The MidAtlantic Region Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was kind enough to honor John Vesey the great Sligo fiddle player and myself with their hall of fame award at the Mineola Irish Center in 2004. From Ballincurry (Baile an Churraigh), Vesey emigrated to Philadelphia in 1949, and would later record a great album with Paul Brady on the Shanachie label in 1977. I'm pictured there with Paul Keating. I've known Paul for too many years to even recall, but he's always been a great great supporter of the music. Besides his work for Comhaltas as a major organizer, and the heart of Catskills Irish Arts Week, he's a wonderful writer who's been reporting on traditional music From the Hob for many many years. He gets his roots on his father's side from Inagh (Eidhneach) and his mother from Caherderry (Cathair in daire) in County Clare (Co. an Chláir). His parents were great set dancers, and his father is buried at St.Raymond's Cemetery not far from the grave of Andy McGann, also a member of the hall of fame. It was a lovely evening with many friends coming on-board for the event. My long-time friend Mick Moloney was there to present me with the award, which he received himself the year before.
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