Hibernia- 2008 - Exciting New Year of CHANGE ahead.....

[Yup]

Thank you Ali,
for your kind words in your recent post - especially coming from one
of our most improved players and cheery spirits, I am therefore minded
to respond.....



Reading your comments, I don't recognise THAT Donal, yet I accept the
flattery with mild embarrassment in my own vain-glorious way.
Yes I am proud of the fact that I started Hibernia all those years
ago; it was an idea born out of my love and 'duchas' for Irish music,
song and dance that I hold dear and dip into to refresh the jaded
spirit down through the years.

I grew up in the '50s-60s with a 'fierce' local tradition of amateur
plays which were always accompanied by rudimentary trad. music and old
fashioned dance. My birthplace, Listowel, was and still remains a
great centre for Irish traditions, music and dance, literature and
story telling - not in any eclectic highbrow way...indeed it is its
simple, no nonsense production and delivery that is its strength and
delight. If and when the Fleadh Ceol returns to Listowel, -that's when
the Kerry 'duchas' comes out of the woodwork in all its glory. Be
there!

Hibernia in Bristol would have foundered if not for the enthusiastic
support of the locals and it has been my great pleasure to meet, chat
and befriend you all down through the years. Wonderful people,
enquiring minds and very clever by and large. None of the teachers
were Irish (save recent joiners Conor and Alan) and 90% of the
learners had no connection whatever with Ireland. This is a wonderful
and typical instance of how British people can extend themselves and
their enquiring minds to 'foreign' customs. By contrast, I doubt if
there is a converse group in Ireland that practices English music,
song and dance, -albeit Dublin has a good'ish cricket team!

So well done Ali. and all the rest of you 'Hibernians' for applying
yourselves to a task-in-hand and achieving the magnificent results.
The Quality of the music emanating from the Sat. midday 'ensemble' is
amazing and compares with the best in Ireland. (We have had suchlike
confirmation and 'awe' from some of our Irish visitors and virtuosos
in recent years).

2008 can be a magnificent year for Hibernia - so many ideas to be
implemented now that we have a core of bright committed competent
'facilitators', well capable and enthusiastic to see them through. I
have to step back and allow creativity and very capable team players
to build on the foundations. As I said, for a few years now my focus
has been increasingly distracted by personal business challenges and
these I need to see through in the next few years - and in truth my
autocratic style has stymied vital change in Hibernia. I recognise
that and need to step out of the way to encourage new ideas and
ownership.

I 'owned' Hibernia as a concept but the members own it as a viable
entity and it is they who will invigorate it greatly as time goes by.

Hibernia in Bristol can be magnificent - get it involved with all the
other cultural delights of this lively city; -Watershed, Millenium
Square, Park St. Folk House etc. Open it all day Saturday for
starters, get set-dancing and singing tuition going again...and much
more.

To those of you who have NOT been ACTIVELY involved thus far in its
direction, now is your opportunity to lend a hand and also to see your
ideas materialise.
It is your Hibernia, get stuck in and shape it.
In return, look out for a continuing stream of even better Saturday
mornings - a powerful antidote from the week at work. Plan your
outings and meet-ups, workshops and weekend 'Ryan Air' hops over to
Clare for 99p.
And shure why not, go for it, you'll be longer dead, burn a little
candle at both ends while you can.

Beir Bua/ Be a Winner.

Le dea mhéin/every good wish,

Dónal

[ Hand-over Committee meeting next Saturday 26th Jan 2008 and
invitation to all of you that have enthusiasm and a little time to be
part of that committee.]