2017 Canadian East Region Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Music Hall of Fame

Robert (Bob) Francis MacDiarmid 

(Harp of Tara Branch, Kingston)

Last October  14, 2017 in Ottawa was the Canadian East Region AGM. Many members of the CCE branches across the East Region of Canada came to Ottawa for the meeting. As is usual, at the AGM, a person is introduced to the region's Music Hall of Fame. This year the honour was bestowed on Bob MacDiarmid.  The actual text of his induction to the Hall follows.

It is with great pleasure that the region is inducting Robert (Bob) Francis MacDiarmid into our Music Hall of Fame.

Bob was born in Ottawa in 1953. His father was of Irish heritage. Bob left home at an early age to seek his fortune in the world. He worked at various jobs across Canada as a longshoreman, construction worker and IT specialist.

In Edmonton he met Angeles (Angela) Garcia, a medical resident. They would marry and begin their lives together, living in Edmonton and Spain before settling in Toronto and beginning a family, raising two sons, Allan and Victor.

It was in Toronto where Bob's interest in all things Irish took hold. He began attending sessions, learning to play the fiddle and attending set dancing classes with Maureen Mulvey-O'Leary.

In 1995 Bob and Angela moved to Kingston where Angela set up a medical practice and began teaching medicine at Queen's University.

Bob became a stay home dad looking after their large home and grounds and carrying out a lot of renovations to it.

https://www.harpoftara.com

In Kingston Bob became active in the Comhaltas Branch serving as chair at one time and the PRO where he still serves the branch.

Bob Initiated the slow session in Kingston 20 years ago and still runs a very active weekly slow session. Having been hooked on set dancing in Toronto, Bob and Angela also started set dancing in the back porch of their home, were we still dance from fall till summer.

In 2004 Bob hosted our first house concert in their living room with Maeve Donnelly performing to a group of about 50 people.

Since then there have been over 50 house concerts in Kingston, all but one in Bob and Angela's house. He organizes the concerts, usually with workshops, and most times billets the performers, all with no charge.  Kingston has seen the likes of Blackie O'Connell, Draoícht, Diorama, Paddy Keenan, Patrick Ourceau, Jackie Daly, Gerry O'Connor, and many others play in a small intimate venue and it would not have happened without Bob and Angela. Bob has also hosted an annual weekend workshop with Patrick Ourceau and Ivan Gough.

Perhaps his biggest undertaking has been the production of the Kingston Irish Slow Session Tune Book. This is a very carefully researched and well-presented two volume set of tune books including historical notes, background material and the tunes themselves. It is a world class project and Bob completed virtually everything himself and has made it available for download at no cost.

Bob has been instrumental in keeping the Irish Music scene alive in Kingston for over 20 years with the slow sessions, house concerts and the tune books. He is an active and key member of the Harp of Tara branch despite that his wife Angela is  now suffering from a severe, debilitating, incurable illness.

No one is more deserving of induction into the Music Hall of Fame than Bob and it will be nice for Angela to see this take place.

Congratulations Bob on an honour well deserved and welcome to the Music Hall of Fame.

https://goo.gl/images/JgLfKH

Chair's Report - Annual General Meeting 5 Oct 2017

Chair’s Report on Branch Activities for the period

Sept 2016 – Sept 2017

Administrative Summary

1. The Branch-year for activities commenced in September 2016. 
2. The Branch AGM was held 6 October 2016. C. Hamm was elected to Chair, changing from Acting Chair. All previous members of the executive were returned with the addition of Danny Doyle (Irish officer) and Beckie Ewald (Youth officer). 
3. Carol Ann Bowers and Oscar Mou attended the Eastern Canada CCE Regional AGM in Sudbury in October. We agreed to host the 2017 Regional AGM in Ottawa. 
4. The Executive met every month, save for Dec, June, July and August. 
5. On March 29 the branch changed its public-facing name to Ottawa Irish Arts. This was done to improve outreach to non-Irish in the community. The branch’s legal name did not change. All feedback has been very positive. 
6. A member survey was undertaken, asking members to indicate their opinion as to whether the Ottawa Branch should remain in CCE. The response rate was about 50%, and the poll was split about 50/50, and the matter was dropped. 
7. Oscar Mou (Public Relations officer) published a monthly newsletter each month, including summer months. Dedication and diligence! 
8. Patricia continues to maintain our large website which requires frequent updating throughout the year, and continues to provide content to the Branch blog, and manage the Twitter account (@ottawacce) which is growing in followers. Our thanks to G. McFee who continues to donate funds, covering the cost of the domain hosting.

Summary of Branch Events

1. Monthly ceilis (Except December and May). The January to March ceilis were enthusiastically attended by many young people, making up for a slow autumn ceili season. We are indebted to the band (lead by Elizabeth Scarlett) and all callers (Carol Ann Bowers, Caitlin Crockard, Danny Doyle, in no particular order). Lisa Wright, and Oscar Mou, often work the bar and Oscar typically does the 50/50 draw. Carol Ann Bowers also arranged entertainment portions of the ceilis on several occasions. The table arrangement was altered to a U-shape, opening up the dance floor along the hall’s length, dispensing with the two-section model. 
2. Monday night instruction in language (4 levels) and dance (set and step) were reasonably well attended. We are very appreciative of our teachers for sharing their time, skills, and for their dedication. 
3. The March dinner-dance (12 March) was enthusiastically attended by 130 paid entrants, which we believe is a record over the past 3 or 4 years. We are indebted to long time, dedicated, member, Toni Forsythe who arranges for the main dish to be prepared. The Ambassador’s wife and children attended the ceili and had a grand time. (While the Ambassador was invited in December, it is understood his calendar is fully booked in March with state duties.) 
4. Patricia attended, for the Branch, the Rose of Tralee Selection the day after the ceili. There was no Ottawa Rose this year.
5. On March 14, master fiddler Matt Cranitch and legendary accordion player Jackie Daly wowed the audience at a Branch sponsored concert (Culture Ireland sponsor travel and accommodations). 
6. As is the custom members of the Branch executive attended the Irish Ambassador's St Patrick’s Day reception, held at the official residence. It was the inaugural occasion for the new ambassador, His Excellency Jim Kelly. 
7. In late March, PA and CH attended the entire Irish Film Festival Ottawa, and co-sponsored, with the Irish Society, and Caint as Comhrá  a film in the Irish language (DANCE EMERGENCY/Damhsa na hEigeandala, Dir. Deirdre Mulrooney). 
8. Oscar Mou organized two Irish Trivia nights, held at Paddy Bolands Pub, and also produced a Branch wall calendar, sold at minimal profit, as an outreach mechanism. A limited supply of 50 were made and sold out quickly. No small amount of effort by Oscar to pull all this off. 
9. Over the summer we were slightly more busy than usual. On June 16 (Bloomsday), myself, P.Avendano, Danny Doyle, Oscar Mou, and guests Mary Muckle (harp), Pat Marshall (harp), Tim Robinson (pipes) spent the day (and lead up days, preparing) at the Ottawa Irish Arts booth at the "Ireland Welcomes the World" day at the Landsdowne park Horticulture building. The estimate was about 4000-5000 people came through over about 12 hours. It was clearly the best public outreach the Irish community has had in many years, that was not St. Patrick’s. 
10. On August 2nd there was a spectacular concert at St Brigid’s Centre, Kildare Room, with Pierre Schryer, Dermot Byrne, and Adom Dobres. Special guests included several locals and the Schryer brothers. It was billed as a joint Old Sod and Comhaltas effort, and we got recognition for that (I helped arrangements with St. Brigid’s Centre for the hall, Patricia staffed the cd sales, which were vigorous). 
11. Patricia and C.Hamm attended the exhibit opening, in the Byward market hosted by the NCC and the Irish embassy, "The Irish Diaspora in Canada: A History." We met the incoming 2nd Secretary at this event, Laura Finlay. 
12. Patricia and C.Hamm attended the Welcome Reception at the ambassador’s Residence for the 2017 Eastern Regional GAA Championship participants. We met the incoming ICUF Scholar, Sheila Concannon (we had said farewell to the previous scholar Kate Jordan earlier in the summer at a reception held by Margaret Moriarty). 

Instruments

Most of CCE Ottawa's instruments continue to be used by members, and the branch over the past year acquired new members interested in learning these instruments. The harps are the most popular, but there is always somebody interested in the uilleann pipes, they are usually on loan. It is worth noting that from past loans, one student has purchased their own uilleann pipes, and one has purchased their own harp for continued study.

While we are due some criticism for lack of a Branch session, it has been difficult to find a leader, and let it not be said that we are not contributing to the furtherance of Irish traditional music through our activities, as highlighted herein.


Votes of Sympathy

Branch member, Laurie Kelly, wife of Pat Kelly, died suddenly while visiting Ireland with Pat on Aug 30. Patricia and I attended the funeral reception, and left a card on behalf of the branch.

Carol Ann Bowers, on the death of her father. 

Bridget Guglich for the death of her husband.

Respectfully submitted,

C. Hamm

Chairperson || Cathaoirleach

Comhaltas 2015 Canada East Region AGM

2015 Comhaltas Canada East Region AGM

On Saturday 7 November 2015, the Harp of Tara CCE Kingston Branch, very graciously hosted the 2015 Regional AGM. There were several workshops on Saturday morning and a meet and greet event on Friday night.

Outgoing Regional Executive: Pat, Anne, Genevieve and Phyllis

The branches present at the meeting were Kingston, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, and Sudbury; Montreal and Saint John sent their regrets. Ottawa was represented by our Chair S. Scott, Vice-chair C. Hamm, M. Maher, B. Guglich, P. Cassidy, T. Forsythe, P. Avendano.

Some of the topics discussed were the branches proyected planning to celebrate Ireland's 1916 events (Easter Rising). This include presentations about the importance of the Irish language in the 1916 uprising via a collaboration between the University of Ottawa and the Irish Embassy.

There was the election of the new Regional Executive, where three long-serving officers were stepping down: Anne McConnell-Strong (President), Phyllis Gorman (Treasurer), and Patrick McGuire (Secretary). B. Guglich was asked to perform the duties of the Election's officer.

CCE Ottawa Branch's Bridget was the Elections Officer

Pat received tokens of appreciation from all Eastern Branches

Phyllis received tokens of appreciation from all Eastern Branches

Pat, Anne and Phyllis, the retiring members of the executive

The new officers are:

Ena O'Brien (TO) - Chairperson || Cathaoirleach
Maureen Mulvey O'Leary (TO) - Vice-Chairperson || Leascathaoirleach
Crystal McCollom (SB) - Secretary || Rúnaí
Sara Van Hamme (HA) - Treasurer || Cisteoir
Ann Gorman-McKinney (HA) - Public Relations Officer || Oifigeach Caidrimh Phoiblí
Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh (OT)- Irish Officer || Treoraí na Gaeilge
Genevieve Robinson (TO) - Youth Officer || Oifigeach na nÓg
Bridgit Ripley (SB) - Auditor || Reachtaire
Craig Hamm (OT) - Auditor || Reachtaire
Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh (OT) - Delegate to Province || Ionadaí
Steafan Hannigan (KG) - Delegate to Province || Ionadaí

Outgoing members and the 2015 Executive: Pat, Ena, Anne, Genevieve, Phyllis, Sarah

Pat Cassidy

Our own esteemed former Ottawa Branch Membership Officer (Pat Cassidy) was asked to take the role of Regional Membership Officer (Oifigeach Ballraíocht), a role that before was under the duties of the Regional Treasurer, since the incoming Treasurer is not familiar with the complex calculation of membership dues. Pat graciously accepted.

Toni and Maureen

Also the East Regions nominations for the Provincial Council members were selected. The Provincial Council members will be elected at the CCE Provincial Convention in St. Louis (Missouri) between 31 March to 6 April 2016.

A motion was passed (prior to the AGM) to request to CCE Ireland to change the dates for the 2016 Echoes of Erin tour to Canada can be moved, due to the problem of scheduling concert venues (and audiences) during the Canadian Thanskgiving, as it has been experienced in the past years. We are waiting for a response from Dublin.

There were services awards given to long-term members: Jack Hickman and Elmer Strong.

Jack Hickman

Elmer Strong

The next tentative date for the Regional AGM is for 22 October 2016 in Sudbury.

Friday 24 October Pre-CCÉ Canada East Regional AGM gathering/ session

Regional AGM - Friday Night at Celtic Cross Pub gathering / session

Where: Celtic Cross Pub (upstairs room), 343 Somerset Street West Ottawa, ON K2P 0J8 

When: Friday 24 October, 5:30PM. 

For all the CCÉ delegates that are arriving on Friday 24 October for the East Coast Regional AGM, the Celtic Cross Pub has offered their upstairs rooms for people to congregate in to eat, drink, be merry, and possibly/hopefully have a session.

All members, are encouraged to drop in to meet any of the delegates that may go there.

Join us for a good craic!

CCÉ Canada East Regional AGM and workshops

When: Saturday 25 October 2014

Where: Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 2L6

Cost: Workshops: $10 members, $15 non-members; Dinner: $20 (tickets must be purchased in advance!), Céilí: $10 for members, $15 for non-members, and $5 for students


This year the CCÉ Ottawa Branch will be hosting the East Region AGM, besides the meeting proper, we have a day full of activities with workshops (dance, music and language), a banquet and a céilí.

LOCATION
The meeting, workshops, dinner and ceili all are taking place at the same location: in the lower level of Blessed Sacrament Church. That's 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa, K1S 2L6.

SCHEDULE
Below is a schedule of the day's events, subject to change. More detail on each of these events follows.

09:30am: morning registration

10:00am: set dance workshop with Maureen Mulvey

10:30am: language workshop with Tomás Ó Murchú
      lunch break (not provided)

12:30pm: afternoon registration

1:00pm: AGM

1:30pm: singing workshop with Ellen MacIsaac
1:30pm: pipes/whistle workshop with Steafan Hannigan
3:30pm: bodhran workshop with Steafan Hannigan
6:00pm: dinner (at the Blessed Sacrament Hall)

8:00pm: céilí

WORKSHOPS
The workshops are open to all. One or two (Bodhran and/or Uilleann Pipes) may be happening at the same time as the AGM, but in a separate room. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members, for each workshop, payable to CCE Ottawa for cheques, or cash. There will be a registration table from 09:30 and from 12:30 to 13:00.

Here is a summary of the workshops.


Singing

http://uottawa.academia.edu/EllenMacIsaac

Ellen MacIsaac will offer a workshop on singing in both the English and Irish-language traditions. The workshop will focus not just on repertoire, but also on ornaments and on voice production to achieve the right sound when singing in the Irish tradition. Ellen lectures at the University of Ottawa in the Modern Languages department, and directs the Ottawa Celtic Choir. 




Bodhran/ Uilleann Pipes

http://www.steafan.com

Steafan Hannigan has worked with many top artists including Lorraine Jordan, Il Divo, Julian Lloyd Weber, Pete Lockett, Bjork, Depeche Mode, Gary Barlow, Uriah Heep, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, John Kirkpatrick, Broderick, Luke Daniels, Sin É, Linn Tilla, Anne Lister, Eileen McGann, Band of Hope, Lammas, Tim Garland, Brian Willoghby from the Strawbs, Loreena McKennitt , Jeff Martin, James Keelaghan, Art Turner, The Afro-celts, John O'Connor, and Michael Flately. He was, sadly, unavailable for some wonderful people such as Page and Plant, Tory Amos (wedding), Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dave Stuart, and U2 who he had to turn down!

Steafan has worked in over twenty countries , recorded on over eighty albums and played live in places as diverse as Syria, Sudan, Jordan, Greece, Kazakstan  India, Canada, and Turkey.

Language

Tomás Ó Murchú, a Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) Scholar and a Teagascóir Gaeilge – University of Ottawa.

AGM

The East Region AGM will run from 1:30PM to 4:30 PM. There will be many CCÉ members from other East Canada branches.


DINNER
We invite you to join us for a catered dinner in the church hall, between the AGM and the ceili. Dinner to be served at 6pm, and will include a vegetarian option. The cost is $20, and you must pay for your dinner ticket in advance at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/comhaltas-regional-agm-dinner-tickets-9673960075 The dinner is being catered by Bobby's Table, a 4.5 star Ottawa caterer.

IMPORTANT! The deadline for paying for the dinner is Wed, Oct 22 at 9AM.

These are pictures taken at the AGM by P. Cassidy.

CEILI
Join us for our monthly céilí  featuring live music by the CCÉ Ottawa Céilí Band, refreshments, dances called by our chair Sheila Scott, and live entertainment by the "Hannigan family." As this ceili falls close to Hallowe'en, we encourage you to dress up in a costume if you like. Cost of the ceili is $10 for members, $15 for non-members, and $5 for students, payable at the door.

We hope that you will join us on the 25th of October for a good craic!

CCE meeting reminder and new bylaws for review

Hello again CCE Members,

Just a reminder about our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, Oct 8th. This is the usual AGM in some ways -- presenting you with a report of our annual activities, and electing a new executive -- but with one very important addition: approving a special resolution that is required under the Not For Profit Act, a resolution that includes new bylaws. Voting in favour of this resolution allows us to continue being a non-profit, essentially.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions about what's in there. Everything in the bylaws, though, is mandated to be in there by either a) the Not for Profit Act and/or b) the Bunreacht, which is CCE's own set of bylaws and guiding principles.

If you cannot come to the meeting, you are still welcome to vote on the bylaws. To do so. please send Maureen Maher an email, and state the following:

"I, [name], vote FOR/AGAINST [choose one] the special resolution of Oct 8th, 2014, to apply for a Certificate of Continuance under the Not-for-profit Corporations Act and enact the new bylaws."

These electronic votes will be counted and added to the tally of votes at the meeting.

Once again, the meeting details:

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 at 7pm

University of Ottawa, 70 Laurier Ave. (corner of Laurier and Waller) Arts Building, Room 509

Link to campus map, which shows parking areas:
http://www.protection.uottawa.ca/en/parking-map.html
Or consider taking public transit: the Laurier station on the Transitway is right by the Arts Building

And a reminder that memberships are now due -- payment accepted at the meeting or online here:
http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/membership-and-class-registration.php


Hope to see you on Wednesday,


Caitlin Crockard

Secretary, on behalf of the CCE Ottawa executive
................................
Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, Ottawa Branch
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
613-620-4351
ottawacomhaltas.com

Bylaws to be discussed in the CCE AGM on 8th October at 7PM

Dear Ottawa Comhaltas members,

This note is to inform you of the branch Annual General Meeting, coming up on Wednesday, October 8th. Full details are below, but first I wanted to highlight why it's especially important this year that as many members as possible attend. In a nutshell: we need you to help us approve a new set of bylaws in order to continue to exist as a not-for-profit organization. It's not exactly the most exciting draw to a meeting, perhaps, but our existence depends on it!

This year, Industry Canada is requiring that all not-for-profit (NFP) organizations essentially re-apply to be incorporated. This is because Canada has a new NFP Act, and all existing NFPs must fall under these new rules. In order to do this, we must re-file our updated bylaws with Industry Canada by October 17th.

How does this apply to you? Well, in order to submit bylaws to Industry Canada, the membership must first vote to approve them. Specifically, we must vote on a special resolution at our AGM, and it requires the approval of a majority of members. So we need you there to cast your vote. If you can't make it but would still like to cast a proxy vote, please contact me for more information on this procedure.

And what are you voting on, exactly? Our bylaws set out how Ottawa Comhaltas is run. Our old bylaws, from 1985, refer to outdated procedures and methods of communication. So we're updating them to make sense for how we do things now.

These new bylaws will be ready for your perusal shortly, and I will send them in a separate email. In the meantime, here are the details of the meeting:

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 at 7pm

University of Ottawa, Arts Building, 70 Laurier (corner of Laurier and Waller), Room 509

Link to campus map, which shows parking areas:
http://www.protection.uottawa.ca/en/parking-map.html

Or consider taking public transit: the Laurier station on the Transitway is right by the Arts Building


Two other quick notes: first, you need to be a paid-up member in order to vote at this meeting. Remember that you can now renew your membership online! Here is the link:
http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/membership-and-class-registration.php


You can also pay your membership in person at the AGM.

Finally, at our AGM we will be electing a new executive, and there are currently no candidates for the following positions: Irish Officer, Public Relations Officer, Youth Officer, and Auditor. If you or anyone you know would be interested in serving on the executive (it's fun, we promise!), please contact Maureen Maher.


Hope to see you all on Oct 8! (And, of course, at the ceili this Saturday 27 October, too.)


Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, on behalf of the CCE Ottawa executive

................................
Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, Ottawa Branch
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
ottawacomhaltas.com 

2014 Ottawa Branch AGM

When: Wednesday 8 October at 7:00 PM

Where: University of Ottawa Arts Building, 70 Laurier St. Rm. ARTS 509. (corner of Laurier and Waller St, by the transit way).

During the upcoming Ottawa Branch AGM in early October we will be electing or re-electing CCÉ members to become part of the Ottawa Branch Executive. At the moment there are several positions that are immediately open for nominations. These positions are: Irish Officer, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Youth Officer, and possibly Auditor (TBD).

If a member is interested in any of the CCÉ Ottawa Branch Executive positions, regardless if they are vacant or not, and wants to know what the duties and responsibilities for the positions are, it is suggested that they check the CCÉ Ideal Branch document: http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/resources/Comhaltas%20-%20Ideal%20Branch%202012.pdf

If a member wishes to put his or her name for any Executive position, you should send a written message to the Elections Officer, Maureen Maher  indicating your intention to run for office.


Please note that this year the Branch AGM will be held at the University of Ottawa, in Rm: ARTS 509. The ARTS building is on the corner of Laurier with Waller St. (by the transit way), the entrance to the building is on 70 Laurier St. On this link: http://www.protection.uottawa.ca/en/parking-map.html, you can download the campus map, which also shows the parking lot areas that you can use.

We hope to see you all at the AGM!!

The 2013 CCE Ottawa Branch AGM

As you probably know by now, Monday 7th October was the CCÉ A.G.M. There were some changes in the Executive and some new faces joined in. Rita Walker, our esteemed long-running Secretary decided not to run again. Also, Chris George and Emily Funston are not returning this year. On behalf of the whole of CCÉ Ottawa Branch we want to thank all departing members for all their great work over the years. At the meeting, the executive presented the annual report and took questions from the members. If you want to see the list of the Executive for the 2013-2014 season, please go to the Contact Us page and you will see the whole list.

Here you can see the new 2013 Executive, the only officer missing is the new P.R.O.

Also, at the A.G.M. it was explained the reason for recent increases now in effect, for our Branch membership dues and fees at our céilís. The membership fee increase, effective as of this year’s renewal, is due to the rising administrative cost within Comhaltas at the Provincial level. As stated in the Branch Report delivered at the October 2012 AGM, the Branch absorbed this increase for this year (2013).

The increases implemented at the céilís, starting this September, have been put in place to offset the rise in hall rental rates as well as insurance costs.

The Ottawa Comhaltas Branch is alive and well due in no small measure to your continued and valued support.

CCÉ Ottawa Branch Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting

When: Monday, October 7th at 8:00 pm

Where: Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, 194 Fourth Ave. 

The branch executive will present their year- end reports, and there will be an opportunity to ask them questions.

There will also be an election held to appoint the branch executive for the coming year. All positions will be voted on, and nominations for all positions will be accepted from the floor. You must be a branch member to be on the executive, and only branch members will be able to vote in the elections. 

If you are interested in running for one of the executive positions, or nominating someone for one of them, please contact this year's election officer, Maureen Maher

We need to keep our branch alive and can do it ONLY if folks will hold office. 

See you at the AGM after Irish Language, and Set Dancing classes!