Willie a whistle-blower ahead of county fleadh

 

Deputy Willie Penrose’s usual ‘sessions’ have usually been either in Dáil Éireann or in a courtroom somewhere around the country – not jamming away with musicians – but that could be about to change.

“I am learning the tin whistle, and there’s a big concert coming up on May 24, and I have to be ready to play on the night,” says Deputy Penrose.

The concert – in Ballynacargy – is to feature musicians who are learning at the Comhaltas classes in the village, a branch set up only in February of last year, but which already boasts a membership of 185.

“It’s our ‘end of year concert’,” says Willie, who has been attending the tin whistle classes given by Enda Seery.

“If he could teach me the tin whistle, he could teach a buck goat!” laughs the jovial Ballynacargy man.

While there is some sight-reading involved, Enda’s technique also involves encouraging musicians how to learn by ear – and Willie has developed his own mnemonic for learning the notes: “BAGFED” – a nice, agricultural-sounding word that is easy to remember for a man whose primary degree was in Agricultural Science, long before further studies brought him his Masters in Economics, and finally, after a career in finance, a move into the Law Library, and of course, his career in politics.

He’s greatly enjoying the experience, having never had the chance to try learning an instrument before.

“I wouldn’t know the back end of a tin whistle,” says Willie.
“I remember Willie Reynolds (from Walderstown – a founder member of Comhaltas) used to give lessons in Ballynacargy, but my mother couldn’t afford the shilling or whatever to send me.”

Now, he’s in with youngsters, who are, he reveals, highly bemused by his efforts.
“Some of them will be entering competitions in the Westmeath Fleadh at U10 level,” he says.

Despite that, he’s persevered, and has the hang of a few tunes, which, he says, is a reflection of the tremendous ability of Enda Seery.

“If I was doing it right, I’d be doing some practice every day, but I’m like the fellow doing the exam: I should be thinking of it now this evening,” he says.
For the big concert in Ballynacargy, all the novice musicians have to have three tunes apiece ready, and Willie is confident that come the night, it’ll all come together for him.

It could be the start of a whole new era: that of Willie Penrose, the well-known tin whistler.

 

 

• The Ballynacargy branch of Comhaltas turns the Westmeath Fleadh into a full three-day festival of music this weekend.

Among those attending are former Stockton’s Wing fiddler, Maurice Lennon, son of the famous fiddler Ben, and nephew of Charlie, pianist, fiddler and composer; accordionists Micky Curran and Fergus Bogue; flautist Cian Sweeney and uileann piper Ronan Sweeney.

Much of the activity is to take place in the great outdoors – on the street, in The Square, at the harbour – and right on the canal itself.

Not content to merely run the competitions – the ultimate point of the fleadh – the organisers have arranged to have two gig rigs in town for music; to have boats lined up to take musicians and music fans for seisiuns along the canal; the pubs are having live music and inviting everyone who can play anything along; there’s an art exhibition; a lecture, a shave or dye feature – and as a souvenir of what promises to be an event to remember, a jam-packed full 64-page programme to guide festival goers to the fleadh activities, and recounting in detail the wonderful musical heritage of the Ballynacargy area.

Maeve Tighe and Lorraine Keary, of the organising committee, dropped by the Westmeath Examiner to outline just what is being promised for what looks set to be one of the biggest festivals in a long time in a village that is much-practised in festival running, thanks to its many years of fabulous summer festivals in the canal harbour.

This event, however, is much bigger, taking place in so many locations including, in addition to those already mentioned, St Brigid’s NS, and the parochial hall.

Lecture
While the fleadh festival doesn’t officially open until Friday evening, events get under way this very evening, Tuesday, with a lecture in the parochial hall.

Heritage enthusiast Eamon Donoghue will deliver a talk on the history of music around Ballynacargy – and with such figures in the area’s past as the piper Richard O’Mealey (also known as Melia or Meally), the Kilbixy Céilí Band, including Joe Boyce, Jack Nally, Mick Gaynor, Joe Kilmurray, Ned Coady and Mick Beglan, not to mention the legendary Tristernagh feiseanna, there’s certainly plenty of interest to be recalled.

For Thursday night, there’s a call out for musicians from far and wide for an open seisiún at Halligan’s pub – the first of four such seisiúns taking place over the week, the others being on Friday night at Murtagh’s, Saturday night at The Wagon Wheel, and Sunday night at Munnelly’s.

The official opening is on the Friday from 8pm at The Harbour, and from then until 10pm there will be boat trips along the canal with live music; not to mention the music scheduled to happen on the gig rig.

Coming along for the official opening is the president of Comhaltas, Vincent Jordan. Also present will be Seamus Brogan from the national executive; Padraic Keena, chairman of Westmeath Comhaltas; and Fr John Nally, PP, who will perform an official blessing.

Meanwhile, from Friday right through to Sunday, the Hazel Gallery is open daily from 2-5pm, showing an exhibition of works by artist Robert Crawford.

Competitions
On Saturday, for fans of sean nós and set dancing, the only place to be is The Square, where the dancing competitions are from 7.30pm.
That evening, at Mass, musicians from Comhaltas will play, and they will also play on Sunday morning at Sonna Mass at 10am and at Ballynacargy at 11.30am.
The music competitions take place on Sunday, kicking off at 1.30pm at St Brigid’s NS.

The five adjudicators, brought in from other counties, will be awarding prizes to the best musicians in various age groups from underage right up to senior, in a range of disciplines – fiddle, tin whistle, banjo, button accordion, flute, mandolin, harp, piano, concertina, mouth organ, drums and bodhrán; and in the accompaniment and miscellaneous sections, as well as the singing and comhrá Gaeilge categories.

To coincide with the competitions a number of businesses will have stalls around St Brigid’s, including Rogan’s smoked foods, Penrose’s shop, Rochfort’s shop, and Ballynacargy Country Markets.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday, at The Square from 4-6pm, there will be live music.
Radio 3 is coming along with its outside broadcast unit for the Padraic Duffy programme Coppers and Brass from 6-8pm – meaning that for a full four hours, there should be plenty of live trad to be enjoyed.

Again, stress the two women, all musicians are welcome along to participate.

Shave or dye
On Sunday night, there is a shave or dye event, at The Square, from 6pm, in aid of charity. Wielding the scissors and the hair dye packs will be staff from His n Hers hair salon of Ballynacargy.

Preparation for the fleadh began as far back as last September, and it’s been go-go ever since for the organising committee, the members of which are Deputy Willie Penrose, Lorraine Keary, Maeve Tighe, Ann Penrose, Dolores Wilson, Eamon Donoghue, Joe Connaire, Noel Drew and Pat Byrne.

“An awful lot of work went into organising the fundraising,” says Maeve, listing off the events that took place, which included a table quiz, a tractor run, hunting the wren and a seisiún in Feerick’s.

Lorraine says firms in the area have been generous with their sponsorship, especially the festival’s main sponsor, Conroy’s Pallets of Sonna.
Generous too have been the other branches of Comhaltas around Westmeath who have lent their support to the event, and members from which have volunteered their services to act as clerks on the day.