No Catholic was employed above the level of junior clerk by Londonderry Corporation in 1966; no council houses in the North and Waterside wards were allocated to Catholics, regardless of their circumstances; Seamus Heaney ‘s first anthology of poems , ‘ Death of a Naturalist’ , was published by Faber; Gerry Fitt was elected as a Republican Socialist to represent West Belfast at Westminster; BBC Northern Ireland was a dour, Calvinist organisation which failed to report the faintest hint of discrimination in its broadcast area; when asked by an old Derry republican, I produced a pageant to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising for a moribund Sinn Fein ; Captain Terence O’Neill began to make positive noises of sorts towards nationalists ; an 18 year old Catholic barman was murdered in Belfast by a UVF man, Hugh McClean, who later said that his biggest regret in life was his involvement with the Rev Ian Paisley and his Gospel of hate.
Brian Vallely, a young artist who shared an interest in traditional music with his wife, Eithne , together founded the Armagh Pipers’ Club in 1966 to encourage young children of all denominations to take an interest in learning an instrument, loosely associated with traditional, Irish music. Last night, they celebrated 50 years of that hugely successful school in the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, as part of Celtic Connections. This was very much a family affair with Brian and Eithne joining the musicians onstage for a rollicking finale. Most of the particpants, close on 30 musicians, were graduates of the Piping School or had close association to it. Included were sons , Niall, Cillian and Caoimhín, who showed their mastery respectively on concertina, pipes and keyboard. They were joined for the first half by the Anglo-Irish band, Flook, comprising Sarah Allen on flute, Brian Finnegan, another Club alumnus, on whistles and the inexhaustible guitarist , Ed Boyd. Folk aristocracy , Lunasa, led the second half with their flautist, Kevin Crawford , demonstrating considerable skills as MC with his dead pan humour – pipers fingering and warming their chanters back stage provided amusement for a very enthusiastic audience.This was a night to celebrate the achievements of Brian and Eithne and the musicians did that in superb style and musicality with a succession of enchanting reels , jigs and the occasional vocal; for three hours, we were transported to an epic, sonic landscape of cultural sensuality. The concert was introduced by a Gaelic speaking native of Dungannon, Lynette Fay, who works for the BBC and is currently making a documentary on the Pipers’ Club.
The BBC is inching towards change.
Well done to all concerned. As Miloz stated,
“What is articulated strengthens itself.”
The jury is out on the BBC. Compare the harmony in Glasgow to the dreary discussion and discord over flags on air today. Slow news day again.
“inching towards change”.
Could the BBC ever do enough John or is their very presence in Ireland that you object to?
The old Stormont government was reactionary and paranoid, we get it.
More than 80% of the people who live in Northern Ireland were born after 1954 John so could never have voted for the old Stormont administration, let alone have supported it. The people alive today voted for the Good Friday agreement in majority and overwhelmingly vote for parties that supported the St Andrew’s agreement (the anti-agreement TUV has one seat).
Do you think peppering every piece with a list of grievances long since remedied serves any purpose? If we’re talking about the sins of the dead should we talk about the border campaign and the fact that that campaign only ended in 1962 with the IRA claiming that they had stopped only to regroup for the “final and victorious phase of the struggle” – or that Sinn Fein leaders who tell us they were just motivated by justice and the civil rights movement all seem to have immediate family members who were involved in earlier republican militarism.
Unionist paranoia isn’t some spontaneous thing that comes from an over-exposure to Calvinist theology. It’s amazing how quickly it’s dropped off since the men with balaclavas took them off and started engaging with the northern state instead of trying to kill it.
By the way – if you want to see some real cross-community folk, Bangor (1% vote for Sinn Fein at the last elections which tells you something of the demographic), is home to the Ulster Fleadh this year. Ards Comhaltas are hosting and if you ever wanted to see how everyone in our community responds to a genuine invitation to share in music and tradition, when it’s presented inclusively and without lectures demonising one section of people or their forebears, you could start there.
For Gods sake dont tell Jamie Bryson the Fleadh is in his home town
I sincerely hope the Fleadh in Bangor, BYC, is as successful as Fleadh na h-Eireann was In Derry where all sections of the community were involved in a joyous festival.
My first para was scene setting for the voluntary musical initiative of the Vallelys in 1966. Those were historical facts that I delineated in order to underline how adverse the Six County environment was for any kind of creative venture. You’re right that I could never have voted for the old Stormont administration but it was an issue of democratic choice rather than one of chronology or demographic since I am now approaching 74. The relevance of your second paragraph eludes me since we were talking about a moment in time, 1966.
Why was the Fleadh only held in Northern Ireland for the first time when it came to Derry recently?
Excellent article Jude, especially as Brian is my wee Daddí col ceathrair, the talent passed me by.
The BBC, in this occupied part of our country has really changed little in fifty years, and one could expect little else, given their name but Lynette, is a great talent herself and I’m fond of listening to her.
Grma, Mark – but note it’s John’s article, not mine…
Ta bron orm mor Jude, aris, albeit, it did say ‘by Jude Collins’ underneath, I thought it was a joint venture.
Go raibh maith agat go Seán ansin.