22 July 1998

BEKAN BARN DANCE CELEBRATED SAFE RETURN OF YOUNG SOLDIER

By TOM SHIEL

Lamplight flickered and danced in Murray's farmyard at Lissaniska, Bekan earlier this month just as it did in the summer of 1918 when friends and neighbours arrived for a celebration to mark the safe return from the Great War of young Danny Murray.

Danny has since passed to his reward and is buried beneath the soil of his adopted United States. But the sturdy barn with, its red iron roof, and welcoming fireplace, is still standing proudly.

After 81 years the rafters of Murray's Barn resounded again to music as descendants of those 1918 partygoers re-enacted Danny's homecoming celebrations.

For one elderly man it was a particularly poignant occasion-Pake Byrne, then aged 9, remembers seeing Danny by the fireplace, standing proudly in his splendid American Army uniform.

ARMISTICE

That joyous post-Armistice celebration was also immeasurably sad as Danny would never see his father and mother again. He made one solitary visit back to Lissaniska some 50 years later to meet friends and neighbours.

Michael Kelly, of Lissaniska, a senior official with the Department of Agriculture in Dublin, and a grandnephew of the late Danny Murray, was one of the main organisers of the 1998 'barn-dance'.

Michael explains: "Danny's nephew, Will, and Will's wife, Mary were hosts at our evening of traditional song and dance. There were recitations, lots of stories, and there was even a seanachaí present.

"The last such entertainment was held in the barn exactly 80 years ago to celebrate Danny's safe return from the Great War. Danny was one of eight out of ten Murrays who had emigrated to America. There Danny joined the U.S. Army and he arrived in France around Armistice Day".

FURLOUGH

Michael Kelly explained how on furlough (leave of absence) at the end of the war, Danny was able to visit his home Lissaniska where family, friend and neighbours threw a huge celebration for him.

At the heart of the 1998 're-enactment' was Will Murray, of course; Connie (Murphy) Gildea (formerly Shaskeen) on accordion and Vincent Kelly (guitar). During the long evening, as pints were served from a barrel in the adjacent dairy, they were joined by Joe Skelton (flute/fiddle/banjo); Moira Delaney (fiddle), Aidan Melia (flute) and Mike Walsh (fiddle). The timely arrival of Joe Byrne and Seamus Og Duffy, following a late function in Aghamore, added new life to the proceedings.

One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of a four-hand reel by four local men; Michael Morley, Brian McHugh; the host, Will Murray, and Pake Byrne who attended the 1918 event and is now a sprightly 89 year old.

82 year old John Kelly couldn't be kept off the floor as usual. John is married to one of Dan Murray's nieces.

ENHANCED

The performance of the 'Lios an Uisce' set dance was enhanced by the presence of two County Clare natives, Mary McHugh and Kathleen Morris who are married locally.

The singing of Martina Kavanagh (Dublin); Moira Delaney (Ballyhaunis) and Anne (Kelly) Skelton (Castlebar) set a high standard but did not deter various other members of the Kelly and Murray families from contributing their party pieces. Another star of the show was Austin Bones (Kiltimagh) who rivalled the Seanachai himself (Eamon Kelly) with a wonderful collection of well spun yarns.

Musician Joe Byrne, one of the guests, afterwards described the evening as totally memorable. "There was a barrel of porter in the dairy. It was being handed out on the stone flags. There were old lamps, a dresser swinging with delph and the same two carts that had to be moved for the dance in 1918 had to be moved once more. The carts are fine examples of the craftsmanship of the Rattigans of Loughanemon."

The barn itself, with its ample fireplace where clothes were dried and pots boiled to keep pigs fed in olden days, hasn't changed a bit since 1918.

Such was the success of the commemorative event that there are tentative plans for a repeat- with relatives of the great Danny himself being invited from America. So some day soon- hopefully before the end of the century- the rafters and iron of Will Murray's Barn at Lissaniska, Bekan will ring again with loud laughter and sweet music. Dan Murray, the soldier boy who started it all, will surely approve and be there in spirit.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998