Latest news with #ComhaltasCeoltóiríÉireann
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Bloomsday in an English graveyard
KINGSTHORPE Cemetery in Northampton on June 16 will be the venue for a celebration by the Triskellion Theatre Company of Bloomsday, the day that James Joyce set his novel Ulysses. June 16, 1904 was the day that Leopold Bloom, a Jewish salesman wanders round Dublin capturing a day in the life of Dublin's more marginalised citizens. Joyce's recounting of that fictional dander is generally regarded as one of the foremost literary works in the English language. Kingsthorpe Cemetery may seem at first to be an odd choice, but this is the last resting place of Lucia Anna Joyce, the only daughter of James Joyce and Nora Barnacle. Lucia, at one time a talented professional dancer, was born in Trieste where the Joyces lived for some 11 years, and where part of Ulysses was completed. In the 1920s she had a short relationship with the young Samuel Beckett. Sadly, Anna's mental health deteriorated over the years — at one time she was treated by Carl Jung in Zurich. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and ultimately remained a patient at St. Andrew's Psychiatric Hospital in Northampton until her death in 1982. In tribute to Lucia Joyce, two local writers in Northampton have written a play called Letters to Lucia. This will be performed this year at Lucia's graveside by the Triskellion Theatre Company, founded by Gerry Molumby from Thurles in Tipperary. There will be readings from Ulysses, the folk band the Tim Finnegans will be appearing, along with guest speakers who'll outline the Joycean connection with Northampton. Richard Rose will outline Lucia Joyce's place in Northampton. Triskellion has been presenting recitals and musical interludes from Ulysses in the cemetery, dressed of course in suitable turn of the century Dublin garb since 2005 Other performers at the Northampton regularly include the local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and Sean Cannon of the Dubliners. See More: Bloomsday, James Joyce, Trisxkellion Theatre
Irish Examiner
3 days 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
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Meath gears up for Fleadh na Mí opening this weekend
Hosted by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the festival celebrates Irish music and culture through offering a diverse range of events for all locals and visitors to enjoy. The Fleadh will commence this Friday, May, 9 at 7pm with the official opening ceremony featuring music, song, and dance. To kick off the main weekend of event, on Friday, May, 16, there will be a traditional singing concert with special guests at the Darnley Lodge Hotel. Saturday will see a street session led by well-known fiddle player Anóin Mac Gabhain, with Fleadh Aifreann/Mass to follow in Saint James' Church. An official opening ceremony with special guests Caitlín and Bernadette Nic Gabhainn will take place in the evening followed by a music session an refreshments. Competitions will run on Sunday morning to conclude the event led by O'Growney National School. Competitors including musicians, singers, and dancers from Comhaltas branches across Meath will take part. Anna Nic Giolla Séanáin and Cathal Mac Potair won a competition held by Comhaltas na Mí to feature their artwork in this year's Fleadh na Mí 2025 programme cover. Organisers have worked closely with local businesses and volunteers to ensure an environment for the seasoned trad players or fans of Irish culture. With the weather forecast to be favourable so far this weekend, a large crowd may be expected for the opening ceremony.
Irish Post
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Midlands Comhaltas competitors battle for All Britain fleadh berths
THE Birmingham Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann recently welcomed competitors back to Birmingham for the Midlands Regional Fleadh. With participants coming from Cambridge, Nottingham, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Leamington Spa and Newport in Wales, the event attracted over 100 musicians of all ages competing for a coveted spot at the All Britain Fleadh to be held in Coventry June 27-29. Eddie O'Donnell secures first place for Newly Composed Tunes (Pics: Chris Egan) In addition to the music, Marian Dwyer, Chair for the Midlands Regional Fleadh led an Irish language class with a difference, teaching the audience the participation dance, the Hokey Cokey or in Irish An Hócai Cócai. Scroll down for more images from the event... A relaxed Sinead Turner following her Button Accoridan Competion entry (Pics: Chris Egan) Hugo Rattigan plays the Rattlin' Bog on whistle (Pics: Chris Egan) David Simpson in the Senior Harp Competition (Pics: Chris Egan) A trio of medals for Marianne McAleer who secured first in lilting, Irish and English singing (Pics: Chris Egan) Under-12s Maya Ramsorrun, Aim Troalen-and Freya Weed secure-first place in the Trios Under-12s (Pics: Chris Egan) Aidan Winhall secures first place in the 15-18 category of bodhrán (Pics: Chris Egan) Amairgin The Gael win the Grúpai Ceoil Senior Competition Marian Dwyer Chair, Midland Regional Fleadh leads Fleadh audiance in a redition od the Hokey Cokey in the Irish Language, An Hócai Cócai Members of the CCÉ Rathmore in the Grúpai Ceoil, the group secured first place in the Under 12 category
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Belfast to host All-Ireland music festival in 2026
The world's largest festival of Irish music and dance is to take place in Belfast in 2026. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the All-Ireland Fleadh - is held for a week during August and, in the past, has welcomed up to 600,000 visitors to the host town or city. Organisers Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Belfast City Council officially made the announcement at an event in City Hall on Saturday. It will be the second time the event will be held in Northern Ireland. In 2013 Londonderry hosted the event, attracting an estimated 400,000 people and 20,000 performers. At the 2024 All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford, more than 500,000 people visited and more than 1,500 people took part. The 2025 event is scheduled to take place between 3 -10 August in Wexford. Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú, the director general of Comhaltas, told BBC News NI he has "been looking forward to this for many years". "It is the Olympics of culture and friendship, and with Comhaltas organised across 22 countries worldwide, I believe this will be one of the greatest gatherings of all time. "The fleadh belongs to everyone and everybody will put their own mark on it." The chairperson of Ards Comhaltas has described the announcement as a "historic day for Belfast" and a "historic day for the north". Niall McClean said Belfast is the ideal city to host "For the event, this city has got everything; the venues are incredible, and the streets will be buzzing with music." Fleadh Cheoil is an annual Irish arts festival and competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - the society of the musicians of Ireland. The organisation was founded in 1951 by traditional musicians and Gaelic culture advocates from across Ireland. They sought to enhance traditional Irish music, dance and language in Ireland. Each year Comhaltas hosts numerous fleadhanna (festivals) across the island at county and provincial level. In oversea regions where fleadhanna are also held they are sometimes known as "Féilte". The best-known of these festivals is Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, often simply known as the Fleadh. Festival 'could bring Irish music to chip shops' Fleadh showcase for Irish culture in Derry New generation inspired to take up traditional music
