Comhaltas North American Convention Discovers The Magic In St. Louis

By Eamonn O'Loghlin

"There's magic in the fiddlers arms
and there's magic in this town
There's magic in the dancers feet
And the way they put them down"
(Excerpt from St. Anne's Reel)

At a time in history and a world economy in a state of chassis, fainter hearts may have said, "Let's postpone the convention for a year until things turn around". Not St. Louis Irish Arts, under the incredible leadership of Helen Gannon and her Dream Team of Volunteers so dedicated to the music, song, dance and culture of Ireland.

From the get go, this was a flawless operation. It doesn't get any better than when you walk in the door of the Hilton Ballpark Hotel and you meet the owner - Stephen O'Loughlin, President & Chief Operating Officer of Lodging Hospitality Management. LHM is a family owned business operating over a dozen properties mainly in Missouri. Now if we could only clone Stephen and his Staff for all future conventions. In fact many of our Irish and Canadian hoteliers could take a page from Stephen's book.

Just a stone's throw from the Gateway to the West and the mighty Mississippi, the music, song and dance of Irish went non stop for four glorious days. If Lewis and Clark were still around they would surely have joined in a session. Lindbergh and Scott Joplin would also have probably dropped in.

There was no shortage of musicians, singers and dancers of all ages including Maeve Bradfield (aged 7) who recited the pre Banquet Grace that put tears of joy in our eyes to 90 year old Jim Flynn (born May 26, 1919) from Boston who with his concert harmonica had our feet tapping.

Shyly, Jim also told us of his exploits as a Marine under Patton in the Pacific at Guadalcanal, Borneo and the Philippines. Thank the Lord for the Jim Flynn's of the world whose folks left Waterford for the new world in 1911.

The 40 odd (most of them, other than Tadhg, weren't odd at all) performers from Munster, Ceoltoiri na Sionnaine were also the hit of the weekend from their many on stage performances to their participation in sessions and singsongs in every nook and cranny of the hotel.

It was 1971 when Helen Gannon, a native of Limerick, got involved with Comhaltas, an organization founded in 1951 in Mullingar. Since then she has given a lifetime of dedicated service to St. Louis Irish Arts and the fruits of her labors now proudly have over 100 children taking weekly lessons in music, song and dance, fully qualified teachers, students and performers who can hold their own in any competitions from Ireland to Australia.

This was the third time St. Louis Irish Arts hosted the North American Convention and while the previous two were top notch, this time around was the piece de resistance.

As the convention moves to Parsippany New Jersey in 2010, it will be hard to top. This writer's home town of Toronto is even being touted for 2011 - we better start now. As Senator Labhras O'Murchu, Director General of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann put it, "this weekend we raised the flag just another inch higher".

At his Saturday evening address Senator O'Murchu spoke of the days when as a people we had to sing our native songs behind closed doors - "Close the door, there's treason in it".

"The odds were against us but our language and our music survived. Our music provided the bridge between both traditions on the island of Ireland. Our culture is an expression of who we are. The purpose and vision of the founders of Comhaltas which still holds true today as evidenced right here in St. Louis this weekend, ensures we owed it to the past, we owed it to the present and we also owe it to the future.

"We have friends in every corner of the globe - we never colonized anybody but only brought peacekeepers, medicine, comfort and faith to nations less fortunate than us.

"That sense of gratitude has endured around the world and for such a small nation that is an incredible achievement.

"Through Comhaltas the Irish nation is not confined to its native shores but is alive and well today in 15 countries and 4 continents".

Senator O'Murchu also paid tribute to the Gaelic Athletic Association and Conradh na Gaeilge who prior to the foundation of Comhaltas in 1951 had sewn the fertile seeds of nationhood.

The Government of Ireland was represented by Consul General Martin Rouine who is stationed in Chicago. As the Consul General's folks hail from Ballycotton near the Cliffs of Moher us fellow Bannermen had lots to chat about.

While this was the Consul General's first time at a Comhaltas Convention I believe wild horses won't keep him away the next time he gets the opportunity.

Ard Runai (Secretary) of Comhaltas and native Limerick man Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh was heading back to Dublin a happy man knowing full well that North America was still keeping the Comhaltas flame not just alight but flaming.

As Comhaltas President JimTeevan, a Cavan native now living in Luton England prepares to hang up the boots after a full filled and impressive Presidency, he thanked Helen Gannon and her dedicated Committee for their dedication and hard work.

Our collage of photos by award winning photographer of Irish Connections Canada, William C. (Smitty) Smith, will give Irish Examiner readers the flavor and scope of this incredible event.

Next year (same time), the convention moves to Parsippany New Jersey. It's already in this writer's calendar as a not to be missed event.

The magic and the spirit of St. Louis will live on in the hearts of all who attended and there's no doubt there will be more magic in the town of Parsippany in April 2010.

God Bless America and the 40 million Irish Americans who help to make it so great.