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Monday 18 February 2013

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

2 comments:

  1. Fascinating background material. Thank you Pat, Eoin and Paty. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Don and Leo were so thrilled with the 1974 concert in Montreal that they wanted to have the tour come to Ottawa. That required having a Branch of Comhaltas in Ottawa and a necessary condition to start a Branch was to have a Ceilí Band. The Band was started and monthly ceilís and other Comhaltas activities were held at St. Pat's Hall until it was torn down.

    ReplyDelete

Until next time / Go dtí an chéad uair eile!