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

42nd Scoil Éigse

from http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/scoil-eigse

Scoil Éigse 2014 Sligo 10th - 15th August

International Summer College of Irish Traditional Music Instrumental – Vocal – Dancing Workshops – Lectures – Sessions – Irish Language 

When: 10 August 2014–15 August 2014, at 3:00 pm (Irish time)

Where: Sligo

Contact: Siobhán ní Chonaráin 

Phone: +(353) 01 2800295

Email: liza@comhaltas.ie or siobhan@comhaltas.ie

Website: http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/scoil-eigse 

The 42nd Annual Scoil Éigse organised by Comhaltas this year will take place in Sligo, between 10- 15 of August, the week before the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.


What is the Scoil Éigse? The Scoil Éigse is the official summer school organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann where Irish people and students from the Commonwealth (or from anywhere in the world where is a Comhaltas branch) attend to obtain a better and deeper understanding of Irish music and culture.


At the CCÉ’s annual international Summer School, students of all ages register for the various classes offered. The school provides workshops, lectures and sessions the week before the Fleadh and continues each day during the Fleadh. The emphasis of the school is in traditional music, dance, and song during the day with informal céilís and sessions each evening.

For details check the Scoil Éigse descriptive document, and the registration form.

40th Anniversary of Ennis Fleadh Nua

http://www.fleadhnua.com

Ennis, Co. Clare, 18-26 May 2014

Fleadh Nua celebrates its Ruby Anniversary in the town of Ennis from 18th to 26th May, 2014. For further information please see our website http://www.fleadhnua.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. It would be mighty if you could join us at the Fleadh.

Inis, Co. Chláir, 18-26 Bealtaine 2014

Tá 40 bliain in Inis á cheiliúradh ag an bhFleadh Nua ó 18 go dtí 26 Bealtaine, 2014. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ar http://www.fleadhnua.com nó lean orainn ar Facebook nó Twitter. Bheadh sé togha dá mbeifeá linn ag an bhFleadh.

Rory Casey 
O.C.P. / P.R.O. Coiste Fleadh Nua

For those of you who do not know what a Fleadh Nua is, a Fleadh Nua is a "New Festival," a festival of Irish culture. According to Wikipedia, the Fleadh's purpose is to promote Irish traditional music and culture. Activities include music concerts, céilithe (dances), dance workshops and street entertainment. The Fleadh Nua is noted for its innovative approach to the presentation of Irish traditional music.

The Fleadh Nua is organized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

CCÉ Ottawa Candidate for Rose of Tralee - 2014

CCÉ Ottawa is happy to announce that Genevieve Robinson, branch member and also a dancer of the troupe CCÉ Ottawa Solo Dancers, is representing CCÉ as a contestant for the Ottawa Rose of Tralee.  Genevieve is competing against four other young women!

She is quite an involved member in all aspects of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) activities, as the Regional Youth Officer for Eastern Canada for the last three years, and has been nominated for the position of Provincial Youth Officer within CCÉ, for North America. Last but not least, she is also involved with the CCÉ Ottawa solo dance troupe.

Genevieve has found so much support within the Irish community from her CCÉ family, through dance, language, and music, and is proud to be representing CCÉ in the running for the Ottawa Rose of Tralee 2014.

If she wins, she goes to Ireland in May for the qualifying round. If she gets through the qualifying round, she competes in the actual Rose of Tralee event in Trá Lí (Tralee) in August. At all times she will be representing CCÉ Ottawa!

The Selection for the 2014 Ottawa Rose of Tralee will be on Sunday afternoon, March 16th, at the Irish Ambassador’s Residence. To attend to this event, check online at Eventbrite (tickets are $25). The money raised through entrance fees to all the fundraising events, and the Selection is used to offset the cost of sending the winning Ottawa Rose to Ireland.

To see the official mini-bios of all the applicants, check the Rose of Tralee site: 

http://www.roseoftralee.ca/2014-rose-applicants.php

Comhaltas turned 60 in 2011

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Canada East Region 2011 Achievements Awards

This post is linked to the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame post; slowly we will feature all the people that have inducted to the CCÉ Music Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, October 15th 2011, in Kingston, Ontario there was an event to commemorate the fact that Comhaltas was turning 60 years. It was also the opportunity to honour the dedication and service to others by members of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Canada East Region. The presenter of the awards was His Excellency, Dr. Ray Basset, Irish Ambassador to Canada. Here are the seventeen people that were honoured:

Desmond Quinn (Hamilton Irish Arts)
Desmond has been a fixture int he Irish music scene in Hamilton for more than ten years. Prior to that, he had played major roles in Comhaltas Branches in Saskatoon and Toronto. As a very talented musician, he has devoted much effort to encouraging others to take up the playing of Irish traditional music.

Anne Gorman-McKinney (Hamilton Irish Arts)
Ann has been involved in Irish music and dancing since the 1980s. She has been very instrumental in helping to create the Hamilton Comhaltas Branch. In addition to serving on the executive, she has used her photographic skills in Branch promotion and archival preservation. She has also brought set dancing to the Hamilton Branch.

Rae Shepp (Montreal Branch)
Rae is a long-standing Comhaltas member who plays the tin whistle, concertina and bodhrán. She teaches these skills, as well as set dancing to Branch members. She also plays a key role in welcoming new members and encouraging others to join the Montreal Branch. Her generosity and dedication is an inspiration to all.

Eunice Cavanaugh (Montreal Branch)

Eunice has served as Branch Treasurer for the last twenty yeas and has worked extremely hard in serving the Montreal Branch in many other capacities. Her dedication behind the scenes has helped the Montreal Branch to remain a stalwart Comhaltas branch in the Canada East Region. She richly deserves our admiration and respect.

Toni Forsythe (Ottawa Branch)

Toni is a highly talented artist who uses her skills in the preparation of Branch material for many occasions. She has served on Branch committees for more than twenty years, including several executive positions at the Branch and Regional Board level. She plays a continuing, key role in promoting the teaching of Irish music in Ottawa.

Patricia Cassidy (Ottawa Branch)

A long-time members of Comhaltas in Ottawa, Patricia has been responsible for heading the membership and public relations committees and as BRanch photographer, records many Branch events for the archives. She plays and has taught the tin whistle. She has organized and hosted many music seisiuns.

Eileen Kennedy (Sudbury Irish Arts Association)

Eileen has been an active member of the Sudbury Branch since its formation in 1996. She has assumed the roles of Branch Auditor, singing instructor, plus numerous other volunteer positions. She is always a wise and steady voice in the promotion of Branch and Comhaltas activities. Her eager, willing and effective efforts continue to affect the success of Branch activities.

Edward McIlveen (Sudbury Irish Arts Association)

A most willing volunteer, Ed has served as Branch Social Convenor and has always been a willing volunteer at Branch activities, during his long involvement with the Sudbury Branch. His keen interest is Irish music led him to learn how to play tin whistle and even try out the set and céilí dancing, in the early years of the branch. If you need a volunteer for event set-up, Ed's your man.

Michael Donoghue (Langan Gorman Branch - Toronto)

Michael is a tireless, behind the scenes, volunteer worker for Comhaltas and the Toronto Branch. His  long-time dedication to promoting the aims and objectives of Comhaltas, only serves to reinforce the recognition that this Comhaltas 60th Anniversary Achievements Award bestows.

Eamonn O'Loghlin (Langan Gorman Branch - Toronto)

Eamonn was a founding member of the first Comhaltas Branch. His organizational skills and hard work resulted in two highly successful Comhaltas conventions, hosted by the Toronto Branch. He continues to make a major contribution to the promotion of Irish culture in Toronto, in Canada and in the USA. He is always good for a song and a laugh.

Bob MacDiarmid & Angeles Garcia (Harp of Tara Branch - Kingston)

Working as a team, husband and wife, Bob and Angeles have promoted Irish culture through the Branch by hosting weekly language classes, organizing and hosting house concerts in their home, promoting the Irish language Immersion Camps and volunteering at the monthly céilís. Together, they make a major contribution to Irish language, dance and music in Kingston.

Stephen Rayner & Julie Bowes (Harp of Tara Branch - Kingston)

This husband and wife team have contributed significantly to the growth and vitality of the Kingston Branch. Their hard work in promoting the North American Gaeltacht project, their service in senior roles on the Branch executive, their contributions to running monthly céilís, plus numerous quiet efforts, serve to inspire us all to greater effort.

Eva Steele (Saint John Branch)

As a founding member of the Saint John Branch in New Brunswick, Eva has been a long time promoter of Irish traditional dance, music, language and Irish culture in general, in and around the Saint John area. She serves to remind us all about the importance of preserving our rich Irish traditions and culture.

Bryce Neill (Saint John Branch)

In his seventeen years as a Comhaltas member, Bryce has occupied executive positions in the Saint John Branch, organized the Echoes of Erin Tours and has actively participated in all Branch activities, all the while promoting his Irish heritage. He has a keen interest in céilí dancing, Irish traditional music and has a large repertoire of Irish songs.

Phyllis Cussen-Gorman (Canada East Regional Board, Langan Gorman Branch - Toronto)

For 15 years, Phyllis has provided dedicated, outstanding service in maintaining the Regional membership records and teaching Branch secretaries to perform a similar task in their Branches. These records also provide the information for Treoir mailings through the country. Her attention to detail has saved us from increased work and expenses.

1951-2011

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region 2011 Achievement Awards program for Saturday October 15, 2011. Kingston, Ontario

Related to the following posts:
http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2013/07/cce-canada-east-region-music-hall-of.html

http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2013/08/2009-cce-canada-east-region-music-hall.html

http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2013/08/2009-cce-canada-east-region-music-hall_26.html

Caint is Comhrá invites you! || Caint is Comhrá cuireadh duit!

Irish Language weekend

When: September 27 to 29, 2013

Where: Galilee Centre, 398 John Street North. Arnprior, ON, K7S 2P8 ‎

Google maps: http://goo.gl/maps/ssn0L


Sponsored by the Ottawa Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Glór na nGael

For information and registration contact Tony Forsythe, 
613-233-9927

Deireadh Seachtaine Lán Gaeilge

Nuair: 27, 28, 29 Meán Fómhair 2013

Nuair a: Galilee Centre, 398 John Street North. Arnprior, ON, K7S 2P8 ‎
Google léarscáileanna: http://goo.gl/maps/ssn0L


Faoi choimirce Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éirinn Ottawa agus Glór na nGael

Le haghaidh eolas agus clárú Tony Forsythe, 613-233-9927

Come and join us. We will love to see you there! 

CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame

1996:  Leo Brown*

          Chris Langan*^

1997:  Sean Gorman*

1998:  Merv Kelly*

          Kevin Finnegan

2000:  Donald Kavanagh

          Ena O’Brien

          Elizabeth MacDonald

2001:  Tom McSwiggan

          Patrick Conroy

2002:  Maureen Mulvey-O’Leary

          Joe Mell

          Mary Carr

2003:  Rosario Ruane

          Patrick McGuire

2005:  Jack Hickman

          Dennis Alexander

          Frank Cassidy

2006:  Bridgit Ripley

          Karen Light

          Matilda Murdoch

2007:  Micéal Mac Searraig

          Raymond Caldwell

2008:  Anne McConnell-Strong

2009:  Stan O’Donohue

          Maureen Maher

          Stuart Hook

* Deceased

^ Honoured posthumously 

Saint Patrick's Day Céilí and Dinner -- Next Saturday!!!!

When: Saturday, March 16th, 2013.

Doors open at 05:15 PM
Dinner from 06:00 PM to 08:00PM
Céilí from 08:00PM to midnight 

Where: Blessed Sacrament Church, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa Ontario K1S 2L5

Tickets:
http://www.stpatsceili.eventbrite.com

Last year's dinner and dance were a sellout and a HUGE success. In fact, last year, we had to turn people away at the door. It will sell out this year, so you should get your tickets as soon as possible.

We will have the same excellent caterer as last year - Franz Gierer - and the menu promises to please, a 3-course Roast Beef Dinner with a vegetarian option is available.

After a first-class, three course complete dinner, with wine available for purchase, there will be an Irish dance (Céilí), with the dances called. No experience or partner is required, and it is loads of fun and helps work the dinner off.

The excellent Comhaltas Céilí Band will provide the music and Sheila Scott will call the dances.

There is a cash bar, a raffle, a 50-50 draw, and a multitude of crafts and items for sale.

At around 11 PM, there will be tea and snacks.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all.


All tickets purchased after January 1st 2013 will be $35. By ordering online now, you get your tickets guaranteed. 

Purchase online at: http://www.stpatsceili.eventbrite.com

For paper tickets and information contact any member of the Comhaltas Executive at:

http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/contact.php

Lá Gaeilge

Learn Irish! 

When: Saturday 9 March 2013 from 8:00 till 4:00pm at the Blessed Sacrament   Church Hall.
Where: The Blessed Sacrament Church is located at 194 Fourth Avenue (at the corner with Percy Street) in the Glebe, Ottawa. 
Cost: $25. Which includes lunch and snacks.

Caint agus Comhra, under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - Ottawa branch, invites you to a day of learning the Irish Language, just in time for St. Patrick's day.

Learn a few words, brush up existing ones, and have a little fun doing so.

Our teachers are friendly and came from as far afield as Ireland, Montreal ,and Ottawa. University teachers all!

Bring your willingness to learn and your sense of fun.

More information, contact Toni

Everyone welcome 

              

See you there! 

CCÉ Ottawa Candidate for Rose of Tralee

CCÉ Ottawa is happy to announce that Nora Villarreal, branch member and daughter of Chairperson  Sheila Scott, is representing CCÉ as a contestant for the Ottawa Rose of Tralee.  Nora is competing against 8 other young women!
 

Nora Villarreal

If she wins, she goes to Ireland in May for the qualifying round. If she gets through the qualifying round, she competes in the actual Rose of Tralee
event in Trá Lí ( Tralee) in August. At all times she will be representing CCÉ Ottawa!
 
The Selection for the 2013 Ottawa Rose of Tralee will be on Sunday afternoon, March 17th ,at the Ambassador’s Residence.
 
Tickets are $25. The money raised through entrance fees to all the fundraising events and the Selection is used to offset the cost of sending the winning
Ottawa Rose to Ireland.
 
To attend to this event at the Irish Ambassador's residence, order them online at http://roseoftraleeottawaselection2013-es2005.eventbrite.com/?rank=1

To see the mini-bios of all the applicants, check the Rose of Tralee site: 
http://www.roseoftralee.ca/2013-rose-applicants.php

Best of Luck Nora!!  

The Founding of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa Branch, 1975

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann came into being, in County Westmeath in Ireland. The reason flowed from concern, by some Irish traditional musicians, for the disappearance of Irish music. In 1951 a standing committee of Cumann Ceoltóirí Éireann, “Company of Irish Musicians” was established and morphed into Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the following year, 1952. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in translation means: “Society of Musicians of Ireland” and is normally referred to as “Comhaltas.”

 

It was created as Non-Political, Non-Sectarian organization open to all interested persons. Its aims are:

To promote traditional Irish music; 

• To revive the playing of both the Harp and the Uilleann Pipes;
• To promote traditional Irish dancing; and,
• To promote the knowledge and the use of Irish language.

From the beginning, because of its nature, it gave traditional musicians an appreciative audience as traditional style was the standard employed. With respect to the organization of Comhaltas, the Branch is the most important unit. Since inauguration, Comhaltas has grown over 400 branches spread across four continents. At this time there are over 60 branches in North America.

 

In the declining days of 1974, two [Irish] musicians from Ottawa: Don Kavanagh and Leo Browne went to Montreal to attend a Comhaltas concert. The following year a Comhaltas concert was staged in the auditorium of the Ottawa Technical High School and the Ottawa Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Band was established.

Today the four aims of Comhaltas are being met by the Ottawa Branch:

 

1. The Branch has its own Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Céilí band and traditional musical instruments are made available to learners [CCE Ottawa Branch members] without charge;

 

2. The Branch currently owns two harps and one set of uilleann pipes. The harps are currently on loan to learners [check upcoming instruments news in the CCE website];

 

3. Traditional set, céilí, sean nós, and solo dancing are taught on a weekly basis; and,

 

4. Five different levels of Irish language classes are held on a weekly basis. The group, Caint is Comhrá, runs various Irish language events in the branch.

 

By Pat Scott

 

Bunaíodh Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann san Iarmhí in Éirinn. Tháinig sé ar an saol mar gheall ar an mbuairt a bhí ar cheolteoirí traidisiúnta áirithe nach raibh ag éirí leis an gceol traidisiúnta i measc mhuintir na hÉireann. Sa bhliain 1951, bunaíodh Cumann Ceolteoirí Éireann agus fobraíodh de réir a chéile é seo go dtí go raibh “Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann” mar atá aithne againn air, sa bhliain 1952.

 

Ba eagraíocht neamh-pholaitiúil, neamh-sheicteach í ón dtús agus cuireadh fáilte roimh chách dá raibh suim acu ann. Ba iad príomhaidhmeanna na heagraíochta ná: 

•  Ceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann a chur chun cinn 
•   Athbheochan na Cláirsí agus na bPíb Uilleann 
•   Damhsa traidisiúnta na hÉireann a chur chun cinn 
•   Eolas agus úsáid na Gaeilge a chothú.

Ón gcéad chéim, thug Comhaltas deis do cheolteoirí traidisiúnta lucht éisteachta buíoch a aimsiú, mar gur cleachtadh an stíl traidisiúnta. Maidir le heagrú Chomhaltas, is é an bráinse croílár na heagraíochta. Ó bhunaíodh é, scaipeadh Comhaltas ar fud an domhain, agus tá ceithre chéad bráinse de le fáil ar cheithre mhórthír. Faoi láthair, faightear 60 bráinse i Meiriceá Thuaidh amháin.

 

Ag deireadh 1974, chuaigh beirt cheolteoirí Éireannach, a bhí ag cur fúthú in Ottawa, go Montréal chun freastal ar cheolchoirm Chomhaltas. An bhliain ina diaidh sin, cuireadh ceolchoirm ar siúl i halla de Ottawa Technical High School agus tháinig grúpa ceoil Chomhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann, Ottawa, le chéile don chéad uair.

 

Inniu, tá ceithre aidhm Chomhaltas á mbaint amach ag an mbráinse:

1. Tá grúpa ceoil dá gcuid féin ag an mbráinse acu, agus cuirtear uirlisí traidisiúnta na hÉireann ar fáil do bhaill Chomhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann, gan praghas ar bith le híoc acu.

2. Tá dhá chláirseach agus píb uilleann ag an mbráinse. Faoi láthair, tá na cláirsigh ar iasacht ag baill an bhráinse. (Féach ar uirlisí ar fáil ar shuíomh idirlín Chomhaltas le tuilleadh eolais a fháil)

3. Múintear damhsa traidisiúnta, sean-nós, seit agus céilithe ó sheachtain go seachtain

4. Múintear an Ghaeilge do chúig rang, de chumas éagsúla. Cuireann an grúpa Gaeilge, Caint is Comhrá, ócáidí ar siúl le linn na bliana chun an teanga a cheiliúradh.

 

Le Pádraig Scot agus Eoin Ó Catháin

Royal Scottish Country Dance Society at January Céilí

Videos of The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) Demonstration Team at the January céilí have been posted on the Branch webpage. This group always delights the céilí crowd with a different flavour of dance. After their main demonstration they taught the céilí goers some Scottish dances and a great deal of fun was had.  To see them in action you could also check our YouTube Channel.

http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/gallery.php (Note, this page will change over time, so you may not see the videos if you check in too late, check the Gallery Page often!)

And don't forget to check the What's New page for …. what's new! http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/whats-new.php

CCE Website and Blog Updates

In case you haven't noticed, the CCE webpage has undergone some updating. While the look and feel remains the same, the content has been updated. In particular a new tab has been added for Irish Dance, and the What's New tab contains news of recent events and, for example, currently has an audio file attached for your listening enjoyment. The Gallery page is also refreshed with recent photos and video from the November ceili. Contact Us and the Links page have been revised and checked, and pages which contain mostly unchanging information are now in both English and Irish. If you haven't read the latest newsletter, you will find a recent archive of newsletters on the Newsletter page.

Don't forget, if you have news or stories that are of interest to CCE Ottawa, send them to the Public Relations officer for inclusion in the newsletter. Also, you may submit them to this blog by emailing your story in plain text to the CCE-Ottawa Branch webmaster at:webmaster.ottawacomhaltas@gmail.com or you can submit your post at: webmaster8617.comhaltas@blogger.com.