Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Rowsome, Leo 92519391]]> Rowsome, Helena]]>
'I well remember when An Tóstal was held in Dublin. The entire city was cleaned up and flower baskets, flags and bunting of all colours placed on O'Connell Bridge. I recall thinking that Dublin must be the best place on earth. It provided a great incentive to tidy the city and instill civic pride again in its people. It was from An Tóstal that the current well-known 'Tidy Towns' competition came.

On one designated Sunday during An Tóstal (which would last for a couple of weeks), the GPO would be decorated with more flags than usual and a big platform placed outside for dignitaries of the State... I recall seeing the President, Seán T. O'Kelly, on the platform addressing the people during his presidency in 1954. I was eight then and daddy lifted me up to see the goings on...

Dad played at many events during An Tóstal, including a Céilí at the Mansion House. He composed the reel for obvious reasons: his celebration of a great festival. An Tóstal lasted from 1953 into the 1960s when it sort of phased out.']]>
Daly, John (fiddle)]]> Brehony, Kevin (piano)]]> Rowsome, Leo (composer) 92519391]]> Creative Commons License
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Daly, John ]]> Rowsome, Leo ]]> Brehony, Kevin ]]> ]]> More info.]]>