Commins Calling - April 11, 2007

Dermot reaches summit once again

COMMINS CALLING
Michael Commins

YOU could sense the surge of pride among the friends of Dermot Earley last week. The former Roscommon football legend had just been appointed Chief of Staff of the Irish Army. The man from Gorthaganny in West Roscommon, just a few miles from Ballyhaunis, had made it to the summit yet again.
While the Earley name is now synonymous with Roscommon, both his parents were from Mayo. His late father, Peader, who was a teacher in Gorthaganny school for many years and who also taught for a few years in Ballinastanford NS near Claremorris, was born in Lahardane while his mother Kitty, who is hale and hearty in Gorthaganny, was formerly Byrne from Main Street, Castlebar. Indeed, Dermot himself was born in the Byrne family home where his first cousin, Mick Byrne, runs one of Castlebar’s best-known pubs.
Dermot, who joined the Defence Forces as a cadet back in 1965, has had a very distinguished career in the Army. He served a term as military advisor to the United Nations General Secretary in New York and also spent terms in the Middle East.
Back home, memories of his golden years in the primrose and blue of Roscommon still warm the hearts of the Rossies brigade. He was a member of the legendary four-in-a-row Connacht senior champions from 1977-1980 and also won a National League medal with Roscommon as well as two All-Star awards.
He played his final inter-county game for Roscommon in the 1985 Connacht Final against Mayo in Hyde Park. Mayo emerged winners that day but Willie Joe Padden, TJ Kilgallon and some other members of the Mayo team, in an emotional gesture, went over to Dermot Earley at the end of the game and raised him shoulder high in the middle of the field. That was the measure of respect they had for the man from Gorthaganny.
Dermot, who resides with his wife Mary, a native of Tipperary, and family in Newbridge, Co Kildare, will take over the top spot from Lieut General Jim Sreenan, a native of Sligo, on June 28. He carries the good wishes of his legion of friends around the west and much further afield as he undertakes the latest phase in his remarkable career.

Tom Lally was well-loved in Chicago
TOM Lally, who died recently in Chicago at the age of 84, was a legendary GAA supporter who never lost touch with his roots in Mount Delvin where the counties of Roscommon, Galway and Mayo come together. Such was the enormous respect in which Tom was held that David Flynn, the captain of the Roscommon minor team that defeated Kerry in the All-Ireland replay last October, together with Cloonfad-based Brendan Cregg, chairman of the Roscommon Minor Board, visited Tom in his hospital bed in Chicago and brought along the Tom Markham Cup. Tears of joy and emotion welled up in the heart of this brave Gael at the wonderful gesture that touched the hearts of so many people.
Born in Mount Delvin in Co Roscommon and raised in Shanballymore, just across the border in Galway, Tom went to England at a very young age and headed to America in 1948. Chicago was his destination and it was there that he was to spend the rest of his life. He secured a job with the Chicago Transit Company and was an excellent ambassador for them until his retirement.
Gaelic games provided him with a great bond with the homeland. At gatherings in Gaelic Park in Chicago and at Irish events in the city, the discussion was always bound to turn to the GAA when Tom was around. The Goalpost Bar in Chicago was his favourite ‘local’ haunt where he loved to while away the time chatting to the lads from Roscommon, Mayo (especially Ballintubber where he had many good friends), Galway and Clare and other places about football and sport.
He was thrilled to see Galway regain the All-Ireland title in 1998 and win the Sam Maguire Cup again in 2001. The three All-Ireland hurling victories in the 1980s were exciting times for Tom as well and he was hoping that Mayo would take the Sam Maguire Cup back to the west last year and on the previous occasions that they reached the finals.
He felt an extra pride in watching Roscommon minors cover themselves and their county in glory by drawing with Kerry in the final at Croke Park and then defeating them in style in the replay down in Ennis.
All the emotional ties with the ‘old sod’ came to the fore in that very special Irish way which unites us wherever we travel on the journey of life.
Trips back home across the Atlantic always raised his spirits. He loved to visit relations and friends around Mount Delvin, Ballinross, Shanballymore, Garrafrauns and Cloonfad. His base for these vacations was usually the home of his cousin, Peggy Prendergast, in Cloonfad. (Peggy travelled to Chicago for the funeral). Many were the pleasant visits he had to Lally’s Bar in Garrafrauns where his cousin Tom and sisters were always delighted to welcome a man they held in the greatest regard and who loved his time among his old friends and neighbours.
Tom married Mary Hanly from Castlerea and they raised a family of four in Chicago, three sons and a daughter. Like Tom, Mary also looked forward to her visits to her home county and region. She died in 1994.
Tom had one brother, JP, who died with the Allied Forces in the Battle of Arnhem during World War II and is buried in Markeese near Eindhoven in Holland. Tom visited the war memorial cemetery in the mid-1990s.
Tom Lally was a true gentleman who graced many an occasion with his presence. He will be remembered with the fondest regard by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He is survived by his sons Tom, John and James, daughter Maureen Hughes, in-laws, grandchildren, one great-grandchild, niece Maureen Barraclough (nee Lally) in Huddersfield, relatives, neighbours and many friends. Ni bheidh a leithéid an arís.

Disappointing performance from Dolly
DOLLY Parton came to Dublin last week. I went along to see one of country music’s legendary singers perform in concert before a sell-out audience at The Point Theatre.
I think it would be fair to say that a lot of people felt the show fell well short of expectations. This was My first time ever in The Point Theatre and I could not see myself ever going back there for another concert. The place is vast, lacks atmosphere, and it is impossible to generate that intimate connection with audiences that you can in theatres like the TF Royal in Castlebar or other such venues around the country.
Dolly’s concert was good in parts and songs like ‘Coat of Many Colours’, ‘Tennessee Mountain Home’, ‘Smokey Mountain Memories’, ‘Jolene’, and ‘Nine to Five’ were well-received but she had a tendency to move away from her country roots on quite a number of occasions. The encore number was more suited to a theatrical production of a West End musical and certainly did nothing to connect with her country music audience.
The people who attended the show in Dublin were real country music followers who wanted to hear the traditional songs which made Dolly the undoubted star that she is on the world stage. She is a brilliant songwriter and one of the great American female country singers of our time. Yet, somehow, something got lost along the way at this concert in Dublin.
Maybe some time she might come West and perform in a far more intimate setting than Dublin’s Point Theatre. Then I would certainly go along to see her again …. but if her next Irish show is in Dublin, I’m staying at home.

Thomas and Fhiona come west again
HEADING back west for another show at Digger Jay’s on Friday night (April 13) are Thomas Maguire and Fhiona Ennis. The Fermanagh-based duo are well-known to country music followers in these parts and have performed at most venues in Mayo over the past few years, including the Siamsa Sráide with Brid O’Connell and friends in Swinford last summer.
They were recently presented with the Single of the Year 2006 award for their version of ‘We Were Made for Each Other’ at the Country and Irish Music Awards in Setanta House in Celbridge.
Last Christmas, they showed plenty of initiative by recording and releasing a country version of ‘Fairytale of New York’, a number which secured lots of airplay for the talented duo.
Under the management of Henry McMahon, bandleader of the famous Mainliners, Thomas and Fhiona are currently recording fresh material for further releases in the summer months. Meanwhile, you can dance the night away to their music in Diggers Jay’s this Friday night. The show is from 10.30pm to 12.30am.

Praise the living while you can
LAST week, Pat Walsh from Ballyhaunis Road, Claremorris, a retired member of the staff of St Colman’s College, quoted me some lines of wisdom he had learned years ago. I asked Pat for the verses so as to share them with our readers. There is something in the Irish psyche that often finds it hard to give credit where it is due and kind words are often withheld until someone dies. These lines learned by Pat many years ago contain a lot of truth, so let’s hope they have the desired results. Obviously, the male can be replaced by female in the lines below … whatever suits the occasion!
If with pleasure you are viewing any work a man is doing, If you like him or you love him, tell him now. Don’t withhold your approbation ’til the clergy make oration, And he lies with snowy lilies o’er his brow, For no matter how you shout it, he won’t really care about it. He won’t know how many teardrops you have shed.
If you think some praise is due him, now’s the time to give it to him, For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.

Special features at Hucklebuck exhibition

TWO special events to coincide with the Hucklebuck Time showband nostalgia exhibition currently on view in the National Museum of Country Life at Turlough Park, Castlebar will be held this week.
A Reminiscence Workshop recalling the ballrooms and the showbands from 1958 to 1968 will be hosted by James Reddiough on Wednesday, April 11 from 2.30pm to 4pm.
RTÉ presenter Ronan Collins, a former drummer with Dickie Rock’s band, will introduce ‘The One Nighters’, a short documentary record of life on the road which was shot by Peter Collison and features the legendary Royal Showband. This event has been arranged for next Saturday, April 14 and also runs from 2.30pm to 4pm. The exhibition continues until June 10.

Claremorris sisters step it out in Zurich
THE six Hanley sisters from Claremorris delighted a captivated audience at the Lake Side Restaurant in Zurich during the recent St Patrick’s Weekend celebrations. The girls, who have won numerous accolades for their Irish dancing skills, were among the guests of the Irish Ambassador to Switzerland, Joseph Lynch and his wife Irene, formerly Duffy from Claremorris and a cousin of the Hanley family.
The girls, Karen, Jayne, Katie, Michelle, Nicole and Jessie, were accompanied by their parents Paul and Ann from the Western Hotel in Claremorris for what was a very memorable and enjoyable trip to Zurich for the festivities. The dancers were accorded standing ovations by the Irish guests and their friends.
Also among the guest performers were Mairead and Triona Ní Dhomhnaill who sang some Gaelic songs as well as An Lar, a Swiss Celtic folk band.
“We had a great time in Zurich and it was a wonderful experience for all of us. The hospitality was the finest and it was a special day and night for all the family,” said Paul.

Louis teams up with English
KILTIMAGH’S Louis Walsh is spreading his wings into the country music field. Ireland’s best-known showbiz manager has just signed Kildare singer Michael English with a view to catapulting Michael onto the international stage.
This is a big break for the multi-talented midlander whose talents range from classical piano to country song-writing as well as being one of the most professional stage performers on the Irish circuit. Michael is also a four-times Irish ballroom dancing champion, something that may come as a surprise to even many of his followers.
It has been known for some time that Louis was interested in moving into new territory while still keeping an interest in the boy band sector that has been so lucrative for him over the past decade.
Michael English brings all the credentials needed for the middle of the road and country market and is self-assured and ultra-professional in his approach to the business. He also brings a good attitude which has been well-honed during his time performing in the halls and hotels around the country.
It will be fascinating to see if Louis can again bring the Midas touch to his latest signing. Certainly, all the ingredients would appear to be in place for a new star to blaze across the international scene. Michael English certainly has the talent and all the requisites to deliver in style. Maybe this managerial deal could be the nearest to perfect for both of them!

BIG TOM CONSIDERS SUMMER SHOWS
FRIENDS of country legend Big Tom McBride are hoping to hear news shortly about Tom’s intentions in relation to some shows this summer. It is understood that Tom is in fine form, again after his health scare some months ago and is taking regular daily exercise on the roads around his home in Oram outside Castleblayney Tom has stated that if he feels ‘the mood is right’ and the health is good, he will undertake a few dance dates this summer.
Certainly, his thousands of loyal followers will be hoping that he decides to do a series of dates. It would also serve as a tremendous boost to the entire  country music scene during the summer months.