The Bardic Apostles of Innisfree Continued is due to be officially launched in Dublin tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 25. The author, Seamus Tansey, is regarded as one of the greatest flute players in Irish music circles. He published the book himself.

The book is a follow-up to the first volume, The Bardic Apostles of Innisfree, which was launched in 1999. It is a catalogue of the many great traditional musicians of Co Sligo who contributed to the preservation of Irish traditional music.

Michael Flatley is credited as the sponsor of the publication on the front cover.

Mr Tansey’s controversial comments about Bonniconlon are made in the chapter on the Dromore West flute player, Pat Mahon. The author recounts an alleged incident that took place in the North Mayo village some years ago in which Mr Tansey claims Mr Mahon was dragged out of a pub in Bonniconlon, knocked down and held on the ground while his hand was smashed with a lump hammer, thereby ending Pat’s musical career.

Mr Tansey proceeds to call Bonniconlon a “town of thugs and character assassins”. He says that where Bonniconlon is concerned one is led to wonder “whether God created some people and allowed others to evolve from the slime of the earth”.

Mr Tansey advocates that the population of Bonniconlon should be deeply studied with regard to its genetic and historical past and says the historic reports of Irish men having “monkey features” and “moronic like stances” would “probably be descriptive of Bonniconlon”.

The author goes on to wonder whether this physical appearance can be linked to an historic dietary reliance on the potato in that area.

He recommends that the people of Bonniconlon consider this and review their eating habits, adding that the addition of bacon to their diets in more recent history lent “a more violent streak” to the people while cabbage “did nothing whatsoever for the brain”.

He writes: “Of course when you then add poteen and alcohol to what has been eaten, a lethal cocktail is produced and God help anybody who ends up in Bonni -conlon, where many of the inhabitants belong in a cage: unfortunately too many of them are still on the loose! This description is not merely meant as revenge on Bonniconlon for what happened to you Pat. Oh no, it is well and truly deserved!”

When the Western People contacted Mr Flatley’s PA about the publication she stated that Mr Flatley did not sponsor the book. He had never seen or heard of it.

“He would certainly not endorse or condone any such degrading and negative statements. Mr Flatley loves Mayo, the West of Ireland and the people there.” She concluded that Mr Flatley was shocked, disgusted and horrified by Mr Tansey’s comments on Bonniconlon.

When the Wesern People spoke to Mr Tansey, he acknowledged that Mr Flat-ley knew nothing about the new book. He explained that the dancing star, who has strong family connections with the Gurteen area in Co Sligo, had given him money to help publish the first volume of the book. Mr Tansey maintains he had sufficient funds left to pay for the new volume but admitted that Mr Flatley would nor have been aware about it.

Cllr Annie Mai Reape, who represents Bonniconlon, said she had been made aware of Mr Tansey’s new book and was very angry about what had been written about the village, describing it as “completely and utterly off the wall and very insulting”. She said the people of Bonniconlon were very hospitable and had worked hard to hold on to their traditions.

Mr Tansey’s writing gave one the impression that it was not safe to pass through the town at all.

“He should stay with his music and not writing,” she said.

Mr Tansey wondered why people had not reacted with the same shock when Pat Mahon had been assaulted. He said the local people should have reported the incident to the Gardaí and alleged that that had turned away from Pat Mahon at the time. He said he stood by the way the book had been written.

“At the same time there does seem to be a misunderstanding that everything is meant for Bonniconlon people in general.”

He said he regarded the town as being divided into two sections of people. His observations related to those who had attacked Pat Mahon.

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