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Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Congress celebrates growth - with 415 branches in 15 countries (IrishCentral)

Mon, 13 May 2013 05:18:41 PDT

The Pearl River under-12 All-Ireland champions in Cavan in 2012DUBLIN -- I’ve only just arrived back from the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Congress held at the Monkstown Culturlann headquarters of the worldwide Irish cultural movement that has 415 branches in 15 countries in time to write this column CCE was founded in 1951 in Mullingar, Co Westmeath to halt a serious decline in preservation of the traditional arts of music, song, dance and the Irish language for myriad reasons in Ireland at that historical timeframe READ MORE

Happy Birthday to Bill McEvoy - the founding father of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North America (IrishCentral)

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:31:33 PST

Happy Birthday, Bill McEvoy!I want to wish a very happy 90th birthday to Bill McEvoy from Co Laois who reached that milestone on January 19 this year McEvoy is known as the founding father of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North America because of his efforts since 1972 to foster and grow the cultural movement in both the US READ MORE

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann keeps the tradition of Irish music alive (IrishCentral)

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:45:54 PDT

Since its inception in 1951 in Ireland, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann has been on a mission to preserve and promote traditional Irish music as a valuable aspect of our Irish heritageTwo of the major tenets of the cultural movement have been to venerate those older musicians who carried the love of the music in their hearts and generously shared it and kept it alive and then passed it onto the younger generation who accepted it willingly through music classes and Fleadh competitions Those dual objectives were very important back in the 1950s when a relatively new Irish republic sought its place in the post-World War II modernity march when music associated with rural society in Ireland was denigrated and in danger of dying out Thankfully the movement took hold, stopping the slide and making CCE into one of the essential building blocks for seeing trad music advance over the next six decades to a world prominence READ MORE

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann host New Jersey music festival (IrishCentral)

Sat, 12 May 2012 06:15:32 PDT

It is coming around to fleadh time in the greater New York metropolitan area when the Mid-Atlantic Regional Board of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann hosts one of the qualifying fleadhanna in North America to winnow down competitors for Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann (wwwfleadhcheoilie) being held once again in Cavan Town Hundreds of competitors will make their way to the Parsippany Hilton in New Jersey over the weekend of May 18-20 to try and get one of those first or second slots that will allow them to challenge the best in Ireland and maybe win All-Ireland bragging rights and fame READ MORE

Passing the baton at Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Convention (IrishCentral)

Sat, 05 May 2012 07:00:40 PDT

Seamus McCormack, Senator Labhras O'Murchu, Tomas Maoldomnaigh, Helen Gannon and Tom Vesey (Photo by Peter Maher/ Irish Focus)When you are 40 years a growing out in the Midwest like the St Louis Irish Arts branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and CCE North America, there are bound to be tempests along the way for the international cultural movement dedicated to the preservation of Irish traditional music and dance So when they were hosting the annual North American convention of CCE there in the Gateway City last weekend they managed to overcome the two severe storm systems on Saturday that wreaked some havoc through the region, and even caused a fatality at the nearby Busch Stadium just a few blocks away when a collapsed tent for a post-game reception caused many injuries READ MORE

Queens Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann honor Jack Whelan (IrishCentral)

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:15:23 PST

It is a fairly standard practice of affixing the name of a special contributor to a building or an institution who has bestowed significant gifts that enhance the mission of the recipient Usually we are talking about sizable financial capital, but sometimes human capital is worth more than its weight in gold When you are dealing with an Irish cultural movement like Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann where volunteerism is one of its greatest assets, the attachment of a name belonging to a committed individual who exemplifies what the most important unit in the organization, the local branch, is all about is very significantFor it serves as both recognition of the valuable service rendered and also an inspiration to present and future officers and members of the branch and the wider community READ MORE

Cavan town sets a record - set to host Fleadh Cheoil for the third year (IrishCentral)

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:13:23 PDT

A father and son watch a busker on Main Street in Cavan while attending the Fleadh Cheoil last monthDublin – On a sunlit Saturday afternoon three counties would meet at 32 Belgrave Square in Dublin inside and outside the CCE Monkstown Culturlann to await a tense decision about where Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2012 was to land while a secret ballot took place in an upstairs conference room among Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann’s Ardchomhairle or Executive CouncilWhen all the votes were counted, Cavan Town bettered Ennis in Clare by a single vote and sent the next fleadh back for a three-peat to the Cavan host which had set records the past two years in their stewardship of the second largest festival held in Ireland after the Dublin St Patrick’s Day Festival READ MORE

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann celebrates 40 great years (IrishCentral)

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:13:20 PDT

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann danceFor the Laoisman developing the concept of a North American tour of Irish traditional musicians and dancers 40 years ago, there was simply a pride and commitment to do what he could to promote the music and culture of his native Ireland Stitching together a network of cities that would host a series of shows for Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in the United States and Canada proved to be a visionary accomplishment for the now 87-years young Bill McEvoy back then as CCE sought to extend its cultural movement to North America Getting a head start on many of the “professional” touring groups that came along decades later, the CCE tours exposed top-notch talent on an annual basis overseas that helped springboard a North American wing that will celebrate 40 years in 2012 So a proud tradition continues when the CCE 60th anniversary concert tour of North America entitled “Echoes of Erin” takes place from October 9-22 through the Northeast and the Midwest this year READ MORE

The Festival inside the Cavan Fleadh Cheol - VIDEOS (IrishCentral)

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:30:44 PDT

Sharon Shannon and Martin Donohoe When an organization like Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann marks an important anniversary like the 60th year in existence, you would expect an extra aura of celebration and significance all year longOne of the more important vehicles for the preservation and promotion of traditional music, which was at very low ebb when Comhaltas or CCE as it is commonly known got its start in Mullingar in 1951, was an annual music competition to encourage learning and standards that could ensure a future for the musicThis event would bring people from all over Ireland to a central place to share and celebrate the rich legacy of traditional Irish music before it disappeared due to general disinterest in the land and the loss of many of its most ardent fans through emigrationAnd so Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann was born, and it spawned legendary fleadhs (or music festivals) throughout Ireland READ MORE

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Celebrates 60 Years (IrishCentral)

Wed, 11 May 2011 03:02:07 PDT

By: PATRICIA HARTY

Hundreds of devoted Irish music and dance fans descended upon San Antonio for the annual Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North American Convention on the weekend of March 25th. The annual event, held in different cities around the U.S., was extra special this year, as it was also a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the organization’s founding in Ireland in 1951. Today, there are over 600 CCE branches around the world – 44 in North America and Canada – all of them committed to the practice and preservation of Irish traditional music, dance and language.

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann marks 60 years in Tullamore (IrishCentral)

Fri, 06 May 2011 07:00:26 PDT

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the North American province of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann should be very encouraged by the 60th anniversary celebration of the CCE Congress celebrated last weekend at the Tullamore Court HotelTaking a page out of the convening of organizational delegates in the US and Canada in a suitable hotel since the mid-1980s that allowed a valuable social and cultural component to the yearly annual business meetings, so too did the annual Congress of CCE representing 415 branches in 15 countries READ MORE

Texans host Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North American Convention with aplomb (IrishCentral)

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:15:19 PDT

The lobby of the San Antonio Airport Hilton was comfortably filled with around 50 guests who were extending their stay on Sunday night after the just completed 60th anniversary Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North American ConventionThey were enjoying one more night of Irish music from a random group of about 10 musicians and singers from as far west as California and east in counties Clare and Westmeath who gathered around in horseshoe arrangement This never say die contingent were emblematic of the spirit that infused the hotel since last Thursday night, filling it with spontaneity and bonhomie that marked a great gathering of Gaels at a Comhaltas weekendWith its fabulous River Walk attraction and the historic Alamo, San Antonio is a popular tourist destination year round, and the warm weather a special treat for those up north who experienced a longer winter than anyone cared for READ MORE

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann celebrates 60 great years (IrishCentral)

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:45:21 PDT

There is still plenty of action to be had after St Patrick’s Day in the world of traditional Irish music and dance With the big holiday out of the way, moving to center stage is the cultural movement known as Comhaltas, dedicated to preserving tradition music, dance and the Irish languageComhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (pronounced ceoltas kiltory erin) is now in its 60th year, and that occasion will be marked on several fronts over the next three weekends around the U READ MORE

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann gathering a huge success (IrishCentral)

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:45:35 PDT

It is one of those amazing aspects of organizational life in that an event that can be a year in the planning and organizing can rapidly unfurl in a fast and furious four days and be well behind you before you have a chance to dwell on itSuch an experience is the annual North American convention of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann which I and my many colleagues in the New York and New Jersey branches of the movement were deeply involved in over a long weekend from April 8-11Granted it was familiar environs in the Parsippany Hilton Hotel in New Jersey for this indoor fleadh, hosting it for the fourth time, but it had its own character this time that separated it from the othersRegular readers of this column will know that I am usually singing the praises of the many wonderful teachers, volunteers and music students to be found in the greater New York area READ MORE