR OF CLARE