The Current

Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment

Media Credit: Melissa S. Hayden Celebrated Irish singer Seán Ó Sé performs a medley of songs at a showcase of traditional Irish music, "Echoes of Erin," at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on Tuesday. Ó Sé was accompanied by winners of the Fleadh Cheoil, an Irish music competition, including James Mahon, behind Ó Sé on uilleann pipes, and Cathy Potter, on the harp.

Old habits may die hard, but thankfully, traditions stay strong and alive, as proved by a performance of Irish music masters at the Touhill on Tuesday.

The 2008 Comhaltas Concert Tour of North America, "Echoes of Erin," echoed through the E. Desmond and Mary Lee Theatre of the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

The performance was given by musicians and dancers who won the last annual All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a "definitive system of competitions for Irish music," according to the Comhaltas Web site at http://comhaltas.ie/. Fleadh Cheoil literally means, "feast of music."

The performers proved their winning statuses with such things as flawless piping, step dancing, fiddling and banjo strumming.

The group, consisting mainly of young adult performers hailing from various locations from Antrim to Cork, also included a few veterans of the Irish traditional music world, such as Bruce Scott and Joe Arkins and the celebrated Seán Ó Sé.

He brought smiles to faces with his witty remarks between sets and performed a moving medley of songs about the battle at Wexford, during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, where approximately 1000 lives were lost.

The only complaint was that a favorite tune of mine, "Boolavogue" was only a sung as a part of the medley. The ballad immortalizes Father John Murphy who led his parishioners, from the village Buaile Mhaodhóg (pronounced "Boolavogue," hence the title), to battle during the rebellion. Murphy and other leaders were hung after defeat at Vinegar Hill.

Continued...

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