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Tribute to Cathal Kelly - Our Irish Pianoman in Toronto
"In my 33 years in Canada I have met many of Ireland's finest immigrants who came to these shores. None finer have I met than my friend from Kilkenny, Cathal Kelly. I had the pleasure almost two years ago of interviewing Cathal and writing this vignette of a story on this great man's life. For many years he and I shared stories about the old days playing music in Ireland. Both of us being piano players I always watched his magic fingers and envied and admired the talent of this man from Castlecomer. I said on many an occasion that I wished I had a fraction of the talent on the ivories that this man had.
Every time I hear the theme music from Ryan's Daughter I will visualize Cathal at the piano at the Galway Arms where he wooed us for many years with his amazing talent. In my mind that will always be his signature tune.
Cathal, I hope you and the other members of "The Black Diamonds" who have gone to their eternal rest will get things hopping up there". Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dhilis. Your friend from Clare. |
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He left us this week at 85 (as of March 2nd) and there will be a void that will only be filled with memories of someone who lived a full and wholesome life, a family man, a proud union man, a music man and a great Irishman of Kilkenny stock.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cathal's four children, Loreto, Brendan, Finbar, Margaret and their families. We know Esther was waiting for him at the Pearly Gates and maybe even the Bishop of Ferns who may even have a Mea Culpa for him.In Our Recent Issue
Here are some of our top stories from the recent editions of the Toronto Irish News. To read all the articles, make sure to pick up a free copy at any one of our supporting advertisers listed here.
Eoin O'Duffy and the march of the Blueshirts By Desmond Devoy Adolph Hitler. Benito Mussolini. Francisco Franco. Eoin O'Duffy? For some, it is a stretch to link all four men together, with O'Duffy being the odd man out. For others, it makes perfect sense. O'Duffy did admire all three, and even fought for Franco. But to write him off as simply Ireland's wannabe Fascist dictator is to diminish a man who was arguably very much reflective of the era in which he lived. |
Derek Keaveney - 60 years in Canada with no regretsBy Eamonn O'LoghlinAs an immigrant myself, I have always had a great interest in those who have come to these shores before me, whether they were the diaspora of Black '47 or those of more recent vintage. On learning that my good friend Derek Keaveney was celebrating 60 years in our adopted land, I knew that here was a story worth telling. I was not disappointed. |
The Burren - An Antidote for DisplacementThe Burren, located on Ireland's western coast, was severed from Newfoundland as the earth's core expanded. Scoured by slow-moving glaciers and battered by oceans as it moved into the northern hemisphere, it bears mute witness to that most ancient of narratives: the story of Creation. |
Colm O'Brien - The Long Note ManDiscerning Toronto radio listeners know that the choice 8 o'clock Sunday evening spot is CKLN FM 88.1. That's the home of The Long Note, Colm O'Brien's inventive hour of music in the Celtic tradition. Now in its 22nd year, The Long Note is a rare bird indeed, a programme that answers only to the host's sense of musical integrity and has ploughed a sometimes lonely furrow since its inception in 1986. |