Ratheniska is a small peaceful picturesque village in the hills South of Portlaoise in the Midlands region of the country. It is about a twenty minute drive from where I lived in Emo. The church there is famous and our classes were in the public school next door. Our class started around 9:00 - 9:30pm and lasted until 11:00 - 11:30pm on Tuesday nights. Gerry the teacher is quite the teaser and a philosopher too. Irish English and Texas English are not the same. My Texas ears only picked up some of the conversations and instructions in class. But music, facial expressions, and laughter are international forms of communication. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to see the folks in the Ratheniska ASAP.

By the way, they have their own web site now at www.portarlingtoncce.ie.

	Gerry Conway is the music teacher for Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in Ratheniska and Portarlington. You could never hope to meet a nicer, more giving, and talented teacher or a more wonderful person than Gerry. To know him is to love him. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of him. He taught me how to read music, play the fiddle, a few traditional Irish tunes and more.		The people in the Ratheniska Adults Music Class were a pleasure to meet. They were extremely friendly, fun and supportive. The folks in the picture starting from the left are Bernie, Gerry, Dympna, John, and Bert. Mary, Pearce, Mick, and Fiona were not there the evening we took this picture. I miss them all.
	My friend Jack. He is another Award Winner.		The Awards Program with the students and their families and friends.
	The good folks of the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Group in Ratheniska  presented me with an award for my progress in the Adults Music Class. I think they just liked me. Margaret Hyland, Assistant Music Teacher, presented the award. At a pub later that night my wife and some friends told me I looked as if I was walking on air.		Gerry contacted the Laois Nationalist newspaper and they called me for an interview about my experience in Ireland. This photo was taken by their photographer. I found the fiddle at an antique show in Tullamore. The dealer was from Glendalough. He bought the fiddle two days before the show in a Dublin estate sale. Gerry added the missing pieces and started teaching me to play. My brother Chuck Lee (www.ChuckLeeBanjos.com) made my banjo.
	Here we see Ratheniska musicians in full flow. By the way Jack, everyone knows this is you even if you turn to face the other way.		Ratheniska musicians accompanying all the fine actors we see on stage at the 2006 Christmas Pageant.
	Keep this picture in your files. Surely there is a future star of the silver screen among the cast.		A picture worth a thousand words. What more could I say?
	A small group of musicians in Ratheniska in 2008.		Gerry and a group of musicians in Ratheniska 2008.
	Some of the young Portarlington musicians playing at this years All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil which was held in Tullamore 2008.		Lots of activity going on in the adult class. They all went on a trip to Dublin recently and met up with some musicians, a great time was had by all in 2009.
	The Living Tradition DVD can be ordered through the web site at www.portarlingtoncce.ie.		Ratheniska musicians just before performing in Dublin in 2009.