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Píobaire, An, Volume 2, Issue 28, Page 3

Píobaire, An, Volume 2, Issue 28, Page 3
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Píobaire, An
volume Number
2
issue Content
you put one frustrated man in close proxi-mity with another the resultant atmosphereis not going to be the most conducive toharmony. (The story of what was happeningwithin the Archive can be read in Ceol IV,(q)J. When Breand n stormed out of UCU inFebruary 1977 any dents in our relationshipimmediately healed. We were no longer manand boss, once again we were merely twopeople who were united by a common fascina-tion with traditional music and song. Thqughon reflection this is something of an under-statement in Breandns case for his devotionto the subject was all-consuming. His searchfor scholarly accuracy, historical and docu-mentary truth was such that he made him-self totally subservient to his insistence onhonesty in his work on Irish music. This maybe selfevident to his friends and membersof NPU and FMSI; it is not so clear to themany poseurs and sham-scholars who felt thesting of his lancet-like tongue. A mandevoid of cant or hypocrisy himself, he hadlittle patience with it in others.Not only the members of NPU will beable to recall - his remarkable generosity ofcharacter, for he was always willing to helpabsolutely anyone who sought his help oradvice on any aspect of Irish music. He hadmental resources on the subject equivalentto the British Museum, with the single dif-ference: Breand n was far more accessibie.Not only was he always ready to bring hisexpertise anywhere without question of re-ward, he was willing to put up with themost awful venues U he thought the peoplehe was talking to were interested. He didnot even complain when, a few years ago, hegave a lecture in a tiny room in a Kerryparish ha n. Stacked behind him were card-board boxes filled with rubbish and moundsof leaking black plastic bags. This particularevent was organised by a committee oftwenty who forgot to tell the rest of theworld that it was happening and as a resultthere was an audiertce of about ten souls.The talk he gave that evening was one ofthe best researched and illuminating lecturesI have ever heard him give, and that issaying something in his case! Whether hewas talking in a lecture theatre or backroom there was much of the proselytiserabout him; if he thought there was even onedisciple in the gathering he would give ofhimself unstintingly.On retiring from UCD in 1977 heimmediately took on a much greater work-load. The Irish Music Index carried on,Henrietta Street got under way, lectures forthis and that society, articles for this maga-zine and that journal; but what of theArchive; was that forgotten? Not a hope.It was with a sense of dj vu that we metin the Arts Council building in 980 as mem-bers of a new committee to consider thefoundation of a National Sound Archive. Weboth agreed this is where we came in fif-teen years ago. At seventy Breandmn had nointention of letting the matter rest, and in1982 he was appointed chairman of theArchive Committee. The Archive is still nota reality. On the afternoon we were talkingwith Muiris 0 Rdchin and Harry Hughes inThe Commodore I brought up the subjectagain with Breandn. He said Whats yourhurry Tommy? Ive waited so many yearsnow I can wait a few more. Would that itwere true.When it was time to leave The Commo-dore and return to Henrietta Street we sug-gested going for a meal first. We askedBreandin to suggest some nearby restaurant.Fifteen minutes later we were walking downby Bolton Street with hot Fortes bags inour hands. Breandn was waving his smokedcod airily and discoursing on politics: Id besceptical of those hoors, as it were. It wasa grand meeting. Muiris, Harry and I re-turned to Miltown the following morning.The next Wednesday I drove from Miltownto Clonmany, Co. Donega 1, 250 weary milesof non-stop rain. Jim McBride of Buncranacame around with me that night and intro-duced me to some singers. I lined up fourto record the following day. We got backto Buncrana at I am., and as I warmedmyself by the fire Jim came in with a pieceof paper in one hand and a whiskey glass inthe other. Theres a telephone message foryou. Im afraid its bad news.I got to Dublin in time for the removal.There was a general air of bewildermentamong the crowd gathered at the MeathHospital. It just would not sink in. Black-rock Church was packed. It was packedagain the following morning for the funeralMass. As is my wont, I was standing nearthe back of the Church. A little woman inI f/3
issue Number
28
page Number
3
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
1986-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Píobaire, An, Volume 2, Issue 28

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