A chara, - Mic Moroney's article on the report on Irish traditional music by the Oireachtas Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language (Arts, March 9th) makes curious reading. He writes of lack of consultation, yet he failed to consult me, the rapporteur for the report, when he was writing his highly personalised article.
It is clear that Mr Moroney is not familiar with SEISIUN but is depending on an informant whose erroneous input he accepts at face value. This nationwide traditional entertainment scheme which ran successfully for over 15 years did not, as Mr Moroney suggested, suffer from any artistic deficit. This was generously attested to at the time by an Arts Council representative. The reason given by the Council for withdrawing funding from SEISIUN was that it was shifting its focus from performance to education.
Regarding the report, Mr Moroney makes no effort to explain how the rapporteur system operates which, if he understood it, would have obviated many of his false assumptions. He seemed to be intent on keeping his eye too much on the man (or on Comhaltas!) and too little on the ball. The old "republican" swipe reveals his agenda. Such irrelevant interventions suggest a paucity of thesis.
Does he honestly believe that it is possible to produce a report on any art form which would meet with unanimous approval? This is particularly true of Irish traditional music which is so vibrant and diverse. The report has several far-reaching recommendations which have the potential to embrace and support all those involved in the promotion of our native music.
For the record, the following may help Mr Moroney in any future analysis of the subject: (a) I did not recommend the subject to the committee; (b) I did not request to be rapporteur; (c) as with other subjects, I was not provided with terms of reference; (d) a draft of the report was provided to the committee; (e) the final report was discussed and adopted; (f) the recommendations of the committee were the subject of extensive debate; (g) the rapporteur is selected from within the committee and is usually a person who has knowledge and experience of the subject; (h) the time allocated for the compilation of the report was a few months, not a few years, and this dictates its extent and format.
There are, of course, those who would seek to air-brush Comhaltas out of the picture. There are many more who appreciate the half-century of service which Comhaltas has given to the promotion of Irish traditional music and who admire the worldwide movement which it has established. It is not necessary to denigrate Comhaltas in order to exalt someone or something else.
It is evident that the report has the potential for much constructive debate which, hopefully, will bring Irish traditional music centre stage in official circles and achieve for it the recognition and support which it deserves. It would be a disservice to orchestrate this debate in a way which does not allow for an organic, open appraisal of the subject which was, as with any report, always on offer. It is hoped that as many people as possible will avail of the opportunity to make submissions on the message rather than the messenger. - Is mise, Senator Labhras O Murchu,
Caiseal Mumhan, Co Thiobraid Arann.