Traditional music award loses sponsor

Frankie Gavin was touched by it, Mairtin O'Connor honoured by it, and last year the "musicians' musician" was that great "squeezeboxman" of the west, Joe Burke. Sadly, this year's Traditional Music Award ceremony won't be taking place in Galway - unless the city's merchant princes get a phone call from a major sponsor.

Galway Chamber of Commerce confirmed the event has been dropped from this Easter's social calendar. The three-year association with AIB, the main sponsor, has come to a close. Mr Jarlath Feeney, the chamber's chief executive, said: "We have been very happy with it, but we feel it needs to become a national event if it is going to progress."

But isn't it national, even international, already ? This was the initial and very shocked reaction from some musicians over the weekend, on hearing of the decision, while others expressed deep disappointment but acknowledged that the chamber did have a point. "The bank was doing well out of it, with minimum input," was one comment. "The chamber, and that dynamo Galway promoter, Mary McPartlan, were doing all the work."

Initiated over three years ago, the award had already taken on a life of its own. Like the Druid Theatre and Macnas, it had been contributing to Galway's distinct place on the cultural map, according to former Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and Galway West TD, Mr Michael D. Higgins. He attended the ceremonies - the first being in 1995, when Mairtin O'Connor was the winner, followed by Frankie Gavin in 1996 and Joe Burke last year.

"The recipients had a national and international, rather than regional, profile, and Galway was a very good location," Mr Higgins said, expressing regret yesterday at the move.

"In recent years, the city has built its reputation on culture and on an affiliation with those who have given of their skills without remuneration. It is very important to maintain those cultural links, and I do hope another sponsor can step in."

Dr Charlie Lennon, composer and performer, also expressed disappointment. "The combination of the bank and the chamber of commerce was an excellent partnership. It paid tribute to a talent that does not get a lot of public recognition." "It's a pity that business couldn't support the arts to a greater extent," was the reaction of Mairtin O'Connor - an accordion player since the age of nine. O'Connor was only fresh from a run at the Point Depot in 1995, where he was playing for Riverdance, when he received the first £2,000 cheque and a specially commissioned piece of sculpture by John Behan. "If there is some hope at all of keeping it going, it would be well worthwhile as musicians need every encouragement they can get."

Frankie Gavin felt it was "a dreadful shame" at a time when the interest in Irish traditional music is phenomenal, and worldwide.

"So we have Riverdance, but this doesn't mean that the grassroots should be forgotten," Mr Gavin said. "Mary McPartlan put in a monumental amount of work for this, and it had great potential." He believes Mr Feeney's group should contact other chambers nationwide to drum up corporate support.

The chamber has not ruled out talking to new sponsors, but believes the format requires expansion - and television interest. Mary McPartlan agrees that it should be developed.

"There is scope for a three-dimensional award, which acknowledges the masters of the art and also gives encouragement to young musicians and bands. You know, this would never have happened without Jarlath Feeney's initiative," she stresses. But she doesn't want to see it slip. "The skills, the knowledge and commitment are there and all it needs is financial support."

Perhaps the decision reflects a certain new, hard mood and one which those watching the property boom in Galway immediately recognise. Recently, local business interests have yearned for a different type of tourist to the city - one not carrying a fiddle and a backpack.

"People have to bear in mind that those with the energy and commitment to travel, but not necessarily the money to spend, are the ones who will come back again and again," Michael D. Higgins observes. "The whole activity and life of Galway owes its interest to culture. It was built on the generosity of people on FAS schemes and suchlike. That needs to be handled with great, great care."