Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Mid-Atlantic Region Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame honorees for 2012 were Jerry O’Sullivan, Jesse Winch and Johnny “Accordion” Cronin. Congrats!
The Mid-Atlantic Region’s Hall of Fame was initiated in 1990 by then Region Chairman Jack Whelan from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. The idea was to acknowledge musicians who distinguished themselves and helped promote the objectives of Comhaltas in fostering the love of Irish music and dance, and to give them the recognition they deserved. It also served as a popular fundraiser for the region as it grew both geographically and administratively.
The very first inductee was Tom Doherty, the great Melodeon player from Mountcharles, Donegal in 1990 at the Inis Fada Irish American Center in Mineola. Since then, 44 additional musicians have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Most of our induction ceremonies have occurred at the Mineola Irish Center, where CCE in North America was launched over 35 years ago. Occasionally, we have forayed elsewhere. To induct Mike Rafferty in 1991 we held the ceremony at St. Mary’s in Sunnyside; we went to Gaelic Park for Joe Madden’s induction ceremony in 1992. In 2005 and 2006, we celebrated in New Jersey at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ridgefield Park, and in 2011 we were in Parsippany, NJ. Regardless of the venue, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Hall of Fame has become one of the legendary nights for traditional music in the New York area. The musicians always turn out to honor one of their own, along with families and friends who not only kept the tradition alive but cherished it.
The success of the Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame has inspired the other North American Regions to establish their own Halls of Fame now with similar occasions in the Northeast, Midwest and Canada.
Paul Keating
The Mid-Atlantic Region of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s Hall of Fame includes the following men and women:
- Patty Conway Furlong – Honored May 11, 2013
- Rose Conway Flanagan - Honored May 11, 2013
- Jerry Lynch - Honored May 11, 2013 ** @
- Jerry O’Sullivan – Honored May 19, 2012
- Jesse Winch – Honored May 19, 2012
- Johnny “Accordion” Cronin – Honored May 19, 2012 ** @
- Margie Mulvihill – Honored April 2, 2011
- John Reynolds – Honored April 2, 2011
- Don Meade – Honored April 2, 2011
- Jim McGinty – Honored April 2, 2011 ** @
- Joe “Accordion” Burke – Honored February 20, 2010
- Mons. Charlie Coen – Honored February 20, 2010
- Mike Brady – Honored February 20, 2010 ** @
- Sean Quinn – Honored February 21, 2009
- John Nolan – Honored February 21, 2009
- Brendan Mulvihill – Honored February 16, 2008
- Larry Redican – Honored February 16, 2008 ** @
- Joanie Madden - Honored February 17, 2007
- James Coogan – Honored February 17, 2007 ** @
- Dermot Grogan – Honored February 17, 2007 ** @
- Brian Conway – Honored February 4, 2006
- Frankie O’Neill Jr – Honored February 4, 2006 ** @
- Billy McComiskey - Honored February 5, 2005
- Joe “Banjo” Burke – Honored February 5, 2005 ** @
- James Keane – Honored February 21, 2004
- John Vesey – Honored February 21, 2004 ** @
- Mick Moloney – Honored February 15, 2003
- Mike Flynn – Honored February 15, 2003
- Tommy Moffit – Honored February 16, 2002
- Paddy Reynolds – Honored February 16, 2002 **
- Kevin McGillian – Honored February 16, 2001
- Andy McGann – Honored February 16, 2001 **
- Mike Preston – Honored 2000 **
- Ed Reavy – Honored 2000 ** @
- Jack Coen – Honored 1999 **
- Maureen Glynn Connolly – Honored 1999 ** @
- Bill McEvoy – Honored February 6, 1998
- Louis Quinn Snr – Honored February 6, 1998 ** @
- Felix Dolan – Honored February 14, 1997
- Johnny Cronin – Honored February 14, 1997 ** @
- John Mulligan – Honored February 23, 1996 **
- Jim Conway – Honored February 23, 1996 ** @
- Martin Mulhaire – Honored February 3, 1995
- Sean McGlynn – Honored February 3, 1995 ** @
- Matty Connolly – Honored February 5, 1994
- Martin Mulvihill – Honored February 5, 1994 ** @
- Pete Kelly – Honored February 6, 1993
- Martin Wynne – Honored February 6, 1993 **
- Joe Madden – Honored 1992 **
- Mike Rafferty – Honored 1991 **
- Tom Doherty – Honored May 11, 1990 **
