Micheál Talty RIP- One of Life’s Gentlemen

It is with deep sadness that we heard today Saturday 6th July 2024 of the passing of Micheál Talty a major figure in Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Co. Clare. Micheál was born into a farming family in Lisseycasey, Co. Clare. The Talty family are well known not just in farming circles, but also in business. Talty’s Joinery, Talty’s Supermarket, Ennis Glass Co. and Talty Window Furnishings immediately come to mind. Micheál moved to Ennis and lived on the Gort Road where he ran a very successful haulage business. When Cois na hAbhna was under construction, Micheál supplied machines and equipment as well as his own time on a voluntary basis, this had a huge impact and contributed to the project being completed in record time. But the Talty family’s contribution didn’t stop there, Micheál’s late wife Bridie was an integral part of the Cois na hAbhna catering committee from the beginning, and Micheál was treasurer of the Clare Co. Board of Comhaltas, Cois na hAbhna and the Cois na hAbhna Archive, he also served on the Fleadh Nua committee. Micheál and Bridie were members of the Cloughleigh branch of Comhaltas, they were great set dancers and were a familiar sight on the dance floor at Céilí’s in Cois na hAbhna and later at Woodstock in Ennis where the branch ran successful set dancing classes under the tutorage of Liam Jones. Micheál’s family all played music and he was always available to supply transport to competitors at Fleadh’s and various competitions up and down the country. His daughter Carol was probably the best known, a multi-award winner on piano accordion, piano and singing, netting a total of 16 All Ireland titles throughout the 1980s, she toured extensively with Comhaltas. Carol is married to well known fiddle player James Cullinan from Doolin. In 2009 Micheál was honoured with lifetime patronage of the Clare Co. Board of Comhaltas, and in 2010 he was the recipient of Gradam Seirbhíse, an award by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the organisation he loved. The award was presented on the night by Dr. Labhrás Ó Murchú, Ardstiúrthóir Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, a close family friend. Micheál successfully battled throat cancer, never allowing it to interfere with his commitment or indeed his enjoyment of the traditional arts, his welcoming presence at Cois na hAbhna will be sorely missed but his legacy will ensure that he will never be forgotten.

On behalf of everybody at Clare Comhaltas, Cois na hAbhna and Fleadh Nua we extend our sincere sympathies to Micheál’s family at this sad time. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.