Danny Sheehy
Launch of Gan Teorainn / No Boundary
I welcome you here tonight, to Begley’s pub in Ballydavid. I especially welcome Mossie Scanlon who has returned home to us from Melbourne with his second CD, “Gann Teorainn/ No Boundary” which I have the honour of launching here tonight. This is a special night for Mossie and I welcome his family, relatives, friends, neighbours, fellow singers, and fans. I also welcome the tourists who regularly visit and are interested in and respect our ways and our culture.
Jim Risteard Mac Eoin was born, and reared in Baile Chnocáin, where he lived most of his life. He was a singer and dancer, with an interest in songs, and was known as The Ponncán. Most of his family went to America, one of whom, Ritch, was known as an accomplished singer. One night in 1906, Ritch was in the Bóthar pub, where he heard the song, ‘An Grá Beo‘ and ‘An Grá Marbh’ being sung by Peaidí Mhicil Begley.
As he was interested in the song, Ritch and two more lads from the village called to Peaidi’s house the following night. Even though one of them shaved the tail and the mane of Peaidi’s horse, they came away knowing the song between them.
Ritch went off to America in 1911, and worked in the copper mines in Butte for five years, where he met and got to know the poet Seán Ó Súilleabháin. In 1917 America entered the war, and many men moved about, trying to avoid conscription to the army.
Ritch left Butte in 1917 and eventually arrived in San Francisco, where he made the acquaintance of the poet, The Spailpín, from whom he learned songs such as Caoineadh Thomáisín Mhichíl and Caoineadh Mhichíl Budhlaeir. The subjects of these songs died tragically, as Micheál Budhlaeir was drowned in Ard na Caithne in 1910, and Tomáisín died young, leaving a wife and young family behind. Both were from Ard na Caithne and were neighbours of the Spailpín.
Ritch stayed in San Francisco for three years and then moved to New York in 1920, where he met the scholar and folklorist, Pádraig Feirtéar, from Baile Uachtarach. Feirtéar was heavily involved in the land wars at home before emigrating to America. Ritch learned a further treasury of songs from Pádraig, which he held in memory.
The first question his father asked Ritch on a visit home, was, if he had met Piostal Cathaoir, who was the son of a local poet. Piostal was considered the best dancer west of Dingle at that time and also played the tin whistle. Ritch had indeed met Piostal, who was very old by then, in Holyoke. This then, was Ritch, with his love of song, music and dance.
The Ponncán was Mossie’s great grand father, and Ritch was Mossie’sgrand uncle.
This love of song was the essence and the heritage which Mossie absorbed and internalised in his youth.
At the tender age of ten, Mossie would sit outside on the window of the local pub The Bóthar, listening to the likes of Seán Donnells playing the melodeon, and Jimí Begley and Téidí Flaherty, and Clib Mharas Sheáin Chanair singing songs, such as, An Ciarraíoch Mallaithe, Raghadsa agus mo Cheaití, Mo Róisín Dubh, Beir Mo Dhúthracht Go Dúthaigh Duibhneach, Gentle Annie, and many more songs performed there. These songs were also to be heard at home from his grand father Peats Pháid Ó Muircheartaigh, from his uncles, Tony and Páid and from his aunt Cáit, who is alive and well in Hartford and approaching her ninetieth year, God bless her!
Mossie pursued these songs with passion and commitment and internalised them. In addition he discovered the source, the genesis, the history and the folklore from which each song emerged. This insight into the genesis of the song is what makes Mossie an excellent singer and allows him to convey the passion and sensitivity of the song to the listener. This sensitivity transports us to deep emotional levels within our being, becoming a catalyst to aid our healing. No wonder then, that people are drawn to Mossie, to his singing and his gentle and refined ways, and long may it continue.
After a long absence, Mossie returned home to us two years ago, not empty handed but with a new CD of his songs titled Téanam Ort. This present trip is his third in two years, and he brings with him, his latest CD, Gan Teorainn/ No Boundary. This consists of traditional Irish , Scottish, and Australian songs, with Irish, Scottish and African music interwoven within. This is the exquisite work which we are celebrating tonight.
The first song, Beir Beannacht ó Rí na hAoine, which was often sung by the people of the Blasket Island, is said to have been written by Tadhg Gaelach Ó Súilleabháin. Seán de hOra often sang it, and Seán’s mother was a Daly woman from Inis Mhic Fhaoláin.
Mossie’s father, Tom, God rest him, bought a cow from Seán de hÓra, and both he and Mossie, who was just a young lad then, walked to Cloichear to collect the cow. Tom spent half the day talking to Seán, after which they walked the cow back home to Baile an Lochaig. The cow was red with white spots, and it’s often Mossie milked her, practicing his songs at the same time! He was in the early teens by then and dreaming dreams of dance halls, stages, platforms and Carnegie Hall.
There weren’t any acoustic systems available then, but anybody with cows and a milk tank had their own remedy, and it’s often Mossie was to be found with his head in the milk tank, singing his songs. It is then that the sound and the echo reverberated all around him. All was going well until, one day his father came along and with a kick upended, not only Mossie but the tank also. However, this did not deter the young lad from his songs and singing.
The song, Raglan Road, was written by Patrick Kavanagh, about a beautiful woman whose name was Hilda Moriarty from Dingle, and whose ancestors had come from Com Beag in Baile an Lochaig, Mossie’s own village. Luke Kelly was the first to sing this song and was given the poet’s blessing to do so, provided he sang it to the air of, Le Fáinne Geal an Lae. Mossie heard Luke Kelly singing it in this pub, when he was fifteen or sixteen. As he looked in at them from outside the window, he thought it such a pity that anyone should have to leave this beautiful area.
Benny was the brother nearest in age to Mossie in this family of twelve siblings. They grew up and worked in this area together, they served in the Irish Navy at the same time and also lived together while working in London for five years. Small wonder it is then, that The Rose of Allendale is dedicated to Benny in appreciation of this deep bond of friendship and support.
Andy's Gone with Cattle is a traditional Australian song composed by the renowned poet Henry Lawson. It tells the story of an only son who is gone off driving cattle through the Australian territories, while his family back home are heartbroken, as they fear that he will not return.
Mossie has dedicated Báidín Fheilimí to Scoil Naomh Eirc, the school in which he got his education, and where he originally learned this song, from his teachers, Nóra Ní Sheaghdha and Caoimhín Ó Cinnéide. He urges the pupils there to keep the Irish language alive.
The talents of local musicians, Pádraig and Michelle Uí Sheadhgha, along with Jon Saunders are also beautifully present in this CD.
In the first CD we journeyed with Mossie throughout the island of Ireland and the lContinent of Australia, and we continue the journey in this CD, Gan Teorainn/No Boundary.
Our language is not fettered, as we can speak it and sing our traditional Irish songs anywhere in the world in which we sojourn. As Mossie says, 'lets not forget our language and heritage, but , rather, carry it with us and nurture it, whether we live at home or abroad , because in reality, there are no boundaries'.
Mossie wishes to express his appreciation to the following people for their ongoing encouragement, assistance and support: Jeaic Ó Muircheartaigh of RTE, Radio na Gaeltachta, Mossie's sisters, Caitlín and Annemaria, Pádraig and Michelle Uí Shéaghdha, Jon Saunders, and his close friend in Australia, Criostóir Ó Maonaigh from Ardmore, Co. Waterford, and above all to his wife Marie and their two sons, Paul and Seán.
It was Mossie himself who compiled this CD, and in doing so he has transported traditional music and song throughout the world and reinstated Baile an Lochaig on the map!
Finally I pronounce the CD, Gan Teorainn/No Boundary by Mossie Ó Scanláin, launched and released to the world.