This article is from page 31 of the 2008-11-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
IT WAS in memory of a Dub, who made Miltown Malbay his adopted home and final resting place, that hundreds gathered in the Bellbridge, Spanish Point at the weekend.
In the singing workshop specifi- cally aimed at encouraging young people to become involved in tradi- tional singing at the Clare Festival of Traditional Music, Tom Munnelly’s spirit over Saw a new generation in- troduced to a part of Irish culture he held so dear.
It was after the world-renowned folk song and folklore collector died last year following a long illness, his friends and family decided to re- introduce the festival to west Clare after an absence of six years.
It was under the stewardship of the late Mr Munnelly the festival origi-
nally ran in Ennistymon for 13 years and for a further two years in the Belbridge Hotel in Spanish Point.
Shortly after Tom passed away in August 2007, friends and fam- ily started work on relaunching the festival, in what they felt was a fit- ting tribute to his life and work. The singing workshop for younger people was the brainchild of Roisin White, the chairperson of the festival, as a fitting tribute to Tom.
“Getting young people involved in traditional singing is a very difficult task, as our culture has changed so much in the past 50 years, but Tom always took enormous pleasure in inviting young singers down to En- nistymon to take part in the week- Xe F
‘He understood that younger peo- ple could be intimidated by the close-knit community of ‘estab-
lished’ singers, particularly if they didn’t know anyone involved in the world of traditional singing.
“The Singing Workshop for Young People is our way of recognis- ing Tom’s work in that area, and of continuing his work of encouraging young singers,” said Annette Mun- nelly, Secretary, Féile Amhranaio- chta an Chlair.
The Dublin native who made Mil- town Malbay his home for almost 30 years was laid to rest in Ballard Coilatoa
The 63-year-old folklorist, recog- nised for compiling the most com- prehensive collection of traditional folk songs in Ireland, had numerous credits to his name.
Mr Munnelly was prominent in the Dublin folk scene of his youth, and found his niche as a collector of songs through his work with Univer-
sity College Dublin’s Irish folklore department.
It was his passion for recording and collecting traditional songs that brought him to Clare in 1978, where he set up home.
The adopted Clare man soon be- came involved in the local art and festivals.
Not only was he chairman of the Clare Festival of Traditional Singing he played a strong role in bringing the Willie Clancy Summer School to prominence, and was a founder and chairman of the Lahinch Folklore School.
He received an honorary doctorate from NUIG.
Mr Munnelly served on the Arts council from February 1986 to De- cember 1988 and was a board mem- ber of the Irish Traditional Musical Archive.