Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIRCLONMEL HITTHE HIGH NOTEAodhan 6 Faolain, The NationalistComhaltas Ceolt6irf Eireann's fiftyyears of dedication to the promotionof Irish traditional music and culturehas been honoured in the form of acivic reception by ClonmelCorporation.The group was honoured by themembers of the local authority at theTown Hall last week, to mark boththeir 50 th anniversary and thetremendous work that organisationhas done in Clonmel and further afield.The Mayor of Clonmel Cllr BrianO 'Oonnell said that the Corporationwas honoured to give this group,which had done so much to promoteIrishness the world over, a fo rmalreception.At a local level both the Clonmel andPowerstown/Lisronagh branches haddone a lot of good work over theyears. He praised the efforts of OesOelahunty and Tommy Barrett fortheir involvement in the localbranches of Comhaltas Ceolt6iri.He referred to the organisation'shumble beginnings at a meeting inMullingar in 1951 . He also spoke athow the organisation had expandedand thrived, not just in Ireland, but allover the world in the interveningyears.The group was set up to promoteIrish music, song and dance at a timewhen those in sophisticated andintellectual circles tended to scoff atthose traditions.The group had been highly successful.Following on from the successes ofearly Fleadhs, branches of ComhaltasCeolt6iri sprangup all over theworld.Theinfluence it hadon Irish exileswas also a greatachievement.In recent t imesthe three f1eadhcheoils that tookPictured at a MayoralReception fro cct in theTown Hall, Clonmel, BrianO'Oonnell, Mayor: SenatorLabhras 6 Murchu, OirectorGeneral cc£, RoryCunningham, ChairmanClonmel Branch, PatLoughman, Chairman countyBoard, Bridie O'Oonnell, ChrisSheehan, ChairmanPowerstownlUsronaghComhaltas. place in Clonmel were tremendousfor the town. Hopefully it would notbe too long before the Fleadh Cheoilwould be back in Clonmel.Alderman Seamus Healy said thatthanks to Comhaltas Ceolt6iriEireann Irish traditional music, songand dance is seen as something good.They had done great work inClonmel and all over Ireland.''This is an historic occasion.Everyone knows about the Comhaltascommitment to things that are Irish.The group's influence all over theworld is huge," said Alderman TomAmbrose.Cllr Tommy Norris said thatComhaltas Ceolt6iri could also standfor craic, continuity andentertainment. They have done somuch good work locally andnationally in the last 50 years and theCouncillor wished them furthersuccess in the future."You have been great ambassadors forIreland," said Cllr Ted Boyle whoadded that many people have comeback to the town over the years as aresult of the three f1eadhs that tookplace in Clonmel,37Cllr Vera Hewitt said that ComhaltasCeolt6iri deserved great credit dueto their efforts to foster an interestin music in young people.Cllr Billy Shoer added that theirinfluence had attracted many touriststo come out and seek the realIreland. They had done as much forthe country economically as a multinational.In response Comhaltas Ceolt6iriEireann General Secretary andSenator Labhras 6 Murchu said thatit was wonderful being honoured andrecognised by your own.He had many fond memories of thetown from the days that he workedwith South Tipperary Co. Council andorganised ceili dances, including onein the town's Courthouse."It is important that people are notashamed of their Irishness," said theSenator who added that it issomething that has been one of thegroup's core principles.The organisation had attractedmembership from many hundredsof non-Irish in places as diverse asMoscow, Tokyo and Budapest, citiesnot noted fo r having strong linkswith Ireland.He also referred to the fact thatthere are 50 branches in NorthAmerica. Their members are a mixof Irish and non-Irish and are drawnfrom places such as Seattle andNashville.Music and culture are very powerfuland have helped bring peopletogether both in Ireland and abroad.On one occasion, through ComhaltasCeolt6irf, a group of North and SouthKoreans met in the same room wellbefore the two nations were talkingto each other.He also hit out at those who claimtraditional Irish culture is isolationistor bigoted. Bands from the Orangetradition in the North haveparticipated in events involvingComhaltas Ceolt6iri.Comhaltas Ceolt6irf's CountyTipperary Chairman, Mr PatLoughman, thanked the Corporationfor honouring the organisation.