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

A student's reflection on the Arnprior Irish language immersion weekend

 

 

I remember when I first came to the Arnprior immersion weekend someone said "you'd be surprised at how much Irish you learn in just one weekend." 

Five years of tenses, genders, cases, and mutations (these are sexier than their English name suggest) later, it was sometimes difficult to keep this in mind. Two days could not possibly matter when faced with the immense task that is mastering a language. But in fact, every language weekend is like an overdue recharge. Two days without cooking. Two days soaking in fresh autumn air. Two days with friends. Two days hearing as much Irish as you desire. 

Galilee Mission Centre, Arnprior

 

 

Cheap mé gurb fhéidir liom é sin a scríobh as Gaeilge go léir, ach faraor tá mé fós níos compórdaigh dul i muinín an Bhéarla. Tá mé sásta, sin ráite, chun mo chuid Gaeilge a fheabhsú. Ní hé an deireadh seachtaine seo ach ceann do na seansanna atá ag an phobal na Gaeilge ar fud an domhan taisteál nó daoine suimiúla a chasadh. 

The events here use not only language classes to immerse learners, there is also music, dance, and games. Talking about grammar (no matter however necessary at times) will definitely earn prompt and loud 'boo's from the crowd. Not knowing Irish or not knowing "enough" Irish is not considered an original sin because all of us have been there. 

The organising committee puts many tireless hours of work into every such event so we learners can worry about nothing but to learn (with, perhaps, the exception of what to perform as a party piece). 

In fact, Arnprior is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the federal capital for everyone who has wondered what it would feel like to take part in an immersion environment. Keep an eye out for next year's brochure!

Submitted by O. Mou

Lá Gaeilge - 15 November 2014

Lá Gaeilge Irish Language Day

Caint is Comhrá, under the auspices of the Ottawa Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann invites you to an Irish Language Immersion Day.


When: 15 November || 15 Samhain

Where: Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, 194 Fourth Avenue/ Percy St.

Cost (lunch included) || Costas (lón san áireamh): $25


An Irish-immersion experience close to home. All welcome. Lá lán-Ghaeilge i ngar dúinn. Tá fáilte roimh gach fomhlaimeoir.

Registration || Clarú 

8:30am 

Classes || Ranganna 

9:00am – 4:00pm 

Lunch || Lón 

12:00pm – 1:00pm 

Further information || Tuilleadh eolais Toni Forsythe


Note: the November ceili will be held on the same day, at the same location, beginning at 08:00 PM.

We hope to see you there for a good craic!

Irish Language Weekend - September 26th - 28th

Caint is Comhrá and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa Branch Irish Language Weekend
When: Friday, 26 September 2014 to Sunday 28 September 2014
Where: Galilee Mission Centre 398 John Street Arnprior, Ontario (45 minutes northwest of Ottawa off Highway 417)

Caint is Comhrá and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa Branch cordially invite you to our Irish Language immersion weekend, which is open to all levels from beginner to fluent speakers.


The only requirement is a desire to learn and a willingness to speak Irish at all times to the best to one’s ability.

Language classes are mandatory. Workshops (céili/set dancing, stained glass, sean-nós singing and introduction to Celtic traditional music) are optional.

Bring your musical instruments, stories, and songs for the siamsa on Friday night and the céili on Saturday night.



Information:
Cost $220 per person (includes all activities, meals and accommodation)

Meals included: 

Welcome supper – FridayBreakfast, snacks and lunch – Saturday and Sunday
Banquet – Saturday night

Accommodations included: single rooms/ shared bathroom
Check-in time: 5:30-7:00 pm Friday
Welcome supper: 6:00 pm Friday


For more information contact Toni Forsythe (613-233-9927)

____________________________

Gaeltacht Deireadh Seachtaine

Dé hAoine 26ú Meán Fómhair, 2014 Go Dé Domhanaigh 28ú Meán Fómhair
Galilee Mission Centre 398 John Street Arnprior, Ontario

Ba mhaith le Caint is Comhrá agus Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa
Cuireadh a thabhairt chuig ár Deireadh Seachtaine. Glacfar le hierratas ó gach duine idir thosaitheoirí agus cainteoirí líofa.

Riachtanas fonn foghlama, agus toil chun do chuid Gaeilge a úsáid (cibé leibhéal ar bith atá agat) í rith an deireadh seachtaine ar fad.

Beidh na ranganna teanga sainordaitheach. Tá na ceardlanna (amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós, damhsa céili/seieanna, gloine dhaite, agus ceol traidsiúnta) roghnach.

Tabhair bhur gcuid uirlisíceoil, bhur gcuid amhráin libh don chéilí mór oíche Dé Sathairn.


Eolas
Costas: $220 an duine
imeachtaí uile, béilí agus lóistín san áireamh


Béilí san áireamh:
Suipéar fáilte – Dé hAoine
Bricfeasta, scroideanna agus lón – Dé Sathairn agus Dé Domhnaigh

Féasta – Dé Sathairn



Lóistín san áireamh:
Seomraí singil
Seomraí folctha I gcomhroinn

Am Clárú: 5:30 – 7:00 pm Dé hAoine

Suipéar fáilte: 6:00 – 7:00 pm Dé hAoine



Tuilleodh eolais, agus cuidiú le taisteal: Toni Forshyte (613-233-9927)

We hope to see you there!

La Gaeilge February Event

When: Saturday, 15th February, 2014

Classes Schedule: 09:00 am to 04:00 pm 

Where: Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, 194 Fourth Avenue (corner of Percy and Fourth, in the Glebe).

Cost: $25, includes lunch, tea/coffee and snacks. Muffins for those who missed breakfast!

Caint ague Comhra invites you to a La Gaeilge series of classes, on Saturday, 15th Febuary. All levels welcome!

To register, please contact Toni Forsythe.

Please note that the registration for courses starts at 08:30 and classes begin at 09:00.

This La Gaeilge event is sponsored by:

http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com 

http://www.glornangael.ie

Also on this Saturday (15 February), the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - Ottawa Branch hosts the monthly ceili in the Blessed Sacrament Church Hall, starting at 08:00 pm. If you wish, you could attend the ceili. Members $10, non-members $15, children under 12- free.

La Gaeilge Event

When:  November 16th, 2013 from 8:30 am to   4:00 pm

Where: University of Ottawa, Lamourex Hall, Rms LMX 242/339/342/360

Cost: $18

To figure out where the Lamourex Hall is located on the University, check the campus map: http://www.uottawa.ca/map

There will be a "Meet and Greet" at 8:30 am. Classes, from beginners to experienced Irish language speakers, will start at 9:00am. Our teachers hail from Ireland, and as this a friendly, fun environment, we are sure you will find it most enjoyable. The only requisite, is a willingness to learn, or improve your Irish language.

Bring your lunch.

For more information contact Toni

Come and join us! 

What is Caint agus Comhrá?

Under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Ottawa Branch, Caint agus Comhrá (founded in 2010) is a flourishing group of speakers and learners of the Irish language. Caint agus Comhrá is self reliant and funds are raised through, book sales, raffles and workshops. These monies are used to bestow small subsidies and bursaries to help students attend Irish Days, La Gaeilge, two of which are held each year. Also a Irish Weekend held every September, at Galliee House in Arnprior.

We are very lucky to have great support from students and teachers from as far as New York to Montréal, Kingston and Brockville.

The group is lively and friendly and classes, held weekly for beginners to fluent speakers, are fun and exciting. Casual Caint is held weekly also in a local pub where the Craic is fierce altogether!

As far as teachers go, we have some of the best, Professors from the Universities and a language scholar, currently teaching at Ottawa University, directly from Ireland.

By Toni Forsythe

Faoi stiúir Chomhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann, Ottawa, is grúpa díográiseach láidir é “Caint is Comhrá” (bhliain 2010) de chainteoirí agus d’fhoghlaimeoirí na Gaeilge. Is grúpa féinthuilleamaíoch é Caint is Comhrá agus bailítear cistí chun é a choinneáil ag imeacht trí dhíolachán leabhar, trí tharraingtí an phota óir agus trí cheardlanna. Is leis an airgead seo gur féidir leis an ngrúpa scolaireachtaí beaga a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeilge, a chabhraíonn leo freastal ar ár “Lá Gaeilge”, a reachtálfar faoi dhó le linn na bliana. Ina theannta sin, bíonn “Deireadh Seachtaine lán-Ghaeilge” againn i dteach na Gailíle, Arnprior, gach Meán Fomhair.

Tá an t-ádh dearg linn go bhfuil líonra tacaíochta fairsing againn, ó dhaltaí agus ó mhúinteoirí araon, agus iad ag teacht chugainn chun tacú linn ó chian is ó chongar, ó Brockville, ó Mhontréal, agus ó Nua Eabhrac fiú.

Ní féidir a shéanadh ach gur grúpa bríomhar beosach cairdiúil muid, agus baintear taitneamh agus tairbhe as na ranganna seachtainiúla. Bailíonn muid le chéile sa theach tábhairne oíche amháin sa tseachtain chomh maith chun an Ghaeilge a chleachtadh, agus baintear sult as sin chomh maith, gan amhras.

Maidir leis na múinteoirí, tá na hOllaimh is fearr againn óna hollscoileanna áitiúla agus teagascóir Gaeilge atá tagtha ar chuairt againn díreach ó hÉirinn.


Bígí linn! Beatha teanga í a labhairt.

Le Toni Forsythe agus Eoin Ó Catháin

This is the companion piece of previously posted Caint agus Comhrá items: http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2012/11/caint-agus-comhra-talk-and-chat.html  and http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2013/01/caint-is-comhra-links.html

Caint is Comhrá - Links 2

The Caint is Comhrá group is very creative on their Irish language classes, for example this past Monday night’s intermediate class they used this article. It was published in The Irish Times - Wednesday, January 16, 2013, the original article "Tá iarrachtaí ar siúl ag Protastúnaigh a gcuid féin a dhéanamh den teanga," which loosely translate to "Protestants make an effort to create their own language."


Nath Cainte an Lae: (meán-rang)

Is mise an duine is sine/is óige sa chlann. / Tá mé i lár baill
I’m the eldest/the youngest in the family/ I am in the middle.

Nath Cainte an Lae ( ard-rang)

Réitim go maith le mo deartháireacha/deirfiúracha. Ó am go ham, bíonn muid in adharca a chéile.
I get on well with my brothers/sisters. From time to time, we’re at eachothers’ throats (literally: we lock horns)

Caint is Comhrá - links

The Caint is Comhrá group is very creative on their Irish language classes, for example this past Monday night’s intermediate class they used this article. It is entitled "10 ways to make your life healthier," and it has some great Irish phrases and some interesting vocabulary.

If you are interested in reading more in Irish, more articles are available on the Gaelscéal , a national irish language newspaper, website: www.gaelsceal.ie, and we encourage you to read them!  If you want to hear some spoken Irish, the Gaelscéal also produces podcasts.


Here we also have Irish phrases, and an Irish proverb:

Irish phrase of the week: (meán-rang)

Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit/ daoibh!  || Happy New Year to you/ to ye!


Irish phrase of the week (ardrang)

Tháinig an fhadhb seo aniar aduaidh orm || This problem came as an unpleasant surprise!


Irish proverb of the week:

Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh Sí  || Praise the youth and it will bloom.

Caint agus Comhrá / Talk and Chat

English follows

Caint agus Comhrá:

Is grúpa dátheangach é "Caint agus Comhrá" a oibríonn go dian chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar teanga labhartha anseo in Ottawa. Cuireann muid fáilte is fiche roimh gach duine gur mian leo an teanga a fhoghlaim agus déanfaidh muid ár seacht ndícheall imeachtaí agus áiseanna a chur ar fáil dóibh a chabhróidh leo máistreacht a fháil ar an teanga. Eagraíonn muid imeachtaí éagsúla le linn na bliana chun an pobal Gaeilge a chothú agus a laidriú. Ina measc sin, tá ócáid shóisialta á búnú againn faoi láthair darb ainm "Caint agus Comhrá." Beidh muid ag teacht le chéile sa Heart and Crown (Croí agus Coróin) gach tráthnóna Dé hAoine (5:30 pm), agus beidh muid in ann an teanga a labhairt, a laidriú agus a scaipeadh ar fud Ottawa. Má tá suim agat nó ag do chairde, ná bíodh drogall ar bith oraibh dul i dteagmháil linn! Beidh muid sásta cabhrú!

Má tá spéis agat ranganna Gaeilge a dhéanamh linn, is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le hEoin Ó Catháin, atá ag múineadh na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Ottawa faoi láthair, agus atá ag feidhmiú mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge le Comhaltas anseo in Ottawa.

Caint agus Comhrá (Talk and Chat):

Is a bilingual group that is working hard to promote Irish as a spoken language here in Ottawa. We welcome anyone who wishes to learn the language, and we endeavour to provide resources and events to help learners master the language. We organise various events throughout the year to help and strengthen the Irish language community. Among these events is the weekly get-together called "Caint agus Comhrá" which is currently being developed by the group. We will be meeting at the Heart and Crown (Croí agus Coróin) every Friday evening after work (5:30 pm), and we hope to strengthen and spread the language all over Ottawa! If you or any of your friends would be interested in attending, please do not hesitate in contacting us!! We will be happy to help.

If you would like to attend Irish classes, you can contact Eoin Ó Catháin, an Irish teacher in the University of Ottawa at the moment, and is acting as the Irish Language Officer with the Comhaltas branch in Ottawa.

Slán agus Beannacht,

Caint agus Comhrá.