Page 23 / Irish Echo / November 26-December 2, 2008 / www.irishecho.com cc cc Before Joe Madden passed away, he Until the release of that recording, I also strongly recommend visiting Last spring at the CCE North Ameri- As St. Patrick’s Church emptied after And what a privilege to hear the From behind me, I overheard some- What mighty music, friendship, and accordion, Joe played for a time with the with time a for played Joe accordion, Echo Ceili Band in Ireland. In the New York metropolitan area he led his own dance band for many years, working by day as a carpenter and sometimes weeknight and usually on by weekends as a musician. In 1992, he Eireann’s Mid- into Comhaltas Ceoltoiri was inducted Atlantic Region Hall of Fame, which his daughter Joanie also entered in and he 2007, was inducted into the Association’s Galway Hall of Fame for his life- long contributions to Irish music. and his daughter Joanie had the chance to record a number of tracks together in Ireland, and it’s hoped that the the music two made with accompanying on Charlie piano will Lennon be issued on a CD in the near future. you can listen to Joe Madden’s distinc- tive button accordion playing on such albums as “Fathers and Daughters” the on in Whistle “A Madden’s Joanie 1986, Wind” in 1994, Cherish the Ladies’ “At Home” in 1999 and “The Leave Girls Won’t the Boys Alone” Mike Rafferty’s “Speed 78” in 2004. That in 2001, and last CD features a 90-second track called “Story About Joe Madden,” Mike, one of his closest friends. told by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann’s website to see and hear “Comhaltas Live #243.” It’s a video of Joe Madden on the accor- dion and Joanie Madden on backed the flute, by Felix Dolan playing three reels on during a break at the keyboards, 2004 CCE North American Convention in Parsippany, N.J. can Convention in the same N.J. town, I had a lengthy main the in ceili night’s conversation Saturday during with Joe ballroom. He asked about my my health, work, my last trip to Ireland, several other topics, and the and entire time we spoke, I was aware he was not men- tally multi-tasking. He was giving It me focus. full and attention undivided his was a gesture born not of habit or gra- ciousness but of real caring, something Joe Madden always had in abundance. After a while, we stopped chatting and turned our attention back to the crowd- ed bandstand he had left for a brief rest. “God, that’s mighty music,” he said. his funeral Mass on Nov. 18, behind I to stayed hear the musicians continue to play. I thought of with those no us, longer including Paddy Reynolds, Andy Martin Wynne, McGann, Tom Doherty, Martin Cronin, Mulvihill, Maureen Glynn, Johnny and now heard have to privilege Joe a What Madden. their music firsthand. musicians in St. Patrick’s Church keep the sound of their departed comrade Joe alive. I watched the faces, musicians’ felt the intent swing and power in their playing, and became strangely wistful for the I had not lost. It was right in front of realized the me, breath and and fingers I of these musicians spoke far more about Joe eloquently than the imperfect muster here. words I one say, “What a sendoff.” Those words are perfect. memories Joe Madden gave us. © TIMOTHY RAAB 2008 Joseph also quoted a Furey Brothers’ With soft keyboard backing, she “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” a An All-Ireland champion on button Joseph recalled, pointing to rea- main a as his membership union proud dad’s visit, and performance the after But son. Joseph quoted his father “You know, saying that Georgie Bush this: is not a bad fellow.” song, “The Old Man,” and read a poem written by his sister father. Joanie for their played a soaring finished solo with that tears overwhelming her. The music before, during, and after the Mass would have thrilled Joe Madden, as Joanie herself said out loud point. It at featured such liturgical one hymns as “Shepherd Me, the Art”; Thou O Great “How and Home,” God,” “Going 18th-century hymn “Amazing Grace,” sung by Deirdre Connolly; melody “Come the Give Me Irish Your Hand”; and the ballad “John O’Dreams,” sung by Mick Moloney. contemporary, gospel-flavored hymn rooted in country music, was stirringly sung by Deirdre Connolly. was composed by Vince Gill in memory The song of his older brother Bob, who 1993. died This in is the refrain: “Go rest high on that mountain / Son, your work on earth is done / Go to heaven a-shoutin’ / Love for the seemed especially Father fitting for and Joe Mad- Son.” den, a man larger than It life in the mem- ory of many, a man who worked hard and well with his hands. Lifestyle Echo Joe Madden in Irish music: Joseph Madden, Joe’s son, gave the An amusing anecdote also surfaced A beloved figure A beloved eulogy. Fighting described the new back master kitchen father had his completed on tears, the same day he fell, he a kitchen with top-grade appli- ances to make life Helen (nee easier Meade), mainly his Miltown for Mal- bay-born wife of 45 years. in Joseph’s remarks. On Day, St. 2004, Patrick’s Cherish brought and House White the the at formed Ladies per- along family members, Joe included. Madden “He couldn’t stand Bush,” He prized family, He friends, prized and family, tunes dote about selling a car to Joe Madden for $50. “I think it blew up,” he said. Joe Madden in concert at the Catskills Irish Arts Week, July 16, 2008. Joe Madden in concert at the Catskills Irish Arts Other performers and Sean McComiskey, Brian and Rose Jerry Whelan, John way, Con- O’Sullivan, Long, Aoife Donna John Clancy, Nolan, Byrne, Mirella Murray, Laura Roisin Dillon, Coogan, Marie Mary Reilly, Pat Keogh, Gabe Dono- Moloney. Mick and hue, whom I saw watching usic heard so deeply That it is not / heard at all, but you are the music /

letters

Earle

CEOL

Humor bubbled up in a Coen anec- A fellow Galwayman, Monsignor

It was an extraordinary display of Musicians paid tribute to him in the Hitchner

@irishecho.com

American Convention of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann last spring in N.J. Joe Madden (in green tie, fifth from right) was among the performers at the North

“M

around the floor. He redeemed sound.”

music could compel people to swirl

beautiful house. And Joe’s accordion

stones, lumber, nails, and plaster into a

roofs,” Coen said. “He could redeem

was spent on ladders, scaffolds, and

as someone who succeeded. “His life

be redeemed, and he cited Joe Madden

Coen said that all creation is groaning to groaning is creation all that said Coen

ters Union Local 608. Quoting St. Paul,

builder who was a member of Carpen-

Joe Madden, a skilled tradesman and

and expressing gratitude for the life of

right balance of mourning for the loss

the Mass, and his sermon struck just the

Charlie Coen was the lead celebrant of

town Heights home.

cations of an accidental fall at his York-

until his death on Nov. 14, from compli- from 14, Nov. on death his until

from 1959, the year of his immigration,

East Galway, who lived in New York

button accordionist from Portumna,

tion for Joe Madden, the 70-year-old

music steeped in admiration and affec-

and leader of Cherish the Ladies.

beside Joanie Madden, Joe’s daughter

stepdancer Donny Golden stayed

nell and Willie and Siobhan Kelly, while Kelly, Siobhan and Willie and nell

from the pews included Robbie O’Con-

haire, , Jimmy Keane, Billy

Felix and Brendan Dolan, Martin Mul-

Rafferty, Mattie and Deirdre Connolly,

ing. Among them were Mike and Mary

best way they know how: by perform-

N.Y.

Patrick’s Church in Yorktown Heights,

11 a.m. on Tues., Nov. 18, inside St.

people came into sharp focus starting at

Joe Madden. What he meant to so many Joe Madden. What he meant

back to me during the requiem Mass for the requiem Mass back to me during

T. S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets” floated While the music lasts.” Those lines from lines Those lasts.” music the While