[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E211-E212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SEAMUS CONNOLLY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to enter 
into the Record today these remarks to acknowledge the accomplishments 
of Seamus Connolly. He is the Director of the Boston College Irish 
Studies

[[Page E212]]

Music, Song, and Dance Program. Mr. Connolly is an established Irish 
Fiddler and Gaelic musician, and his great success and technical 
precision in competitions in the '60s were extremely influential in 
setting a high standard of craft for today's players. Mr. Connolly 
first came to the United States in 1972 as a member of the first 
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) tour. After immigrating to the United 
States in 1976, Mr. Connolly settled in Groton, Massachusetts, and 
entered into the realm of teaching to extend his knowledge of music at 
the request of Larry Reynolds, President of the local branch of CCE. 
His presence and committed teaching in Boston is influential throughout 
the East Coast, making it a badge of honor for the area's musicians to 
have a tune from Mr. Connolly, and his work with the Gaelic Roots 
Summer Program at Boston College makes the tradition accessible to an 
ever broadening circle.
  In 1993, Mr. Connolly began the Gaelic Roots Summer Program as an 
indoor festival, which has progressed into an array of workshops, 
exhibitions, classes, and a concert series. In addition to his 
teaching, Mr. Connolly is a recipient of the Irish Echo Traditional 
Artist of the Year Award for 2002, and a ten-time winner of the Irish 
National Championship. He has produced numerous recordings, and a 132-
page book with more than 50 Irish tunes and collaborations with other 
artists. Mr. Connolly has had the honor of representing Ireland on 
three ``Masters of the Folk Violin'' tours organized by the National 
Council for the Traditional Arts. In 1990, he won a Massachusetts 
Cultural Council Fellowship Award, one of three recipients from over 
2,500 applicants. Also, Mr. Connolly appeared on the nationally 
televised ``Today Show'' and was profiled by Boston's WCVB-TV5 
``Chronicle Program.'' He initiated, produced and cohosted with Larry 
Reynolds Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann's ongoing weekly radio program of 
traditional Irish music on WNTN-1550 AM Boston. He also co-hosted the 
Irish segments of Boston's WGBH National Public Radio series 
``Ethnicity.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation and gratitude for Mr. 
Connolly's dedication and leadership to Irish music that I ask he be 
recognized. Mr. Connolly possesses the intelligence and poise of an 
excellent fiddle player, and graciously extends his talent to the 
community.

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