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! 

First céilí of the '2013-2014 céilí season'!

It is that time of the year again when we get together to enjoy the first céilí of the season. 

Our first 2013-2014 season céilí is on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 8:00pm. We are at our regular location: Blessed Sacament Parish- Ottawa, 194 Fourth Ave, Ottawa, Ontario.


You do not need to know how to dance nor need to have a dancing partner. Everyone is welcome!

Members – $10
Non-Members – $15
Students – $5
Children under 12 years of age – free

Entertainment, raffles, door prizes, and free snacks at the break!

Our céilís are the third Saturday of every month, 8:00-11:30 pm. Monthly céilí dates for the 2013-2014 season:

• September 21, 2013 
• October 26, 2013 
• November 16, 2013 
• December 21, 2013 
• January 18, 2014 
• February 15, 2014 
• March 15 (St Patrick’s Day céilí) 
• April 12, 2014 
• May 17, 2014 

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

Gaeltacht Gathering Tour, 2013

Chance of a Lifetime. A community visit to Ireland's Gaeltacht areas.

Dates: 20 October – 2 November 2013
Cost: $1,700 (U.S. or Canadian)

What is special about this trip? In every location that we visit there will be a Gaeltacht community waiting to welcome us. As part of "The Gathering Ireland 2013", http://www.thegatheringireland.com/ and "The Year of the Irish Language", http://gaeilge2013.ie/ they will be as excited to meet us as we are to meet them. It is expected that this will forge lasting friendships between individuals, and lasting connections between Irish speaking organizations in North America and Ireland. Since local events will be hosted by the various Gaeltacht communities, we are able to keep our costs to a bare minimum. 



Faill an tSaoil. Cuairt chomhphobail go ceantair na Gaeltachta in Éirinn.

Dátaí: 20 Deireadh Fómhair – 2 Samhain 2013
Costas: $1,700 (S.A.M. nó Ceanadach)

Cad atá sainiúil faoin turas seo? Beidh pobail na Gaeltachta áitiúla ag cur fáilte ó chroí romhainn in achan áit a gcuirimid cuairt orthu. Mar chuid do Thóstal Éireann 2013, www.udaras.ie/forbairt-pobail/tionscnaimh-ealaion-chulturtha/tostal-eireann-2013/ agus Bliain na Gaeilge, http://gaeilge2013.ie/ beidh siad chomh tógtha faoi chuairt a dhéanamh linn agus a bheidh muid faoi chuairt leo. Beimid ag súil go mbunófar ceangal agus cairdeas idir daoine aonaracha sa dá dhream, agus idir eagraíochtaí Gaeilge i Meiriceá Thuaidh agus in Éirinn. Cuirfidh na pobail Ghaeltachta áitiúla aíocht ar ghníomhaíochtaí an turais, agus mar sin beidh muid in ann ár gcostas a choinneáil ar an íosmhéid lom.

2009 CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame - Stuart Hook

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.

Stuart Hook

For more than 15 years, Stuart has been tireless in his efforts to support Irish Culture in St. John. He carried the Branch through tough times when membership was almost nonexistent. Stuart's loyalty and dedication to promoting Irish culture, music, song, dance and storytelling has provided a solid foundation for his branch to grow. Today the branch enjoys a record number of members.

Though Stuart was born in Peterborough, England, his wife Helena, who hails from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, jokes that he is more Irish than she is. It was through the nurturing atmosphere of Comhaltas that Stuart found the confidence to learn to play musical instruments and to sing. He did neither until he was in this fifties! Stuart's skill on the tin whistle and bodhran blossomed under the Comhaltas umbrella.

Stuart is always eager to share his knowledge and talents with others and strives to make traditional Irish music accessible to all ages and skill levels. He has developed musical associations throughout New Brunswick and beyond. This has been a great benefit to Comhaltas and has enriched many people's Irish experience.

Over the years, Stuart has held several positions within the St. John Branch Executive including: Auditor, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer. He encourages other members in their efforts to participate and grow within the organization. Stuart's approachable manner and nurturing personality have made him an excellent ambassador for Comhaltas and the Irish culture in general.

For these and innumerable other reasons, it is with pride that we include Stuart Hook into the Comhaltas Music hall of Fame.

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame program for Saturday October 31, 2009. Toronto, Ontario

2009 CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame - Maureen Maher

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.

Maureen Maher

Maureen's love for her Irish heritage has taken her on quite a journey. She has dedicated her whole life to preserving and promoting her Irish heritage and culture. Maureen was born and raised in the Irish community of Shannon, Quebec.

Her father Martin Conway, of Lahinch, Co Clare Ireland and her mother, Julia Donaldson, instilled a deep respect for her Irish heritage. With her husband Ray, Maureen strived to pass on her immense pride and love for all things Irish to her children and grandchildren.

Always civic-minded and community-oriented, Maureen has a long list of accomplishments and firsts to her credit, including: a founder of the Shannon Irish Show (now in its' 43rd year); first elected female councillor and the mayor of Shannon (for 10 years); guest speaker at Leinster House (Ireland) on Irish and Canadian differences and similarities. These are just a few highlights of her many accomplishments!

Maureen's involvement with Comhaltas began when she attended the 1989 Provincial Convention in Ottawa. She became a member at that time. She moved to Ottawa in 1991. Her significant leadership experience was welcomed by the Ottawa Branch.

She has held the positions of Ottawa Branch chair and vice-chair (twice). She also chaired the CCÉ North American Provincial convention held in Ottawa in 2005. Maureen has worked in numerous Echoes of Erin tour committees, including the 2009 tour. For the past six years, Maureen has been a voting delegate for the Regional Board and has held the position of Comhaltas Canada East Regional Vice-Chair for the past five years.

It is with pride that we induct Maureen Maher into the Comhaltas Music Hall of Fame.

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame program for Saturday October 31, 2009. Toronto, Ontario.

2009 CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame - Stan O'Donohue

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.

Stan O'Donohue

Stan grew up in Fanore, County Clare, Ireland. This is just a few miles from Doolin and Lisdoonvarna. His love for traditional music comes naturally. Stan achieved a lifetime goal when he drummed with the  Lisdoonvarna Ceili Band. He was also able to accompany many of the great icons of traditional Irish music  such as Bobby Gardiner, Miko Russell, plus many others, too numerous to mention.

Stan left Ireland in the 1950's and moved to England where he became a professional boxer. He then moved to Canada. Shortly after his arrival in Canada he became involved with Comhaltas in Toronto. 

Stan's involvement with Comhaltas spans over 25 years. From the early days of the Irish Centre Branch, which is now known as the Langan Gorman Branch, he has been witness to many successes. In particular and under Stan's leadership, Toronto played host to two of the most successful North American Provincial conventions ever held; one beign in 1996 and the other in 2001.

Stan was awarded the Comhaltas North American Founders' Award during the 1997 Comhaltas North American Provincial convention in Boston. He is currently chairperson of the Langan Gorman Branch in Toronto and continues to do stalward work on the organization's behalf.

We are all proud of his achievements and are thankful to have Stan as to "go to guy," the fellow who knows how to get things done. It's reassuring to know that, when called upon in the future, Stan will be there to foster the organization and the music that is so near and dear to his huge Irish heart.

For these reasons and many more, it is with pride that we induct Stan O'Donohue into the Comhaltas Music Hall of Fame.

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame program for Saturday October 31, 2009. Toronto, Ontario.

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