‘Scoil Cheoil na Botha' by Seán Mc Elwain and Mackie Rooney

The playing and appreciation of traditional music has been a feature of North Monaghan and the Scotstown area for many generations. At one time there was a ‘fiddler in every house’ and traditional music and song reverberated in every homestead.

Lena and Mattie Connolly

The historian Denis Carolan Rushe writes of a blind fiddler called Owen Mc Caffrey (1776 - c1840) who was so good and so famous that his services were required at entertainment in the houses of the gentry in all the neighbouring counties. In fact, many later musicians called themselves Mc Caffrey, and claimed to be descendants of the famous Owen – an indication of the esteem in which he was held. By the time the Irish Folklore Commission was collecting folklore in the thirties and forties, Blind Oiney had taken on a closer identity – he was said to be of the Agherakelton Mc Caffreys.

The tradition of flute playing was quite strong in this parish, two, three and four generations ago. Mack Mc Kenna’s (Knockatallon) great grandfather played the flute – the feadóg. In the Irish language whistling is ag feadaíl or ag feadailigh. So in time Feadailigh became Peadailigh. Hence the name of Mack’s father, the late great fiddler Francie Peadailigh.

Francie 'Peadailigh' Mc Kenna	Francie and Mack Mc Kenna

Up until the coming of mass media, traditional music and song in Co Monaghan, like elsewhere, was the popular music of the day. ‘Fiddler's parties’ occurred frequently in the North Monaghan area and Scotstown could boast of its share of celebrated fiddlers. Chief among these were Owen Connolly and Francie Mc Kenna, both of whom appeared on the fledgling 2RN station throughout the 1930’s. To broadcast at that time was to effectively confer superstar status on a musician. Indeed Owen Connolly became one of an elite group of players brought back at regular intervals. His ability was recognised nationally but never recorded and according to Éamonn Murray, (one of the founding members of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann) ‘but for some unforseen technical hitch, or studio negligence, we would have still the priveldge and solace of his music, side by side with that of the immortal Coleman’. His style according to papers of the day was ‘the real old style of playing,’ a ‘style that is unfortunately dying out.’

Owen Connolly and Eamonn Murray

There were many fine musicians during those early years. Highly regarded fiddlers at that time along with those already mentioned, were Tom Corr from Sheskin, Paddy Mc Elroy, Knockatallon, the Mc Elwains from Carnaquil, Owen Mc Cague and John Toal and Paddy Mc Guinness from Smithborough. Robbie Haire from Drumsnat was regarded as particularly good.

Canon Maguire, now in his late nineties, was a young priest when he came to this parish in the late forties. Shortly after coming he established a piping class in Knockatallon with Seán Mc Aloon or ‘Seán the Rock’ as he was called, from Altawark, as tutor. There were about six or seven in the class. Thomas James Connolly from Sheskin was one; another was Mattie Connolly who is still playing and teaching pipes in America. His mother Lena Connolly was a great fiddler and indeed, a great character.

Sean Mc Aloon and James Patrick Rooney

Indeed it would have been Canon Maguire and the late Eamonn Murray who were behind the concert that provided the model for the ‘Scoil Cheoil na Botha’ weekend. The concert that occurred in 1952 in Urbleshanney Hall was by all standards an exemplary one. To gather musicians of the calibre of Willie Clancy (uilleann pipes), John Kelly (fiddle), Seán Seery (uilleann pipes), Seán Mc Aloon (uilleann pipes) and Bobby Casey (fiddle) was quite an achievement, and an event that would have rivalled any other throughout the country.

Northern Standard ad for a 'Celebrity Concert' in November 1952

The deep commitment of these men, and others, to champion local activities and promote traditional music and song in the area was the inspiration behind the ‘Scoil Cheoil na Botha’ weekend. ‘Scoil Cheoil na Botha’ aims to bring the finest traditional musicians from all over Ireland to the area, to celebrate their unique talents and to allow Monaghan pupils to access the absolute highest level of traditional music performance and tuition.

It is hoped that the ‘Scoil Cheoil na Botha’ weekend will help, in some small measure, the promotion of traditional culture in Monaghan.