CCE Tour Gears Up

Larger Text

Print

E-mail

Make a comment

Tweet

FOR 36 years (save for 2001), Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann has sent a performing troupe gathered from all over Ireland and Britain to the American missions where the seeds were planted for many a North American branch of the traditional music organization founded back in 1951 when things were at a low ebb for its native music and dance.

In recent years the production has been called "Echoes of Erin," and it features some of the finest of the young musicians who have risen through the ranks of the Fleadhanna (music competitions) propagated by CCE.

As in 2007, the tour group is led by the legendary Cork singer and Fear A Ti (emcee), Sean O'Se, who can be counted on to perform some of his well-known songs from the days of his work with Sean O'Riada.

Joining him on the 2008 edition are 16 other traditional musicians, singers and dancers - singers Bruce Scott (Liverpool), Joe and Eimear Arkins (Clare); dancers Teresa Donohoe (Westmeath), Aidan McLoughlin (Leitrim) and James Mounsey (Tipperary); accordionists Peter Staunton (Dublin) and Mary O'Reilly (Laois); fiddlers Eibhlin Healy (Limerick) and Niamh Varian Barry (Cork); flute player Ryan Murphy (Cork); Harpist Cathy Potter (Antrim); uilleann piper James Mahon (Dublin) and concertina player Kylie Moynagh (Dublin).

The two week tour plays nine venues in the Northeast and Midwest this year, sporting around the country in a coach colorfully wrapped by Tourism Ireland, a sponsor along with Culture Ireland and Waterford Crystal.

Print

E-mail

Tweet