Eamon Moynihan 'eclipsed' and 'forgotten' in history of Comhaltas, says son

An impassioned testimonial to a “forgotten” hero of fleadh lore, Eamon Moynihan, the man who helped create and even christened Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, was delivered by his son Ciarán in Áras an Mhuilinn last Thursday. He said he felt his father had been “eclipsed” and “forgotten” in the history of Comhaltas and of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Ciarán was among those attending the presentation of an artwork by Geraldine O’Reilly to the Áras. The piece commemorates many of the founders of CCE, among them Ciarán’s mother, Cait Moynihan.

Ciarán said that when the Irish Free State emerged “Irishness was played down”, but people like his parents fought to preserve it. His mother was running Feis Lar na hÉireann “almost singled handed” and then the ‘phone call came to the Midland Hotel to say four or five carloads of musicians were coming down from the Pipers’ Club in Dublin to see about setting up an all-embracing association to promote Irish music.

It was Eamon Moynihan who suggested an organisation similar to the GAA with county and regional finals and who coined the name Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Ciarán feels that his father’s role has been “eclipsed” – “he never got the kudos”.

Eamon Moynihan was a teacher at Gainstown NS where Ciarán’s grandchildren now go to school. He was a great hurler and played for his native Waterford and later for Westmeath, winning an All-Ireland junior medal in 1936 and reaching the Leinster senior semi-final in 1937. He died aged 49 years.

After his father’s death, Cait would take Ciarán and his siblings around the country to sessions which would consist of “a fella playing in a dark corner”. Comhaltas brought Irish music into the light, he said.