Mrs Crotty Plaque Unveiled

[Stephen Chambers]

A plaque commemorating Mrs. Elizabeth Crotty "First Lady of Concertina", her trip to the Ennis All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 1956 (the first major Fleadh)* and her role in Comhaltas in Co. Clare, was unveiled on the wall of Crotty's Pub, Kilrush, on Sunday evening.

 

 

The ceremony was performed by Senator Labhras O Murchú of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (left), assisted by the mayor of Kilrush, Christy O'Malley (right).

 

 

 

Unfortunately it was badly advertised, and though it had been mentioned to me in passing a few weeks ago, I'm afraid I promptly forgot about it until I drove by Crotty's pub on Sunday afternoon and saw the plaque's green cloth covering taped to the wall. Also, the weather was perhaps a little too "fresh" off the Atlantic, otherwise I'm sure that more people would have attended (and if it had started earlier in the day!). However, a dozen or more musicians braved the gale to play from a trailer parked on the square, and dancers from local classes performed.

 

More music was played inside Crotty's Pub (where many people retired for refreshments, and warmth), notably by Kitty Hayes and C.net's Peter Laban (on flat-pitch C pipes) in the back room. Towards the end of the night the Mayor, a capable tenor, sang a fine version of I'll take you home again Kathleen.

 

Kitty Hayes & Peter Laban

 

Kitty Hayes

 

* Mrs. Crotty's visit to that 1956 Fleadh was even immortalised in a verse of a song about the event, written in its wake by Robbie McMahon, which was read out at the ceremony:

 

Mrs. Crotty came down from the town of Kilrush

She plucked a high note from the bird in the bush

She sang all the day without ever a blush

Good girl yourself Mrs. Crotty.

 

(The bird in the bush was one of the tunes she played.)

Edited May 22, 2006 by Stephen Chambers

[PeterT]

A plaque commemorating Mrs. Elizabeth Crotty "First Lady of Concertina", her trip to the Ennis All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 1956 (the first major Fleadh)* and her role in Comhaltas in Co. Clare, was unveiled on the wall of Crotty's Pub, Kilrush, on Sunday evening.

Thanks, Stephen. Glad to see that you were on hand to record the event.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Guest Peter Laban]

Well Steve, if the ceremony had been earlier even more rain would have been pouring down. It was just an atrociously miserable day.

 

I never realised senator Labhras was there. We went in as soon as we had played. Never thought I'd live to see the day that I 'd be on the same stage (well. gig-rig) as himself.

 

Robbie McMahon was inside too by the way.

 

Maybe it's interesting to know that Kitty hadn't been inside Crotty's since 1961 when Paddy Killoran, who was married to her husband Josie's sister, drove herself and Josie out to Kilrush ('He was a terrible driver' she told me on the way back. pointing out the spots where he nearly hit bridges) to play with Mrs Crotty. And how she herself was pining in the kitchen while the lads played with Mrs Crotty, wishing she had a concertina to play. She had to wait another 30 years.

Edited May 27, 2006 by Peter Laban