San Aill i dtuaisceart Chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath a rugadh é ar 28 Márta 1885. Ba é an seanchas a bhí ag a mhac Séamus (agallamh a chuir Micheál Ó hAlmhain air in Treoir, Eanáir/Feabhra 1973) gur ghiolla stábla in Albain ba ea duine dá shinsir, gur éalaigh sé le hiníon a fhostaitheora, agus leis na seoda a bhí aici gur cheannaigh feirm san Aill. Fidléir ba ea athair James, ar James a bhí air freisin, agus fáilte aige riamh roimh cheoltóirí taistil. Ba í Mary Macken a mháthair. 13 duine a bhí sa teaghlach agus ba é James an dara duine ab óige, dar le Séamus, cé nach bhfuil sin ag teacht leis an eolas i nDaonáireamh 1901. Seo é an cuntas atá ansiúd ar an teaghlach: James (54), feirmeoir; Michael (28), mac feirmeora; Mary Josephine (24); Gertrude (18); James (16), mac léinn; John (13); Walter (11). Bhí Gaeilge ag gach duine, más fíor, ach amháin ag an athair. I 1911 bhí James (67), Michael, Mary Josephine agus Walter sa teach, agus arís is ag an athair amháin nach raibh Gaeilge. In Memorials of the Dead No. 5 1992 tugann Michael J.S. Egan an t-eolas atá ar leacht cuimhneacháin san Aill: James Ennis, an Aill, d’éag Aibreán 1919; a bhean Mary, nee Macken, d’éag Samhain 1890; Angela, d’éag Meitheamh 1904; Michael d’éag Bealtaine 1964 in aois 94; Jack Ennis 1888-1965; James A. Ennis 1885-1964 [sic]; Máire (nee McCabe) 1890-1977; Séamus 1919-1982; Gertrude Clement (nee Ennis) 1883-1983. Deir Egan gur dúradh leis gur san Astráil a cuireadh Gertrude.

Nuair a bunaíodh craobh de Chonradh na Gaeilge san Aill 29 Deireadh Fómhair 1899 ba é Michael Ennis, comhairleoir dúiche, a toghadh ina leasuachtarán (An Claidheamh Soluis 4 Samhain 1899). Tuairiscíodh 26 Bealtaine 1900 go raibh James Ennis ag an gcruinniú craoibhe nuair a dúirt Peadar Ó Laoidhléis roinnt de na hamhráin atá in Ceol Sidhe. Is inspéise go raibh sé ag foghlaim Gaeilge go fóill sna 1930idí nuair a bhabhtáladh sé féin agus Colm Ó Lochlainn ceachtanna píbe ar cheachtanna Gaeilge. In agallamh in Comhar, Márta 1979 dúirt a mhac Séamus: ‘Ar ndóigh bhí m’athair riamh ina fhoghlaimeoir Gaeilge. Go dtí lá a bháis bhí sé ag foghlaim Gaeilge’.

Bhuaigh sé an chéad duais i gcomórtas an fheadáin mhóir ag Feis Laighean (Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge, Aibreán 1901). Ó Nioclás Ó Marcaigh, teagascóir Chumann na bPíobairí, a bhí sé ag foghlaim píobaireachta. Bhí sé ina bhall den chumann sin agus fuair an chéad duais Oireachtais ar an bhfeadóg i 1902 (Scéal an Oireachtais 1897-1924 le Donncha Ó Súilleabháin). Bhí sé féin agus Micheal Ennis i measc na gceoltóirí ag Coirm Cheoil na Samhna a bhí ag Craobh an Chéitinnigh i Seomra Cruinn an Rotunda 8 Samhain 1902. Tuairim an ama sin d’éirigh leis post mar chléireach sóisearach a fháil i Roinn an Oideachais.

Bhí Francis O’Neill in Éirinn tuairim 1911 agus thug an cuntas seo air in Irish Minstrels and Musicians: with numerous dissertations on related subjects, 1913: ‘Séamas Mac Aonghusa—otherwise James Ennis—of the Dublin Pipers’ Club, who was awarded second prize [ag Oireachtas 1912], is a new Richmond in the field of piping. He was leader of the Dublin Warpipers’ Band, which won third prize at the carnival, while Séamas himself won distinction by winning first prize in the individual warpipes contest, and also Francis Joseph Bigger’s prize for the best all-round warpiper. Accompanied by Mrs Kenny—“Queen of Irish Fiddlers”—this talented young man’s playing proved how well the Union pipes and fiddle play in unison. As Union piper, Warpiper, and dancer, this native of the parish of Naul in his round of triumph exemplified the possibilities of intelligent effort sustained by vitalized national sentiment’. Chleacht tuairisceoir An Claidheamh Soluis 18 Eanáir 1913 stíl theileagramúil agus é ag cur síos air: ‘Native of the Naul in North County Dublin. Comes of a musical family. “The Ennises all play music”. Was a boy prodigy on the flute. Plays all sorts of whistles, piccolos and flutes with equal facility. Prizewinner in flute-playing, fiddling, war-piping and union-piping. The only two instruments he could never manage are the melodeon and the piano ! Himself, his brother, and Eamonn Ceannt were the first war-pipers of the new dispensation to visit London. Did so in full war-paint many years ago. All members of Cumann na bPíobairí. Played at one of the big League concerts—Queen’s Hall, I think [Queen’s Hall 10 Samhain 1903 le Gearailt Mac Aonghusa—Conradh na Gaeilge i Londain lch 74]. Result, consternation and a horrible caricature by way of a drawing in the Sketch. . . Champion dancer. Can run a whole concert by himself. At Bristol, I think, Séamas provided 11 items and delighted all. Champion footballer, plays for Keatings. Played hurling for same team till they disbanded. Now plays for his native Naul, one of the best junior teams in Dublin. Cyclist, felt in bad health some years ago, so proceeded to ride between Naul and his office daily—Naul is only 19 miles from the GPO—till he recovered. Fine Irish speaker, spent at least two holidays of later years at Ros Muc. Still in the early twenties with his future all before him. Could teach half of the best of the pipers. If there’s another such all-round artist knocking about I haven’t met him’.

Ar 25 Aibreán 1914 bhí tagairt dó i litir in Sinn Féin: ‘At Groome’s Hotel on the evening of 1st July 1912 there were several bouts of this kind but one team played so well in tune and in rhythm as to be markedly superior to the others. The performers were Mrs Bridget Kenny and Mr James Ennis’. In alt gairid, ‘Music from James Ennis’, in An Píobaire, Meán Fómhair 1993 deir Seán Donnelly gur bhuaigh sé an chéad duais ag Feis Cheoil na hÉireann i 1913 leis an bhfonn ‘The Morning Thrush’, fonn a chum sé féin. Bhí nead ag smólach taobh amuigh dá fhuinneog agus chloiseadh sé gach maidin í.

Lean sé air ag staidéar agus thug ardú céime go dtí Roinn na Talmhaíochta é. Phós sé fidléir, Mary Josephine McCabe ó Chontae Mhuineacháin, i 1916 agus chuaigh siad chun cónaithe in Jamestown Lodge in aice le Fionnghlas. Is uaidh a d’fhoghlaim a mhac Séamus ceol agus ba é stíl píobaireachta a athar a chleacht an mac. Comhartha ar a cháil mar phíobaire lena linn is ea gur roghnaíodh é féin agus an píobaire William Andrews (a bhuaigh an chéad duais ag Oireachtas 1911) chun seinm ag oscailt oifigiúil 2RN, an córas náisiúnta craolacháin, 1 Eanáir 1926. Deir Dr Kevin McCann (Treoir Iml 23, 1991) gurbh é an veidhlín amháin a sheinneadh sé ina sheanaois. D’éag sé 16 Iúil 1965 agus tá sé curtha i nGlas Naíon.

Diarmuid Breathnach

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