Tom’s ‘warts and all’ history of Comhaltas is well received

At a special Comhaltas commemorative concert in St Paul's Church last Thursday evening, a book on the history of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the Fleadh Cheoil was launched.

Seachtó Bliain ag Fás: Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 1951-2021, is written by Mullingar historian, Dr Tom Hunt.

It was officially launched by the director general of Comhaltas Labhrás Ó Murchú, who said he had “huge admiration” for Dr Hunt.

He said Dr Hunt had laid bare the history of the Comhaltas, which has its roots in Mullingar in the early 1950s, “warts and all”.

“The committee decided that we should leave something after this that in a way encapsulates what the story and the script of Comhaltas. And all I have to say is Tom Hunt is one great man!

“To take on this task was huge in itself but Tom had all the right credentials.

“Tom met me and I had a feeling he was wondering what my reaction to the book would be.

“He said ‘What do you think?’, and there was a degree of trepidation there! I said, ‘Tom, you put it there, warts and all'.

“When you get this book, you’ll see what I mean, " continued Ó Murchú. "It talks about the difficult fleadhanna of the past and shenanigans that went on. They were difficult times and the big challenge for Comhaltas was do you fold up, do you give in, or do you take a stand?

“Here is the significance – we got rid of the warts and we took a stand and that’s why we are able to see the fleadh developing. Tonight's concert is bringing to life what’s in this book,” said Ó Murchú.

“Tom has done something very special. We owe a huge debt of gratitude for what he has done and this is a huge stepping stone to the full history of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and I am delighted to officially launch this book.”

An education

“It was actually a privilege to do this because, to be honest, I knew very little about Comhaltas, I didn’t even pronounce the word right,” began Dr Hunt, a former teacher at Mullingar Community College. Tom is also the current PRO of Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club and Westmeath’s representative on the GAA’s Central Council.

“Before I started researching the book, I wasn’t really aware that such a cultural phenomen as the music session existed,” he said. “I've tried to capture the variety of activities that Comhaltas are engaged in.”

Running to over 135 pages, the publication takes the reader through the history of Comhaltas right through from its embryonic days, its founding in Mullingar in 1951, the first Fleadh in 1952 and through years of national and international growth to this year’s Homecoming to Mullingar.