Guth & Tuairim, Eanáir 1982

Paddy The Co,pe. ~u .. l many a man has been fated to grieve, Bewailing a woeful condition; Bur, few are the men that are born to achieve, hpelled by a lofty ambition. With courage and faith some are richly endu, ed, Their lives an inspiring story; Long, long live the men of achievement avowed, Fulfillment presages their glory. Where rise the gray mountains of green Donegal Where softly the Gaelic is spoken, 8 There dwell men and women, so graceful and tall, Whose spirit has never been broken. When driven of yore from the lands of their sires, Their gardens of fruitful profusion, In bleak mountain passes they kindled their fires, And order they built from confusion. Not theirs to surrender, nor theirs to complain, Hhen threatened the baleful starvation; But theirs to belittle, nor yet to sustain Misfortune, mischance and privation. And time brought a man that was bred on the soil, Inteprid tho' humble his station; . :':i ~ Q) t) Q) J,.. A Chara, Par6iste Anagatre, 6/10/ 1 81• I wouldn't consider myself to be a brilliAnt musician, but listening to the sound of Fife and Drwn for severnl years hall given me at least the"ear" for music. Fife and Drum means not only music t o the people of the Rosses it means also tradition. ·A tradition started by the great Hullaghduff band in 1881 and which is as strong as ever today lOG years later. Last year we saw the "nm.r" Keadue travel to Belfast and go verj• near to wirming the Ulster title. In recent years also we have seen a band from Rann na Feirste playing tunes with such professionalism that people forget about rai.n and hail listening to them 1 Without I hope being over-critical, the Annagry band seem to lack that important quality - fighting spirit. They seem to lose interest i f they are not at the top. Perhaps they should take a leaf from Hullaghduff 1 s book who put their teeth together and got on with it no matter how bad they were. In recent years the ~rullaghduff bands' performances were poor to say the least but like soldiers they kept comir~ back and it is now only a matter of time until the victory songs echo around Mullaghduff - the home of fife music. Came Paddy The Cope, with his genius and toil, His watchword was coo,peration. But swiftly, the ~was rejected with jeers, His effort encountered frustration; , Again, when his progress was greeted with cheers, The time was not yet for elation. It was nice to see in recent years a channer~e ~ from the Derrybeg band in an effort to break the ~ Rosses monopoly. It will ho\fever be hard to move ~ those dedicated musicians from Keadue off the top. But rumour has it that Rann na Feirste will take bets <'• The spark newly kindled he patiently fanned, Success was a predestination; But daily he laboured and daily he planned, Till faith brought her full ·consummation. !l that their music will land at least one of the major trophies come next. year. Maybe just another cup will make it 1 s way past the Crolly bridge to Der17beg or to the spirited men of Mullaghduff. Sadly, unless On the stubborn soil that has give~ them birth, ~~ They practice the plan that he taught them; 8 They strive in the field, as they thrive on the hearth, ~ ~ Giving thanks for the blessings he brought them. ~~ No longer al'e children in green Dopegal 1 gJ Inured in their poignant starvation; ~~ At last, may the dreams of the youthful and tall t Jl Recoil from the curse - emiera.tion. 1! ~ 0~ No t Paddy The Cope was not born to grieve, Deploring a dismal condition; , For here is a man that was born to achieve, Inspired by a soaring ambition. With courage and faith he is richly endowed His life an inspiring story; Long, long live this man of achievement avowed, His name be emblazoned in glory. Sean O'Doherty, September 6 1947. Presented by the author on behalf of the Donegal Society of Philadelphia to Paddy the Cope at a dinner October 6, 1947. Lit reacha A Chara, F'alcarrach,· 8/10/ 1 81. Cupla Domhnach 6 shoin b'eigin domh 1 dhul amach as Teach 1 Phobail agus an tAifreann ag dul ar aghaidh. Ar mo bhealach amach an doras taoibh domh casadh orm triur girseachaf oga thart faoi cuig bli ana deag amuigh ~a yhoirse ag caitheamh toittnf. Nuair a bhf na toit1ni caite acu, amach leo taobh amuigh go dt1 am Comaoineach. D 1 fhan siad ag bun an staighre ansin go raibh an tAifreann thart. Nil me fain ro-chraifeach ach s!lim gur fhearr do go leor daoine mar seo fanacht sa bhaile. B!onn na Sagairt go minic ag caint faoi na daoine a bhfonn ag fagail Teach 1 Phobail sula mbf onn an tAifreann thart. Silim fein nach bhfuil maith ar bith ansin .~ . Ta an faidhb i bhfad nios doimhne na sin- nil an tuigoneail ceart ag cuid mhor don aos 6g faoi 1 n chreideamh agus t a cuid do 1 n locht ar na sagairt, cuid do ar thuismitheoi rf agus cuid eile-ar an gcoras oideachais agus ar mhuinteoiri~ Is mise le meas, H. f~ ~ of;tlo< ID~ ~t/.1 )4 ll)t) - al ~..., ~..~ 4) ..-i ::.::,~ When there' s no more to be said - some fool always says it. Han is made of clay - but i t t akes a 11oman to make a mug out of him. The overtaker meet s the undertwcer. Annagry concerto take their elbO\rs off the counters they will again go home moaning about decisions. Do the public have to wait until next year to see this confrontation arise ? Surely some committee could come up 'll'ith the idea of 'running an i ndoor competition during the 'winter mbnths. The facilities are there in places like Ostan na Rosann, Falcarragh Hall, Annagry College, St. Domenick 1 s Glenties, with the latter I feel being the most suitable. If Fife & Drum bands can practice inside then surely they can compete there. So come on all you organisers, give us the first ever indoor competition in Donegal. Mise le meas, A dedicated but disillusioned Annagry man. Nota on EaiArtbciir: Perhaps the Rosses Bands Committtee '\l'ould take up this idea and organise an indoor competition. And would it not be a great idea if the proceeds froM such an event went to aid the disabledt :.incass l agh _:r ass Band at the turn of the century Hachaire Rabhartaigh, Gort a 1 Choirce, A Chara, Pleased to see the insertion by Patrick He Gill in "Guth 7 Tuai rirn", Nean Focllair, 1981. Who's idea? Hise le meas, N. M. N6.ili.: The Navvy Poet's little verse was given to us by a reader. And 'll'e 1 d be interested in more of his wri tings t "An tEe.gartl: 6ir".