Commins Calling - May 15, 2007

Saying hello from the Fleadh Ibiza

Commins Calling
Michael Commins

AT the recent Fleadh Ibiza which attracted in the region of 3,000 to the Mediterranean isle, and which was organised by Gerry Flynn and his Enjoy Travel Company, we received several requests and greetings for readers back home.
Tom Forde hails from Newbrook, Claremorris and has been involved with the music scene for many years. Now living in Birmingham, Tom was a former member of the popular Mayo group Stampede. Now with Irene and Full Circle, he is as busy as ever and was among the guest performers at the recent Fleadh Ibiza.
He sends his best wishes to his brother Martin and wife Bridie in Newbrook and to their family, Marianne, Trish (the well known photographer!) and Martin Jnr. Also hello to his good friend Michael O’Dea in Ahena, Taugheen.
Hello to Martin and Margaret Lyons in Meelick, Swinford and this comes from Mary and Seamus. Danny Hyland, who was enjoying the Fleadh Ibiza, says hello to Val and Chris Hyland in Killasser.
Michael and Bridget Moyles convey their best wishes to Patsy and Tom Flatley in Cloonmore, Ballyfarna, Claremorris, to Eileen and Pat Moran, Clogher, Belcarra, and also to Anthony and Ann Moyles and families in Derryhillagh, Crossmolina. They also send congratulations to James and Bernadette McWalter in Feamore, Tulrahan, on their new arrival.
John and Patricia and Kathleen Heffernan say hello to Paddy and Phil and extend good wishes from the Fleadh Ibiza. Ann and Jim Mulroy convey their regards to Margaret and Martin Lyons in Meelick, Swinford. ‘Having a ball in Ibiza!’ is the message.
Best wishes to all the O’Neill family in Derryveeney, Tourmakeady and to Sean and Ann Barker and the Hamiltons in Tourmakeady and this comes from Tess and Vinnie Scanlon who reside in Greenford, Middlesex.
Had a good chat with sisters Teresa McCusker, Julia Whelan and Bridie Weir. They were formerly Gibbons’s from Killawalla and they have been living in Coventry for many years. They extend good wishes to all who knows them back home around Killawalla. And last Wednesday night, Julia sent us an email to the late show on Mid West Radio where there were listening in on the internet at a house party in Coventry!
Willie and Teresa Murphy were over from Parke, Castlebar and they send their regards to all the family and grandchildren and to Padraig and Bridie Cloherty and family back home in Parke.
John Murphy and Jo Edwards from Leicester pass on their good wishes to Mildred Beirne in Loughglynn. ‘Keep on dancing, Mildred’, is the message from Jo and John.
William and Patricia O’Donnell send greetings to their friends in Mayo. They reside in Wigan, England. Willie is a native of the Louisburgh area while Patricia, nee Cafferky, is from Ballycroy.
A mention too from Cavan native Breffni O’Brien and his wife Kathleen who hails from Aranmore island and their friends Mary and Patsy Murray. Mary was formerly Lavelle from Belmullet.
Hello to all the Careys in Bangor and a special mention for PJ and Agnes (nee Coyle) and Johnny and Margaret Carey as well as Gerry and Geraldine Coyle in Geesala. This comes from Maura Cunningham (nee Carey) who resides in Carrickmacross and who is a staunch supporter of the Fleadh Ibiza.
It was nice to meet up with Des and Christina Reape and Pat and Mary Cahill who were over from England. Christina and Mary are sisters and were formerly Heneghans from Burren, Castlebar.
Leo McCaffrey is a Cavan man living in Galway who enjoys his music and has a special interest in the showband era. He sends his good wishes to fellow showband aficionado, John Egan, in Knock.
The Rafferty sisters, Mary and Angela, have lived in Birmingham for several years. They are natives of Cloondart, Gorthaganny, and extend their regards to Joe and Kathleen Rafferty and family back home in Gorthaganny. They also convey congratulations to Mary Ganley on the occasion of her recent 50th birthday.
Eddie McDermott, formerly of Loughglynn, sends his good wishes to family members, relations and neighbours back home in West Roscommon, including Martin Walshe and family in Erritt. Eddie was a top class boxer in his younger years and was a sparring partner for some of the British boxing champions. He has an extraordinary knowledge of the boxing world.
Hello to Joanie and Vincent Taylor in Easkey from Tommy and Kathleen Garrett in Birmingham. Peter and Rita Corley live in The Wirral, Merseyside and are regular listeners to Mid West Radio on the internet service. Peter is from Monaghan and Rita was formerly Deehan from Lisacul, Ballaghaderreen.
Eileen Maguire has family connections with Doohoma and Geesala and sends her regards to all her friends in the Erris region. She lives in Manchester.
A mention for the Castlerea contingent of Teresa Duignan (nee Henry from Tooreen), Mary Kenny, Noreen McLoughlin, Kathleen Curran, and John and Rita Farrell, Mary Cunnane from Ballintubber (Roscommon) and Glynnes Stone from Ballinlough and hello also to Bridie Levins, Ann Gallagher and Rita Lundon from Ballyhaunis.
Hello to Sean Queenan and Marty Brann as well as John and Mary Moran from the Crossmolina region who were enjoying the Fleadh Ibiza as were well-known Ballina promoter and manager, Tom Kelly and his wife Patricia.
Congratulations to Teresa Muldowney from Crossmolina who took the top waltzing prize at the competition during the first week of the Fleadh celebrations.
Bandleader Frank Chambers and his wife Mary were enjoying a relaxing week away from the scene and they were joined by Mary’s parents, John and Colette O’Brien from Westport. It was lovely to meet up with them in Ibiza. Mickey Walsh was also out from Newport and enjoying his two weeks in the sun.
Newport’s Mick Kelly was busy conducting his regular dancing workshops throughout the fortnight while Tom and Noreen Carter from Westport were lending their expertise to the ballroom dancing classes which were also enjoyed by many people.
A mention too for Seamus and Linda Melvin (the jiving champions!) and Paddy and Joan Cabry from Bonniconlon as well as Angela and Luke Padden, Dublin and Bonniconlon, and Margaret Dolan from Ballina. And hello to Tommy and Rosemary Horan in Glann, Kilkelly from Seamus and Barbara in Bristol.
Sean Carney, formerly of Mount Street, Claremorris, and his wife Mary were enjoying their first trip to the Fleadh Ibiza and they were joined by the Costello family, formerly from Ballyhaunis, and now resident in Dublin.
I was asked to include a mention for all the Sweeney and Langan families in Laragan, Kiltimagh (a special hello to ‘Senator’ Jimmy Sweeney!) and Martin and Kathleen Sweeney in Manulla and this comes from Mary and Willie Cunnane in Mullingar.
Hello to Mary Ann McGuire in Ballina and to Tony McGuire in Curry near Charlestown with best wishes from Mary McGuire in Tamworth, Shropshire.

Surprise for Bonniconlon man
THERE was a surprise party for Bonniconlon man Michael Tolan on the Sunday evening in Ibiza. His wife Mary and friends had organised a special get-together of the Mayo people attending the first week of the celebrations and they duly arrived to raise a glass to Michael on the occasion of his special birthday.
Michael is a prominent officer with the Bonniconlon Show Committee and is widely known in farming circles. In a brief speech, he recalled there were probably more at this gathering than was at their wedding reception all those years ago! The Mayo folk took over a room off the main dining room for the duration of the dinner and celebrated in style on what was a memorable evening for Michael and Mary.

Kilbane in Tubbercurry
FRESH from his appearance on the Mid West Radio concert in the TF Theatre, Castlebar last week, James Kilbane is all set to perform in St Brigid’s Hall, Tubbercurry, on next Sunday evening, May 20 at 8pm. The special concert will mark the re-opening of the hall and is in support of the refurbishment work that has been carried out over the past number of months.
This is a return visit for James to a venue where he delivered a top class show last Autumn and all involved are looking forward to another good night of top class entertainment.
James will perform some songs from his new country gospel album,‘Life’s Miracle’, as well as material from previous releases. The show features country, gospel, ballads and much more. The new album from the Achill man is garnering a lot of air play on the regional stations in recent weeks.
James finished second inthe ‘You’re a Star’ in 2004 and has gone on to be one of the most successful artists to come out of the talent contests.
Tickets are available from local outlets or from St. Brigid’s Hall committee members or by contacting Bernie at 087 9726341.
 
Honouring Colum
THE County Longford Social Club of New York has honoured Colum Reilly from Aughnacliffe with an Outstanding Achievement Award. Colum is married to the former Mary Ambrose from Balla.
Prominent in Longford circles in New York for many years, Colum has been most generous in his support for people from his home county and country. A member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the citation stated that Colum had been an outstanding citizen and a man “who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help people in all walks of life”. Well done, Colum.

George Jones for TF
COUNTRY legend George Jones has been confirmed for two shows in the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar. George will be arriving in Ireland at the back end of the year and will headline a country weekend in Castlebar. Tickets for the shows are expected to go on sale in the next few days.
Jones is regarded as one of the all-time greats of the American country music scene and is classed as a country singer’s singer. He has had quite an amazing career in showbiz and was once married to Tammy Wynette.