Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIRRecalling old times, the two surVlvmgfounders of Comhaltas, Paddy McElvaney(Monaghan) and Willie Reynolds (Westmeath),pictured in Mullingar, 200 I.Muimhneachain unveiling the plaque,uil/eann piper POdraig Donlon provided the musicThe Comhaltas delegation from Britainwho attended the Mullingar event:POdraig MacSuibhne, Uachtaran,Jim Teevan,JoanBurke,joe and Deirdre Sheeran.Aint6in MacGabhann agus Bobby Gardinerag seinm ag an ocaid chuimhneachainar an Muileann gCearr.By the middle of the last century,it became apparent to many in traditionalmusic circles that our uniqueIrish cultural heritage had reached aparticularly low ebb and that its veryexistence was in jeopardy. In order tocombat this serious threat, the needfor urgent action to redress the situationwas agreed. In 1951 , representativesof the Pipers' Club, along withother traditional music enthusiastsfrom the Midlands convened a meetingin Mullingar at which they decidedto set up an organisation to promoteIrish traditional music and also organ­Ise· a great annual festival · of traditionalmusic, song and dance. The organ i-Buiochas ... Senator Labhras Murchu,Ardstiurth6ir an Chomhaltais, thanking SenatorComil/us Glynn and Senator Donie Cassidy (Leader of Seanad Breann) for their assi~tance and attendance. Seamus De Brun, Trustee, is a former Senator.sation became known as ComhaltasCeolt6iri Eireann while the festivalwas the fore-runner of Fleadh Cheoilna hE:ireann, now the premier eventon Ireland's traditional music calendar.Branches of Comhaltas sprung up allover Ireland, organising classes, concertsand sessions at local level.Comhaltas now has more than 400branches, established in every IrishCounty, in Britain, the US, Canada, andworldwide in places such as Japan,Pddroig Mac Subhne, Uachtaran anChomhaltiJis, with Colman 0 MuimhneachOin.making a presentation toCamhaltas founder Willie Reynolds.Hungary. Sardinia, and Australia.The Mullingar weekend' was thesecond in the series of special eventsplanned for year 2001 (the first wasthe unveiling of a commemorativeplaque on 26 January at 14 ThomasStreet, Dublin, site of the formerPipers' Club - the body that spearheadedthe founding of the Comhaltasmovement) to 'mark the 50th anniversaryof the birth of Comhaltas.Bbhlin Og O'Brien-Minogue, granddaughterofComhaltas Stalwart, the lateJim SeefY., pictured in Mullingar.47