Forty years of hitting the right notes

Regan Kelly

The Castletown Geoghegan branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann are celebrating 40 years of craic agus ceol this year, and are planning a weekend of festivities at the end of June.

Westmeath has long been associated with music, from famous singers to renowned gig venues.

Comhaltas was founded in Mullingar and the first Fleadh Cheoil was in the town in 1951.

The fleadh has returned to Westmeath since then – Athlone in 1953, in Mullingar in 1963, 2022 and 2023.

There are Comhaltas branches across the county, and the eighth, East Westmeath, was launched in 2024.

In Castletown Geoghegan, there was a branch in the 1970s, but it petered out, before being revived in the 1980s.

In 1983, Davy Joe Fallon, a well-known local musician, decided to resurrect the branch by organising large sessions around the area, which caught the attention of the Westmeath Comhaltas county board.

Officials made contact, and the branch was officially reformed with Davy Joe Fallon as chairman. By 1985, classes were being provided in almost every instrument, and there were more than 100 people involved early on.

An important member during those formative years was Ellen Comerford, who taught fiddle, concert flute and accordion. Ellen originally came from Tullamore and was an all-Ireland champion.

By 1988, the branch had held two fleadhanna and hosted monthly sessions, both highly regarded at the time.

The branch has produced great musicians who won many awards over the years; Tony Kenny, who sadly passed away in 2022, won two Leinster championships and came second twice at all-Ireland level.

Colin Hogg won two all-Irelands for bodhrán, and Kathryn Nea won three all-Irelands for singing.

Castletown Geoghegan has also hosted many County fleadhanna over the years, the most recent in 2023.

Dick Stokes, accordion player and a founding member of Castletown Geoghegan CCÉ: said: “Our branch has been successful over the years, but it’s not all about winning titles, it’s really just about the enjoyment.

“We just want it to be about people passing on the music and traditions, even if they aren’t the best in Ireland, it’s about learning to play the instruments and enjoying themselves anyway.”

Comhaltas branches across Ireland act as an outlet to bring their local communities together, all while helping to preserve Ireland’s traditional music.

Dick Stokes said: “I’ve been a member for many years, and I still am. I absolutely love it, it’s just a fantastic meeting point and it helped me make so many friends over the years.

“It’s a great place to make friends, and we see it all the time, there are always friendships being forged in the branch.”

In general, the popularity of traditional Irish music has increased in recent years. Traditional music in Westmeath has seen the same rise in popularity, and more people are joining Comhaltas branches.

“Particularly since the first fleadh in Mullingar, the numbers attending our classes alone have increased dramatically,” said Dick, “especially among the younger generation – we have a great group of younger musicians now, who are going to all-Ireland finals and winning other titles.

“Looking at the participation that we have locally, these young people are very capable and have significant skill levels, and they seem to enjoy it.

“The parents of these young people are absolutely excellent as well, they are very much involved in the branch and are a great help.

“So, on the basis of all of that, I really do think that the future is bright for Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas.

“I would just like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way, and I’m hoping that I was able to help some people as well. “It’s been a pleasure over the years, I don’t think I have one bad memory from my time with the branch.”

Enda Seery, current chairperson of Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas, said: “We are very excited as a branch to be celebrating 40 years as Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

“We have always had a strong tradition of music, song, dance, storytelling and the Irish language in Castletown Geoghegan and the surrounding areas of Ballinagore, Dysart, Loughnavalley, Streamstown, Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass.

“We are greatly indebted to those who founded our branch in St Michael’s Hall, in 1985, and indeed some of those founding members are still active in the branch.

“We have got a strong cohort of talented young people now in the branch and we hope that they will form the bedrock of the branch going forward.

“June 27-29 will be a weekend of celebration for Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas and I’m sure there will be a trip down memory lane too.”

Celebration weekend

Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas will host a weekend full of events at three venues in the village: Ned Claffey’s pub, St Michael’s Church and St Michael’s Hall, from June 27 to June 29.

On Friday, there is a concert at St Michael’s Church from 8pm. There will be performances by members of Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas, the Árd Eiscir Céilí Band, and other members of Westmeath Comhaltas.

On Saturday, there will be a singing session at Ned Claffeys at 9pm, hosted by Dick Stokes, and all are welcome to join in.

On Sunday, there will be Mass at 11am for deceased members of the branch at St Michael’s Church; and at 3pm, there will be a celebration and a presentation for the founding members of the branch.