Latest news with #Comhaltas
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Thinking global and acting local sees our musical traditions survive and thrive
'Think global, act local': the phrase was coined in the 1970s, gained new currency in the '90s and remains relevant today. Think global — in other words, big picture, broad view, the important things — and act on an individual and community level. Its original authors meant it environmentally, but it can apply to all sorts of things. Irish arts and culture, for instance. As with every other indigenous culture, especially smaller nations', our music and dancing and language have been essentially under siege for decades in an increasingly homogenised, connected, corporatised global village. The huge demographic and sociocultural change of immigration also changes the cultural landscape in numerous ways. This isn't to get into the rights or wrongs of that, just to state an obvious fact: indigenous arts and culture are altered, everywhere and every time, as populations change. This is a depressing situation. Whenever the world loses any of its remarkable range and richness of traditions is depressing. But that's what we might call 'global' — what about local? What can you or I do about it, here and now? How can we help Irish arts to survive and thrive? Musicians from local Comhaltas groups at the official opening of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford Town. I give you Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The kind of rare people giving words like 'organisation', 'bureaucracy' and 'non-profit' a good name. Comhaltas was founded in 1951 by a group of musicians, concerned Irish trad was in decline. It now has 400+ branches around the world, promoting and preserving our music, dancing and language. It runs weekly classes, periodic events and celebrations and sessions, and annual competitions. We're currently gearing up in Clare for the County Fleadh, from Sunday June 8. Do well in that and it's onto the Munsters in Cork in July, and who knows? Maybe All-Ireland glory in Wexford this August. As the song goes, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Comhaltas has branches in places you'd expect — US, UK, Australia — and some you might not: Colombia, Singapore, Patagonia, Japan. (Irish trad is massive in Japan especially, thanks mainly to Comhaltas. How's that for thinking global?) Performers from Comhaltas na Dúglaise at Cork Airport ahead of Fleadh Cheoil Chorcaí 2024. And it's fantastic in what it does, the definition of 'volunteer spirit'; it's making the world a better place, one local step at a time, without asking or needing to be paid. Though that makes it all sound so worthy and po-faced, and getting involved in Comhaltas really isn't like that at all. It's fun. It's craic. It's meeting people and doing things. It's hefting chairs around a hall for the grúpa cheoil to assemble. It's handing out wristbands for the fleadh. It's WhatsApp groups and Facebook photos and driving to rehearsals. It's toting a harp case through a crowd and hoping to Jesus nobody bangs off the instrument — these things cost a lot of money. It's reuniting lost fiddle bows with their owner and waiting nervously with other parents for competition results. It's negotiating complex timetables so you can watch your kid's u15 group and still make the finale of the senior sean nós dancing. It's realising sean nós, contrary to preconceptions, is an absolutely kick-ass style of dancing and how did this brilliant artform elude your attention until now? One remarkable feature of Comhaltas, and traditional arts in general, is how it brings genuine superstars of the genre to the grassroots level — globally renowned names and local involvement. In my own case, for example, the Kilfenora Céilí Band were formed 30 minutes from where I live. In trad terms, they're megastars: they've played abroad (including the Glastonbury festival), been on the Late Late Show several times, performed at the National Concert Hall and other prestigious venues. Mike Dunning performs with his grandson LJ Kelly from Athlone on the opening day of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Picture: Andres Poveda And I know several of them for years — just through normal life, and engagement with Comhaltas. They live locally. They teach my kids music and/or steer groups through competition. They're neighbours and friends. Our children play sport together. "One is a teacher in a nearby secondary. (Another is Sharon Shannon's brother, incidentally; he's in a neighbouring branch, and there's great friendly rivalry every summer.) Members of Newcestown Comhaltas. Picture: Brian Lougheed And it's mad, you're chatting to these people about the humdrum stuff of day-to-day and then they might say something like, 'Sorry, we have to head off, we've to be in RTÉ by seven'. I love that. It's what life should be about, really: incredibly talented artists, but also regular people who are deeply engaged on a local level. It's the kind of thing you only really get in 'roots' music. The rock equivalent would be The Edge teaching your kids guitar at the community hall, or Taylor Swift administrating a WhatsApp group called 'U12 county final 2025'. Funny, I was never a trad person growing up, and in fact still today am far more likely to listen to, or (badly) play, rock music or electronica or almost anything else, really, on CD or radio or YouTube. But there's something magical about trad music and dance, when it's live and in person; when you're involved to some degree, not just passively consuming. It's global, it's local, it's magical, it's Comhaltas. Fleadh Cheoil an Chláir takes place in Ennis this weekend. See for information
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Sligo Fleadh to welcome over 400 talented competitors for plenty of ceol agus craic
This year's Fleadh was officially launched by Junior Minister Marian Harkin at a function in the Mercy College, Sligo, on Saturday evening last. Following an opening address by the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Declan Bree, County Board Chairman, Tim Mulcahy, outlined the programme of events for the weekend which includes an opening session at the Riverside Hotel on Friday night and a full programme of competitions on Saturday and Sunday at the Mercy College, with up to 400 competitors taking part. Thanking Minister Harkin for making herself available at short notice, due to a family bereavement of Minister Dara Calleary, he went on to outline the events that Sligo County Board were promoting this year, including Ceol an Gheimhridh and the many local Comhaltas festivals throughout Sligo. Mr. Mulcahy thanked Eamon Scanlon TD, all the elected members that attended and was generous in his praise for the Local Authority and their continuous help and support it gives Comhaltas. He wished all the competitors the best of luck in their endeavours and thanked his fellow County Board officers for all their hard work in preparing for the Fleadh. He also thanked all the volunteers who had committed to help run the Fleadh over the weekend. The evening finished off with some refreshments and some great music from branch members throughout the county. The MC for the night was Bartley Gavin.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow Fleadh celebrates all the people and places that keep the music alive
Family and friends from Comhaltas branches from across Wicklow and from around the country were present to celebrate not just the music, but all the people and places that keep it alive in the community. The Fleadh followed a hugely successful series of warm-ups, which took place in libraries around Wicklow in the lead-in to the big day. The 'Road to The Fleadh Music Series', which were all free to the public, were performed by Comhaltas Bhré musicians of all ages who showcased their talents. For those who were successful on Saturday, the next big event is the Leinster Fleadh, which will take place in July. Bray Comhaltas Chairman Gabe Moynagh said the event this year was 'the largest Wicklow Fleadh to date' and remarked on the venue, in particular, which lent itself so superbly to the occasion. "The school was a great venue, it's actually a brilliant venue for it,' he said. 'And the feedback from all the parents and competitors, tutors, adjudicators was really positive, so we're obviously very grateful for them. And, I think there were a lot of kids who were there for their first time, which was really great. 'I think there was a great energy off the day, and a lot of positive advice for anyone that is going on to Leinster from the adjudicators.' The good news for the Bray Comhaltas is that both of the groups made it through to Leinster. The bad news, as Gabe added (and more so for the parents as much as the young musicians) is that 'there'll be lots more practice now to do'.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
County Sligo Fleadh to welcome over 400 talented competitors for plenty of ceol agus craic
This year's Fleadh was officially launched by Junior Minister Marian Harkin at a function in the Mercy College, Sligo, on Saturday evening last. Following an opening address by the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Declan Bree, County Board Chairman, Tim Mulcahy, outlined the programme of events for the weekend which includes an opening session at the Riverside Hotel on Friday night and a full programme of competitions on Saturday and Sunday at the Mercy College, with up to 400 competitors taking part. Thanking Minister Harkin for making herself available at short notice, due to a family bereavement of Minister Dara Calleary, he went on to outline the events that Sligo County Board were promoting this year, including Ceol an Gheimhridh and the many local Comhaltas festivals throughout Sligo. Mr. Mulcahy thanked Eamon Scanlon TD, all the elected members that attended and was generous in his praise for the Local Authority and their continuous help and support it gives Comhaltas. He wished all the competitors the best of luck in their endeavours and thanked his fellow County Board officers for all their hard work in preparing for the Fleadh. He also thanked all the volunteers who had committed to help run the Fleadh over the weekend. The evening finished off with some refreshments and some great music from branch members throughout the county. The MC for the night was Bartley Gavin.
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Kerry Fleadh Cheoil to feature new competition for people with disabilities or additional needs
This year's Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí will, for the first time ever, feature a competition for people with disabilities or additional needs. The inaugural 'Cuimsiú' (inclusion) competition will take place this Saturday, May 24, at 1pm at Causeway Secondary School, and some performances will be open to the public. The idea for Cuimsiú was first raised by Catrina Uí Ifearnáin, the runaí, or secretary, of Kerry CCÉ — Kerry County Board of Comhaltas — as a way to promote participation and enjoyment of traditional Irish music for everyone in Co Kerry. A subcommittee comprising of Ms Uí Ifearnáin, Geraldine Guilfoyle, Alannah Kissane Casey, Martina O'Neil and Gerard O'Carroll was then set up to develop the idea further, and to oversee the event itself. The organisers say the Cuimsiú, which is being supported by Down Syndrome Ireland, is "a learning opportunity for everyone". "The Cuimsiú competition is confined to the county, however, Kerry Comhaltas hope to build on its success and it is hoped this innovative idea will be taken to provincial and all-Ireland level. "A huge thanks to all Comhaltas members for supporting this initiative. Ni neart go cur le chéile," they added. Lorcan Harnett, who will play his accordion at the event. Among those taking part in the Cuimsiú are Lorcan Harnett of Glenflesk Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), who plays the button accordion. "I have been playing since I was 10 years old. The fleadh for me is about playing music and making new friends," he said. "I am very excited to play in the Kerry Fleadh because I love playing my accordion." For concertina player Fiachna Ó Brosnacháin, the fleadh is "about showing what you can do in singing and music". Fiachna, who has been playing his instrument for five years, says though he is "very nervous" to play and sing in front of people he doesn't know, he is still looking forward to the day. 20-year-old Laura Dillane, Ballydonoghue Lisselton CCÉ, says she is also looking forward to the competition. The concertina player says she is "proud to be able to partake in the Kerry Fleadh, proud of my local branch of Comhaltas which is Ballydonoghue Lisselton and proud of the Irish culture of music in Co Kerry, ceol agus craic".
