SNIPPET: Thomas McCAFFREY, Irish fiddler, storyteller and friend to many died on August 2, 2006, in Cleveland, OH, age 90 years. Tom was born in Corraterrif, Mohill, Co. Leitrim. He was a brother of the late Terry (OH), Sr. Mary Anthony (India and Terenure), and Michael (Corraterrif). At the age of ten, Tom took up the fife and flute but soon found his true love in playing the fiddle. For knowledge, Tom turned to his father, also a player and teacher of the fiddle and sought out musicians who travelled through Mohill and surrounding area. It was not long before he mastered the fiddle and with his strong fine voice was asked to all the local festivals, dances and weddings. He was a member of the local Dramatic Society and many other organizations. Tom emigrated to Cleveland in 1955, bringing with him his love of Irish music, dance and storytelling. There he teamed up with Tom BYRNE, a Sligo man and master flute player. Between them they recorded the album 'Irish Music from Cleveland.' They were welcome to any gathering and their partnership led to musical recordings by the Smithsonian Museum Folkways Music Archives. The Emeralds' Ceili dance band, of which Tom was a leading member, played at festivals from Nashville to Toronto and also at weddings and parties across the area. He supported traditional Irish step dancers at the feiseannas. He was President of the Cleveland Irish Musicians, volunteered with the local Comhaltas organization and with the Irish Music Academy of Cleveland. In 1987, Tom was honoured to be named Grand Marshal for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and was selected by the State to receive the Governor's Award for his efforts in preserving the music of Ireland. He received a commendation by President Ronald REGAN for his contribution to Irish Culture in the United States. Tom McCAFFREY dedicated his life to encouraging and inspiring Clevelanders, teaching them the joy, warmth and strength of Irish trad music. In 1989 a video, 'The Gentle Bard' was produced to preserve this memory. It has been distributed to colleges, clubs and cultural organizations throughout the world. A fitting tribute was paid to Tom in the House of Representatives, when during the proceedings of the Congress in September 2006, Dennis J. KUCINICH asked that the Speaker and colleagues join him in honor and remembrance of Tom McCAFFREY, "whose smile, charm, wit and Irish wisdom will be remembered and shared and whose memory will live in tunes and tales," recalling that Tom was born in Mohill in 1916 and worked on the family farm before emigrating. He noted that while Tom's true calling and love was the fiddle, he had found his other great love, Alice KELLY, at the age of 83. Tom is survived by his wife Alice Kelly McCAFFREY, his niece Madeleine HUBER, his stepchildren, grand nieces and nephews. -- Dennis J. KUCINICH's (OH) tribute appeared in the "Congressional Record," September 2006, Vol. 151. Go ndeana Dia trocaire ar a h-anam.