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Dermot McLaughlin, fidil, ag seinm 4 phort a bhailigh Séamus Mac Aonghusa i nDún na nGall ó Frank Cassidy (3) agus Niallaí Ó Baoill (1)
An Charraig (1900-1971). Bhí cáil air go raibh sé iontach meabhrach, deaslámhach. Bhí triúr deartháireacha ann, Frank, Johnnie agus Páidí, a raibh an-bhua ceoil acu. Fuair Johnnie bás in 1924 agus bhí sé ráite faoi gurbh eisean an fidléir ab fhearr den triúr. Fuair Frank agus a dheartháireacha a gcuid ceoil ó bhannaí práis a bhíodh ag gabháil timpeall ag iarraidh earcú a dhéanamh le linn an Chéad Chogaidh Dhomhanda. Bhí siopa rothar ag Frank ar an Charraig. I ndiaidh bhás Pháidí choinnigh sé gnó an halla damhsa ar siúl. Rinne An tAthair Liam Mac an tSagairt taifeadadh de agus craoladh cuid mhór den ábhar ar Raidió na Gaeltachta – ‘Teileann Inné agus Inniu 1980’. Bhí an brón ag roinnt le Frank go háirithe i ndiaidh bhás a dheartháireacha. Sheinn Frank ag an Oireachtas i dTeach an Ard-Mhéara i mBaile Átha Cliath. Nuair a tháinig Ennis go Teileann, bhí Frank faoi ghruaim agus uaigneas air faoi bhás a dhearthár Páidí. Ghlac sé tamall fada ar an mbailitheoir é a mhealladh chun ceoil. Seo mar a d’inis Ennis an scéal:
‘In Teileann, south of Carraig at the mouth of Gleann Cholm Cille in southwest Donegal, there was a great bunch of fiddlers in the old days. When I got here, there were only about four extant and of these a man named Frank Cassidy was by far the best. I was told that he had a repertoire of rare old tunes if he could be persuaded to touch a fiddle. All his people had died save one brother and his latest bereavement was a brother – another top-notch fiddle player. .. I finally persuaded Frank to handle his fiddle and out of practice though he was – his performance was a revelation. I wrote some precious music from him and though playing marvellously he’d stop and say “níl gar ann – it’s no use – I can’t play it.” But I’d persevere and he’d continue.’
RTÉ Radio Series 1988.
Ba é Seán Ó hEochaidh a chéad chuir Séamus Ennis in aithne do Frank ar an 15 Meán Fómhair 1943. Seo mar a scríobh Séamus Ennis sa dialann an lá sin: ‘Tá a shárú le cloisteáil agamsa le veidheal fós. Chas sé seanphoirt a bhogfadh croí an mhairbh agus seanfhoinn nach bhfuil a leithéidí ach ag sióga, más fíor an seanchas.’ Coicíos ar fad a chaith Ennis le Frank agus é ag dul fhad leis ar thóir an cheoil. Chaith sé seachtain leis i Meán Fómhair 1943 agus seachtain bliain ina dhiadh sin i Meán Fómhair 1944.