Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

Irish musical organisation

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Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

Formation| 1951
Type| Music organisation
Purpose| Primarily the managing and promotion of Irish music and dance, also the promotion of Irish culture in general and the language.
Headquarters| Cultúrlann na hÉireann, Monkstown, Dublin

Region served

| Worldwide

Official language

| Irish language

President

| Éamonn Ó hArgáin

Director General

| Labhrás Ó Murchú
Staff| Limited full time staff
Website| https://comhaltas.ie/

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Irish pronunciation: [ˈkoːl̪ˠt̪ˠəsˠ ˈcoːl̪ˠt̪ˠoːɾʲiː ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ]; meaning "Society of the musicians of Ireland") is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The organisation was founded in 1951 and has promoted Irish music and culture among the Irish people and the Irish diaspora.

Its current Director General is Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú. Today[when?] it has more than 400 branches worldwide, in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

## History

[edit]

Comhaltas was founded in 1951 in Mullingar, County Westmeath by a group of traditional pipers who felt that the Irish musical tradition was in decline[citation needed]; it was initially named Cumann Ceoltóirí na hÉireann, changing to its present name in 1952.[1]

## Comhaltas around the World

[edit]

### Great Britain

[edit]

Six years after the creation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, in 1957, Comhaltas na Breataine or Comhaltas in Britain was established. The first branch outside of Ireland was based in Glasgow where a many Irish immigrants settled during the 50s and 60s. As of 2024, it now hosts over 24 branches across England, Scotland and Wales.[2]

## Centres

[edit]

* Áras an Mhuilinn, Mullingar.
* Brú Ború, Cashel.
* Brú na Sí, Youghal.
* Clasaċ, Clontarf.
* Cnoc na Gaoithe, Tulla.
* Cois na hAbhna, Ennis.
* Cultúrlann na hÉireann, Headquarters, Monkstown.
* Dún Uladh, Omagh.
* Dún na Sí, Moate.
* Kilrush Regional Outreach Centre.
* Meitheal an Íarthar/Ceoláras Coleman/Regional Resource Centre, Gurteen.
* Morrison Teach Cheoil, Riverstown.
* Oriel Centre (Dundalk Gaol).

## Activities

[edit]

Opening of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008 in Tullamore Áras an Mhuilinn, one of the Comhaltas centres in Ireland. Comhaltas was established in Mullingar in 1951.

Comhaltas is responsible for organising the annual national Irish music festival and competition called the Fleadh Cheoil.

Comhaltas has published a magazine called Treoir relating to Irish traditional music since 1970.[3]

## See also

[edit]

* Music of Ireland
* Uilleann pipes
* Irish language
* Fleadh Cheoil

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Fintan Vallely (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. New York University Press. pp. 79–. ISBN 978-0-8147-8802-8. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
2. ^ "Our History". Comhaltas in Britain. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
3. ^ Treoir; Trinity College Dublin Library

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

Other|

* MusicBrainz label

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