Singers, dancers and musicians from various parts of Tipperary and Kilkenny converged on the scenic Slieveardagh village of Glengoole in a memorable musical tribute to the late great accordionist Paddy Lyons of Ballynonty, to whom a monument has been erected in the area.
A special Mass was celebrated in Glengoole Church and later in Glengoole Hall a special catering committee ensured a sumptuous repast for the visitors.
The awards-winning Sean Treacy band of Moycarkey-Borris were special guests and marched from Fitzgerald's Field in Glengoole to the Platform on the top of the imposing Reen Hill affording scenic views of Tipperary and Kilkenny.
There were tributes to the late Pat Lyons by Fr J O'Keeffe and Councillor Pat O'Meara, a friend of the late Pat Lyons. The Master of Ceremonies was Pat Lyons (junior), and the late Pat Lyons' wife, Maura, was there with her daughters Breda, Mary and Edel, and sons, Paul and Pat Lyons (junior).
The numerous entertainers performed at Buddy Brennan’s hostelry in Glengoole on Friday night, at the Reen Hill on an open-air platform on Sunday afternoon, and in Hogan's of Ballysloe on Sunday night. P. J. Kavanagh' s of Glengoole had an Irish evening tribute also.
The crème de la crème of trad Irish entertainers from areas on both sides of the Kilkenny-Tipperary border frequented by Paddy Lyons as a musician and teacher ensured a memorable weekend for hundreds of delighted trad Irish enthusiasts. And one of the organisers, Mike Nolan, now hopes to start a Rambling House of storytelling, song, music, dance and poetry for the winter months by the Reen. More on that anon.
The entertainers included Paul Byrne, Thurles (former Tipperary Senior Hurler), accordion, a member of the famous Monks Ceilí Band of Thurles; Bill Hennessy, Tullarone, bodhrán; Paddy Comerford, Ballycallan, accordiaon; Pierce Hogan, Kilmanagh. bodhran: Tony Power. Monks Ccii Band, Thurles, accordion: Tim Lyons, Monks Ceilí Band, Thurles, fiddle: Pat Lyons, (Junior), Ballynonty, tin whistle: Ber Maher. Birmingham and Ballinastick, bodhrán, bones, drums and spoons; Esther Hackett, The Commons and England, fiddle: Paddy Gleeson, Monks Ceilí Band, Thurles, accordion; Seamus Creagh. fiddle, Cork: Michael Searson, Toomevara, accordion; John Mason, The Monks Ceilí band, Thurles, concertina: John Barnaviile, Gortnahoe, accordion; Noel O'Brien, Ballingarry, bodhrán: Olivia O'Brien, Ballingarry, accordion: John Murphy, Lisduff, guitar and banjo: John O'Gorman, Thurles, keyboards; Matt Teehan, Cork, accordion; Billy Stapleton, Gortnahoe, accordion: storyteller, Jim Maher, Kilmanagh; singers. Marie Keane, Glengooie, and Nuala O'Mahony-Nolan, Bailinastick; Liam Ronan, accordion, Graigue-Ballycallan (father of the famous Kilkenny hurling personality. Adrian Ronan); Bernie Brennan, Callan, banjo; Sean Fitzpatrick, bodhrán, Kilcooley, and his brother, Larry, on accordion and Sean's son, Chris on spoons..
The set dancing troupes in action included Bridie O'Shea and the set from Hogan's of Ballysloe and Anna O'Gorman and the set from Mary Willies.
Sound was by Liam McCormack of "Nightlife" hand. Tom Fitzgerald and his son, Pat, were thanked for transporting chairs from Gortnahoe to the Reen Hill.
The folks involved in the catering in Glengoole Hail included Mary Harding, Breda Teehan, Liam Griffin and his wife, Breda; Geraldine Hanrahan: Bridget Stapleton: Mary McGivern, Liam Fitzgerald and Ger Kennedy were thanked for the use of their fields for parking.
