Should he go?

Definitely! Ó Murchú has made a very good living from Traditional Music - not from playing it but from manipulating it to his own ends.

In my opinion, he is a parasite sucking the life-blood from the fantastic organisation that is Comhaltas.

He believes he can do whatever he wants and crush anyone that stands in his way. To date, he has managed to. I saw a TV program a month or two ago about Stalin and how he operated and, although Labhrás is sometimes referred to as Chairman Lao, I think he is a dead-ringer for Stalin in his modus operandi.

With regard to Clontarf, I have no doubt that he used the branch to get what he wanted, that is, he encouraged them for many years to work for nothing to make the dream that was Clasac a reality. Once it was within grasp, he dissolved the branch and took control.

Of course, this isn't the first time this happened. The West London branch was expelled from Comhaltas by Labhrás in 1979 (for refusing to fundraise for his political interests). They are, I understand, more vibrant than most extant Comhaltas branches and are glad to be free from Ó Murchú's clutches.

All going well, if there isn't a cover-up, the current Departmental enquiry will show how ruthlessly self-serving this man is.

Is it any wonder that most traditional musicians will have nothing to do with him.

For Comhaltas' sake, I hope he goes soon.