Na Píobairí Uilleann

Chairman, NPU

An Píobaire

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8 5 28 20121206 28 hears the last section of this air being incorrectly abbreviated so that, instead of A B B A, it is played A B B ½A. As with Willie Clancy, Con was in- sistent that a song be fully understood before at- tempting it as a slow air. Being the humble musician he was, there are not that many recordings of him available. There is a cassette tape entitled Green Lane – An Bóithrín Glas, featuring Con with Áine Davis and Tim O’Shea. He also features on Mike Dainín Ó Sé’s Ó Thuaidh – Traditional Music and Song from West Kerry, and the more recent Ar an Slí, featur- ing Con with Mazz O’Flaherty. There are some recordings in the Raidió na Gaeltachta archives, and then there is his featured CD in the Champi- ons of Ireland series (Connoisseur Records, 2000). Con’s wonderful playing is very evident here, although the guitar backing leaves much to be desired. This, in fact, was added to Con’s recordings without any input from himself. One still hopes that the original of Con’s playing sur- vives somewhere and can be rescued! Con’s involvement in the production and publica- tion of the collection of west Kerry polkas, slides and slow airs, An Pota Stóir (1994), was an indica- tion of his concern for the preservation of the local music which he loved. While always keeping a low profile as a musician, he was aware of his worth. He was never one to blow his own trumpet, but not slow in letting one know when necessary. Like many musicians trying to make a liv- ing on home ground with music, the pub is the only real hope. With so much music available for free, at- tendance at formal traditional music events can be weak, and consequently the income from such. But on one occasion, Con was playing in a pub and left the session to call a round. The barman snidely re- marked, “Don’t you have it easy, playing the few tunes and what you’re being paid. And me standing here all night pulling pints and I don’t get the half of it!” “Is that the way?” said Con. “Hold on there a sec- ond.” He went back and picked up his pipes, brought them over and put them up on the bar counter. “Now,” he said, “You play them and I’ll pull the pints!” It has been said that west Kerry does great funerals. Con’s funeral Mass was just that. His son, Stephen, gave a wonderful welcome and resumé of Con’s life as a father, a brother, a friend and musician. His musician friends and colleagues played throughout the Mass and singers Ben Ó Loingsigh and Muire- ann Nic Amhlaoibh sang “Beir Bheannacht ó Rí na hAoine” and “Port an Phíobaire”. His parish priest, An Canónach Tomás Ó Luanaigh, gave a gem of a sermon – delving into nature, history, folklore and music. He made the point that we all face physical death, but there is a second death – that of memory, where the person becomes forgotten. Con would be remembered for his legacy of music, his influ- ence on other musicians and, he hoped, his pipes would continue to be played. Con was bade farewell through Dingle, first of all by the pipe playing of Liam Stapleton outside Tigh na Cúirte pub as the hearse went to Dingle church the evening before, and then, on the way to the ceme- tery after Mass, by the Quay Wren Fife and Drum band outside the Marina Inn, which Con was in- strumental in reviving in recent years and in which he played the fife himself. Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh accompanied him on the warpipes to the graveside and, following the prayers, his fellow-piper Cillian Ó Briain played “Slán le Máigh”. Ó slán is céad ón taobh so uaim Cois Máighe na gcaor na gcraobh na gcruach Na stát, na séad, na soar, na slua Na ndán, na ndréacht, na dtréan gan ghruaim . Och, ochón is breoite mise ? Gan chuid, gan chóir, gan chóip, gan chiste ? Gan sult, gan seoid, gan spórt, gan spionnadh ? Ó seoladh mé chun uaignis ... Con is survived by his children Stephen, Éanna, Sorcha and Fiadh, their mother Emer, his brothers Keith and Hugh, his sister Eilís and his most sup- porting partner in recent years, Ann. Beannacht Dé lena anam umhal uasal. Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh Con Durham, b. 1956, d. 21 June 2012

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