A mighty night of singing in Templemore

Session to remember at O’Sullivans

The penultimate session of a fantastic singing season took place at a packed O’Sullivans pub in Killea on Easter Monday night last.

Fear an Tí John Egan had his hands full trying to keep track of all the singers as they streamed in from near and far. Bernie Nolan began with a beautiful rendition of the ‘Lakes of Coolfin’ before Mick Ryan brought us back to ‘My Own Sligo Home’.

The Connolly brothers, Tim and Jim, Donal Bowe and Andrew Taylor from Faversham in Kent, all sang beautiful tunes ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Luke Kelly. Mick Carey’s niece, Liz Burgess sang ‘Something Inside So Strong’.

Thurles was represented too with John Dunne, Alice Murphy, Eugene Scally and John Mockler in particular, all in great spirits. Another Cathedral Town resident, Deise man John Sullivan, gave a rousing rendition of ‘Slattery’s Mountain Foot’ while Jim o’ the Mill was in great voice and treated us to ‘Bridget Donoghue’ and ‘The Girl from the County Clare’. Templemore were not found wanting either with fine contributions from the Fogarty brothers, Martin and Willie, Ger Roche and one of the founding members, the ageless Joe Barry. John Quinn and Deborah Henry were on holiday from Falkirk and didn’t let us down as John sang ‘Two Little Orphans’.

Loughmore’s Michael Healy chose well for the night that was in it with Seamus Doran’s ‘Thomas McDonagh’ going down a treat. The ‘Church' was represented by an old favourite with Tom Stapleton doing a great job on the Croppy Boy. But it was the home side who came out on top. Another of those founder members, Moll Treacy, recalled the brave Belfast volunteer Tom Williams while Pauline Burke sang the beautiful Seekers hit ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’.

Martina Donnelly remembered Roger Casement at 'Banna Strand' while Mick Duff recovered from a false start to bring us all ‘North to Alaska’. The final founder member, Margaret O’Sullivan, would have been so proud as her brother Jerome, visiting with his wife Carmel, sang ‘Óró, sé do Bheatha Abhaile’, while her seven children, Sean, Bernard, Gerry, Michael, Margaret, Julie and Mary all performed various songs to make it a night to remember.

And, not forgetting the man in charge, Killahara’s John Egan, who kept everyone in check while reminding us of the days of transportation and ‘Freemantle Bay’. There was a cake to mark Fiona’s birthday before we tackled a pool-table full of sandwiches, buns, tarts and black puddings. Plenty of listeners too, who enjoyed it just as much.

Monday, May 8, marks the season’s end. It promises to be a mighty night. You never know who you might meet. See you there.