Argentinians come to dance at the crossroads
Traditional music gets tango-ed
Wednesday June 20 2007
DANCERS and musicians from the home of the tango brought traditional Irish music and dance to the streets of Sligo yesterday.
Thirty visitors from Argentina, some of whom are descendants of Irish emigrants living in Buenos Aires, made history last night when they became the first South American members of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
The new River Plate branch of the organisation was inaugurated at the Ceolaras Coleman in the village of Gurteen.
The group travelled to Ireland with the tall ship, 'Fragata Libertad', to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Admiral William Brown, the Foxford-born founder of the Argentine navy.
Yesterday, they were met by newly-elected mayor of Sligo Jonathan McGoldrick before busking on the streets to the delight of passing shoppers. They later travelled to Gurteen as guests of the local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
"There is a hardcore of Irish descendants in Argentina keeping the tradition of the old country alive," said the organisation's regional development officer, Vince Hearns.
Fernando Marcos (27), who discovered his passion for Irish dancing after seeing Riverdance, later went on to become South America's first Irish dancing teacher.
"I do like the tango but Irish music is everything to me. I love dancing hornpipes and reels and I love the Irish music."
Also in the group was Augustin Brown (29), a seventh generation descendent of Admiral Brown who described the visit, his second to Ireland, as very significant.
"Admiral Brown is such an important figure in Argentina. It is very important that he is being honoured in Ireland too," he said.
The ship's arrival in Galway last Friday was the start of a nationwide series of cultural, historical and military events to honour the Mayo man, after whom 1,100 streets, six towns, 320 schools, 441 plazas and six football stadiums in Argentina are named. Brown's defeat of the Spanish naval forces led to the liberation of the Argentine people and turned him into a national hero.
- Anita Guidera
