Mansfield in Tralee

Interesting story of Bishop's influence on musical performance in Kerry 1967 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIX4-1mOxHA

Music and The Temperance Movement

History of Founder of Temperance Movement Fr. Theobold Mathew  http://www.feismaitiu.ie/fr-theobald-mathew.html

Quotation about the start of the Temperance Movement from Catholic Encyclopedia sited on http://todayinirishhistory.com/tag/irish-temperance-movement/

The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “In 1838 came the crisis of his life. Drunkenness had become widespread, and was the curse of all classes in Ireland. Temperance efforts had failed to cope with the evil, and after much anxious thought and prayer, in response to repeated appeals from William Martin, a Quaker, Father Mathew decided to inaugurate a total abstinence movement. On 10 April, 1838, the first meeting of the Cork Total Abstinence Society was held in his own schoolhouse. He presided, delivered a modest address, and took the pledge himself. Then with the historic words, “Here goes in the Name of God”, he entered his signature in a large book lying on the table.”

Interesting article on history of temperance movement and views of the church and political leaders on this page http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/IRELAND/2006-11/1162661444

History of Temperance Bands Thesis written by Aiveen Kearney in the 1980s University College Cork. History of Barrack Street Band proved interesting on the Session site https://thesession.org/discussions/30553  Music and the Temperance Movement also discussed in http://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/archives/music-in-nineteenth-century-ireland/contents article by Maria McHale.

Sample the Pope this November

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/pope-francis-to-release-poprock-album-before-christmas-697760.html

Pope Francis will release his album 'Wake Up!' this November.

The Believe Digital record features the pope singing hymns with excerpts of his speeches.

Work Life Balance?

The Priest discuss being released from duties and the joy of mixing music and spirituality in their daily lives. See link http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/23/music.priests/index.html

Found extremely interesting radio programme with same focus when looking to update this blog today. See link http://droghedamuseum.blogspot.ie/2014/01/the-musical-priest.html
The focus of this programme is the recording and collection of music at the beginning of the 20th century in Ireland by Fr. Richard Henebry.

Relationship of Church and Music in Ireland, A Historical Perspective.

A vibrant musical culture was documented by the medieval monastic scholars in terms of three musical genres; that of suantrai, goltrai and geantrai thus acknowledging an acquaintance with the music making of the secular community. The pipes and harp were used as symbols on high crosses and accounts suggest a relationship between chant and the sean nos song tradition, thus showing an interaction between the 2 communities. The Muireadach cross at Monasterboice, Co. Louth (which dates back to the 9th/10th c.) depicts 2 categorisations of music, the music of the blessed and the music of the damned, showing a conceptual separation of the 2 practices. According to Dr. Gearoid O hAllmhurain the earliest account of dancing stated that the Mayor of Waterford, the O'Driscoll family father and son, and the prior of the local friary 'took to the floor to celebrate Christmas in style' (1998: 22), However by 1674 a moral controversy between 2 clerics was noted in the papers. 'The archbishop of Dublin Dr. Talbot, was at loggerheads with Friar Peter Walsh, who was having a good time singing and dancing 'giggs and countrey dances' at the Harp and Crown in Dublin. Apparently, the good doctor was finding it difficult to reconcile Walsh's vows of poverty with his nocturnal antics in the local pub'. (1998: 37). This dispute is all the more scandalous when see in terms of the religious conformism and intolerance of dissidents at that time.

Irish musical culture was effected by King Henry VIII's prohibition of Irish Music, and the subsequent fall of the Great Houses of Ireland which stopped the patronage of the arts. The Famine is another very obvious event that led to the loss of a cultural repertory. The Church also has an impact on cultural practice at various times in Irish history. Fr. Matthew's Temperance Movement is one such instance in which the colloqial culture was suppressed in favour of European brass ensembles. The Synod of Thurles and Maynooth 1850and 1875 reformed clergy which in turn had an impact on social practices in rural areas. This again silenced music and confined dancing activities.This viewpoint was reinforced in the Lenten pastorals of 1924 in which the Bishops note the many abuses existent in Irish society including 'women's fashions, immodest dress, indecent dancing, theatrical performances and cinema exhibitions, evil literature, drink, strikes and lockouts.' Unsupervised dancing, motor cars and jazz and unlicenced dance halls all qualified for particular condemnation' (1998:102) The close liason between church and state at the beginning of the Irish state supported the anti-jazz standpoint with the anti-jazz legislation of 1926,  Dance Halls Act 1935, further suppressed rural house dances.

The interesting point is that in times of church suppression other forms of music making were advocated i.e. the temperance bands and the ceili bands (Fr Tom Larkin). A further delineation between the music of the blessed and the damned. Fortunately the change in Government leadership in the 60's opened Ireland up to economic and social change. The church slowly lost its stronghold on policy and culture. The positive position of the clergy and religious communities as advocates of the arts at this time must be acknowledged. Especially given the lack of infrastructure to the develop the arts in Ireland at that time.  This is particularly notable in terms of the Harp and Harp music. The development of Siamsa Tire, the National Folk Theatre in Tralee is another notable achievement. The activities of the Radharc team (all priests) in documenting Issues effecting Irish society has also been commended.

Introduction

This blog will review the popularity of Priests in the Irish Entertainment Industry.

This builds on a number of recognised acts including

All Priests Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT22Ql8kfY0

The Priests
http://www.thepriests.org/singing.html

Fr. Michael Cleary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ydvKcOAiw

Fr. Ray Kelly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRpZ0HY22YM

Recognised composers
Liam Lawton and Pat Ahern

and Media Savvy Moguls
http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1378-radharc/361593-these-men-are-dangerous/

This blog hopes to document the phenomenon of the Singing Priest and its significance in Irish cultural history.