Mayo performers win Gold in LA

Paul wins gold and silver in LA


Ballina group also successful in Performing Arts' World Cup

Michael Commins

IT was a weekend to remember for Mayo musician Paul Clesham (pictured) who performed at the 2009 World championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. The young student from Annefield, Hollymount scooped gold and silver awards for instrumental music at the prestigious ceremonies in California.
Paul, a Transition Year student at Dunmore Community School, won the honours in both the traditional (gold) and classical (silver) categories and his latest outstanding achievements marks another chapter in his ongoing progression in the field of music. He is highly accomplished on the piano, fiddle and concertina.
It was while a pupil in Roundfort National School that Paul acquired a love for music under the guidance of principal Séan Nestor and members of staff, Anne Moran, Bridie Forde, Carol Walsh and Michael Feeney. Later, he received great encouragement when he started traditional music lessons with Bernie Geraghty in Ballindine.
He won his first All-Ireland Fleadh title at the age of 11, in the melodeon competition, and was part of the All-Ireland winning grúpa ceoil which won two years in succession with Ballindine Comhaltas group.
At the age of 13, he commenced piano lessons and is now studying for grade seven with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, with his teacher Mary Campbell from Taugheen.
Paul, who is son of Brid and Michael Clesham, has enjoyed a brilliant few days out in California and will long cherish the memories of a magnificent week in his young life.
His mother Brid, speaking yesterday (Monday) from the home of her brother Ger Donoghue, a native of Glencorrib, who lives 40 miles outside LA, said it had been a “fantastic week” for all of them. “This has been the experience of a lifetime. It’s like another world out here. Since news reached home about Paul’s win, we have received numerous calls and text messages. People are so good and supportive.
“It has been extra special for us because I have two brothers in California. Ger is here near Los Angeles while Gabriel lives in San Francisco. It really has been party time for all of us over the past few days. We were all delighted to hear that Mayo won the Connacht Final on Sunday. It gave us even more reasons to celebrate out here!”
MEANWHILE, BALLINA performing arts group, Realta lived the American dream over the weekend when they went to Hollywood and came home as World Champions.
Eighteen competitors from Mayo travelled to Hollywood last week for the World Championships of Performing Arts - which are described as the Olympics of performing arts. The competition takes place in Los Angles on an annual basis with over 75,000 applicants from all over the world auditioning to take part in the competition. The Mayo team were part of a 60 strong Irish team who took part in singing, dancing, acting, modelling and playing musical instruments.
Realta beat off stiff competition from groups from all over the world to come through different stages of competition during the week to be crowned World Champions in the senior vocal section of the World Championship of Performing Arts. There was further celebration for the group when one of its members, Róisín Timoney was also crowned senior dance champion. Darragh Kelliher from Kerry was the other Irish winner when he won in the senior acting category.
The group are under the direction of Lavinia Gilmartin who told The Mayo News before they departed for the States that the World Championships were broadcast on television and this was a huge opportunity for a number of the young performers to be spotted by agents.