A decade of good times
Mary Redmond, Joe Hickey and Mary Mernagh.
A decade of story, song and music in Clonegal was celebrated at the tenth anniversary of the local story house on Monday night.
Tea and chat flowed throughout the night at the special anniversary celebration to mark the foundation of the story house in Clonegal which runs on the third Monday of the month.
Local chef Rick Gilcreest made a cake to celebrate the occasion and Fear an Tí Joe Hickey thanked everyone for all of their support over the years.
The sessions began in 2000 in conjunction with the opening of the weaver's cottage, a project between Clonegal Tidy Towns and carlow County Council.
' The place was completely refurbished, it was particulary derelict,' said John McCabe, one of the founding members. 'It was really the brainchild of Mairead Phelan, who was the area engineer with Carlow County Council at the time, and it had just grown in popularity since.'
The first few rambling house sessions were held in the cottage but it wasn't long until the numbers attending outgrew the space and it was relocated to the community hall in Clonegal.
'People come from all over to sing, tell stories and play music,' he added.
Joe Hickey, who is also a founding member, is a very popular Fear and Tí and originally hails from Clonegal but now resides near Clonmore.
'We get a great variety of people each month,' added John. 'A lot of the usual people are here each month but new people often come along and they are always welcome.'
On Monday night all surviving founding members were present apart from local legend Willie White who was unwell.
The founding members John McCabe, Joe Hickey and Dan Lawlor were joined also by four women who have been a part of the story telling sessions from the very start; Mary Redmond, Sheila Hickey, Mary Foley and Mary Kate Sheil.
'We remembered also our deceased members, particular those there from the start, Eamon Whelan and Phil Sullivan, and people who supported us over the years,'' he added.
- LYNDA CONNOLLY
