Memorials to Sligo’s trad musicians
The late businessman and philanthropist Joe Kennedy funded this memorial in his native Doocastle in memory of the musicians of the area.
The Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen, Co Sligo, will host a fascinating lecture tomorrow (Wednesday) at 3pm when Martin Enright presents a talk on the memorials to the traditional musicians of Co. Sligo.
Throughout south and south-east Co Sligo, some 16 memorials have been erected to the memory of over 180 musicians, singers and dancers. Such a large number of memorials, probably unmatched by any other county, is testament to the rich and vibrant heritage of traditional music, song and dance which is long associated with the region. Many of the memorials, such as those at Powelsborough/Moylough, Doocastle, Castlebaldwin and Lavally have multiple names while single monuments have been erected to the memory of Michael Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran, Sonny McDonagh, Willie Coleman, Fred Finn and Peter Horan, Josie Mc Dermott, John Egan and the Mc Donagh brothers.
Ceolaras Coleman and Teach Ceoil Morrison currently play a vital role in the promotion of our traditional arts. The erection of each memorial, the conservation and care and the annual gathering at the memorial is a story in itself. This fully illustrated presentation will be accompanied by tune tracks and memories of past events.
Martin Enright is the former chairperson of Sligo Co Board, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann.
