Comhaltas trio praised for ‘sheer commitment, night after night’

Three of the longest serving Comhaltas officers in Mullingar have recently retired after almost a century of volunteerism between them.

For decades, Margaret Ryan, Rose Collentine and Monica Byrne gave hundreds, if not thousands, of hours each year to the promotion of traditional Irish music and culture; their only reward being the friendships they made and the knowledge that the music they love was being passed down from generation to generation.

Apart from a small number of fellow stalwarts, such as Noel Battle and Colman Ó Muineachain, Margaret is the longest serving member of the branch. Speaking to the paper when we visited Áras an Mhuilinn recently to chat to the modest trio, Margaret told us that it was a local legend who recruited her one into the branch one day “in 1979 or 1980”.

“It was Ma Mullally who roped me into it. She caught me one in the street with an umbrella. She said ‘You’re the one that I am looking for’ (laughs). That’s how I came to really get involved.”

Monica has been a member of Comhaltas for more than 30 years, first joining the Loughegar branch and when that disbanded she joined Mullingar. Retired nurse Rose has been a member for some 20 years and was the long serving treasurer of the branch until her retirement. Between the three of them, they have filled a host of positions and carried out a variety of duties at local, county and provincial level, as well as helping organising county and provincial fleadhanna.

Rose plays the accordion, or in her own words “tries” to. She first learned how to play as a child. “There was a band in Rahugh years and years ago when I was young. It’s amazing – there was at least 30 of us playing the accordion. It would be 60 years ago. It’s such a small area and accordions were not cheap. Larry Arthur and Tommy Smullen were teachers, God rest them,” she said.

Margaret grew up in a musical household. “My father always played the melodeon and we were taught to dance in the house. Them times you didn’t have televisions and all that, but you had a great time,” she said.

For years, the three friends played a central role in the running of the music classes that take place each week in Áras an Mhuilinn. From organising teachers to raising the funds needed to help cover the costs of paying for overheads, such as the use of Áras an Mhuilinn, Margaret, Rose and Monica gave freely of their time to make sure that things ran smoothly.

“We were here every Thursday from half four to half eight. It’s a big commitment,” said Monica.

Hundreds of aspiring musicians passed through Mullingar Comhaltas under the women’s watch, some of whom, such as Monica’s children Marie and John, made the transition from pupil to teacher.

Like any other organisation whose survival depends on the contribution of volunteers, the Mullingar branch of Comhaltas has had its ups and downs over the years. Around 25 years ago, the branch was, in Monica’s words, “on death’s door”. With no music teachers to run classes, the only activities were the monthly meetings. It was “resurrected” when Colm Keane started teaching the fiddle. Other talented teachers, such as the late Amanda Davey, came on board and since then the branch has thrived, thanks to the hard work and dedication of core group of Irish music enthusiasts.

This year there are around 140 students attending classes in Áras an Mhuilinn each week. All local Comhaltas branches have experienced a post-Fleadh increases in their membership – however, Mullingar has been in rude health for a long number of years.

The love of traditional Irish music tends to be passed on through the generations in families and during their time with Comhaltas, all three women have had younger relatives: children, nieces and nephews, or grandchildren attend classes. At the moment Monica’s two granddaughters are attending tin whistle classes being given by their mother.

Facilitating the teaching of music and making sure that the culture remains vibrant in the Mullingar area is one of the reasons she and her friends remained involved with Comhaltas for as long as they have, Monica says.

“What really happened with us, I feel, is that there were children looking to learn music and it would have a been a missed opportunity not to give them it.”

The three of them stressed that they were able to devote so much time to Comhaltas due to the support they received from their husbands, Donal (Margaret), Val (Monica) and Jim (Rose).

“If we hadn’t had their support we wouldn’t have been able to manage it for all them years,” Margaret says.

Over the last year the trio stayed on to assist the new committee members as they get used to their roles, while Rose and Monica remain on the board of Áras an Mhuilinn. They are looking forward to taking things a bit easier now that they are less involved with the day to day running of the branch. Their departure has been made easier by the knowledge that the future is in safe hands.

“It’s good to see new people, new blood and new ideas,” Rose said, a sentiment that her two friends wholeheartedly agree with it.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, the cathaoirleach of Áras an Mhuilinn Camillus Glynn praised the women for the “great job” they did organising classes over the years and wished them well in their retirement.

At a recent concert by the current crop of music students, the three stalwarts received a standing ovation.

MC Siobhán Ní Chonaráin praised Margaret, Monica and Rose for their “sheer commitment, night after night behind the scenes” and said that their years of service is “part of the legacy that brought the All Ireland Fleadh to Mullingar”.