Trad treat at Gavigan weekend

Milltown Rathconrath is known as an area with deep roots in traditional Irish music, and a new ‘tradition’ established in the area is the celebration of that heritage on the first weekend of October every year. ‘The Frank Gavigan Memorial Weekend’ runs on Friday October 4 to Sunday October 6 this year.

Events kick off on the Friday evening with a concert in Milltown Community Centre, where artists performing include the popular accordionist Bobby Gardiner, who has Clare and Tipperary connections.

Another Clare performer appearing on the night is singer, songwriter PJ Murrihy, who will sing many of his hit songs, and also performing is ace accordionist Seamus Shannon.

Back by popular demand will be Anne Conroy Burke, Mary Conroy and Eileen O’Brien, together with Caomhán MacGabhann from the Ballynacargy branch of Comhaltas, who is one of the finest concertina players of his age.

Pat ‘The Moe’ Heduan will be on stage to recite a funny chapter from his soon-to-be-launched new book.

As always, Neansaí Ní Choistealbha from RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta will be on hand to play a few tunes and record the concert for her popular Irish music programme.

The night will finish with lively tunes from the Rathconrath Céilí Band led by Mick Foster of Foster and Allen. Moyra Fraser will be on piano to back all musicians and ensure the concert is run to a high standard.

Shannonside Radio funnyman Martin Donohoe, known as ‘The Cavanman’, will be MC on the night and a DVD video recording will be available at a later date from Ollie Gallagher, Mullingar. Admission is €20 and the show starts at 8pm (doors open from 7). A few tunes will be played afterwards in Gunning’s, Rathconrath.

On the Saturday night a céilí runs from 9pm to 1am with The Glenside Band at the same venue in Milltown. Sunday Mass at 11am in Milltown is a Comhaltas Mass be offered for all deceased member and musicians from the parish.

Sunday evening in Fox’s Pub, Loughnavalley will be one to remember as some of the country’s best musicians, including Mick Foster, Moyra Fraser, Davy Joe Fallon, Melissa Clarke, Áine Newman, Noel Battle, Willie Kavanagh, Paddy Maguire and more will gather there from 7pm to finish off a great weekend of music and dancing.

Milltown’s place in the growth in popularity of Irish traditional music is well-recognised. The famous Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh often describes it as being the home of modern day concertina music and the great Clare player Noel Hill said he was influenced by the playing of William J Mullally from Milltown.

Mullally, born in February 1884, came from a big family of musicians and when he travelled to America in 1910, he became the first Irishman to make a recording on the concertina in 1926. His recordings are still popular and available from ITMA in Dublin.

In 1951, when Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was formed in Mullingar, local man and next door neighbour to the Mullally family, Jim Seery, was a leading member of the founding committee.

Unfortunately, many talented musicians from the surrounding area were never recorded and little is known about them, but the focus began to change in 1952 when local man Frank Gavigan became the second person to win an All-Ireland title on the button accordion.

Soon after, Frank with the help of locals, formed the first branch of Comhaltas in the area and the Rathconrath Ceilí Band was established.

In May 1965, a show produced by Rev PA Mackin, based in Milltown Rathconrath, hit the headlines again when a local group went on to win the All-Ireland Scóraíocht Competition final at The Dean Crowe Memorial Hall in Athlone.

A new kid on the block by the name of Mick Foster played a big part on the night, and 60 years later, he is still going strong. Mick is no doubt the most famous name ever to call Milltown home. This multi-award-winning accordionist and singer came to Milltown from Kildare in 1960 and made his first public appearance on stage in December of that year in the old hall, where he went to school.

Since then, Mick has become world famous for his music and singing as half of Foster and Allen.

Mick’s first love is traditional music, and he, with members of The Frank Gavigan Branch of Comhaltas, have run this successful weekend of music on the first weekend of October each year since 2007.

The Frank Gavigan Branch of Comhaltas acknowledge with thanks funding from Westmeath Council Festival and Events grant scheme in the past.