Laois’s Bill McEvoy celebrates 90th

A stalwart of the traditional Irish music in America was honoured this year after reaching 90th birthday.

Bill McEvoy, who is originally from Laois, is the founding father of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann North America because of his efforts to grow the movement in the USA and Canada.

In the early 1970s he was integral in setting up concert tours from Ireland which would give birth to a number of new branches in Ireland.

President of Comhaltas in North America, Bill was back in Ireland recently for the Brú Ború festival in Cashel. Born 1923 in Bill is the son of musicians. His father played fiddle, also Bill’s instrument. His mother played concertina.