Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIRComhairle Chontae na h-IarmhiAddress of Recognition accorded by the Chairman and Members of Westmeath County Council to ComhaltasCeoltairf Eireann, to mark the 50 th Anniversary of its foundation, on Saturday, 24 th February, 200 I.Is mar an chuis onair I don Chathaoirleach agus Baill Chomhairle Chondae na hlarmhl failte cathartha a chur gofoirmiuil roimh Comhaltas Ceoltairf Eireann ar an acaid seo, agus iad ag ceiliuradh an caoga bliain a bunaiodh aneagras. Is mian linn a aithint an pairt mar a ghlac an eagras i bhforbairt soisialta, culturtha agus oideachasuil nahEireann thar an caoga bliain sin.Fifty years ago in the Midland Hotel, Mullingar, representatives of the Uileann Pipers Club of Thomas Street, Dublinmet with members of the local committee of the GAA, Conradh na Gaeilge and Feis Lar na hEireann.Amongstthose visionary people were Kathleen and Eamonn Moynihan, Philip Mullally, Mlcheal MacCarthaidh, Rev.josephDermody, Brother Redmond, Garda Superintendent Phil Sullivan, Tom and Leo Rowsome, jim Seery, PaddyMcElvaney, P.j. Maunsell and Willie Reynolds (of the Walderstown Pipers' Club). At that meeting, a decision wastaken to form a broad based organisation to promote all traditional music and musicians. This decision led to theformal establishment of Comhaltas Ceoltoirf Eireann and the aims and objectives of the organisation were topromote Irish traditional music in all its forms, to promote Irish traditional dancing, to foster and promote theIrish language, to cooperate with all bodies working for the restoration of Irish culture and to create a closer bondamong all lovers of Irish traditional music.From that first meeting, agreement was reached to run what can be regarded as the first National Fleadh Ceoilwhich was held in St. Mary's Hall, Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar during Whit Weekend in 1951. This was amomentous and ground breaking event which has subsequently led to the great Fleadhanna of today at county,provincial and All Ireland level. Others who attended one or more of the Organising Meetings include Rev. BrotherDunne,j. Gilroy, Ned Gorman (piper), j. Fagan (County Councillor), L. Boyhan (Dublin),vv. Mea and c.j. Harwood.When this great cultural movement was founded, the mission was to pass on to future generations our culturaltraditions and to ensure their survival and enhancement. The popularity of Ireland's cultural traditions today is atribute to those ambitious and committed people fifty years ago and to the many other dedicated people whohave helped to propagate and invigorate these traditions in the intervening years.The 400 branches of Comhaltas worldwide are the hallmark of the great success of the movement. These brancheshave been formed and cultivated by selfless service on the part of many and their achievements at local andinternational level are a Significant contribution to the cultural life of Ireland today and to the promotion of ourculture abroad.We, the Members of Westmeath County Council, on behalf of the people of Westmeath, wish to thank ComhaltasCeoltoirf Eireann for returning to Mullingar to celebrate and mark the foundation of the organisation fifty yearsago.Ag bronnadh an Oraid Aitheantais seo, is mian linn ar mbulochas, agus buiochas mhuintir na hEireann, a chlaru gofoirmiuil don pairt a ghlac Comhaltas Ceoltairf Eireann i bhforbairt saisialta agus culturtha na tire seo sna caogabliain ati thart agus gUlmid rath ar an eagras don chead caoga bliain eile.Given under the Seal of Westmeath County Council.Signed:Signed:P. j. O'Shaughnessy,ChairmanGeorge LambdenCounty SecretaryDated this 24 th day of February, 200 I48