Qualifiers
for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Clonmel 28/29 August
2004
Dermot
Burke Fiddle 15-18
Ruth Nic
Thighearnáin Flute
15-18
Claire O' Donnell Harp 12-15
Enda Kelleher
English Singing (Boys )
12-15
Risteárd de
Barra Amhránaíocht Fir
os cionn 18
Déirdre Nic
Éanruig Amhránaíocht
Mná os cionn 18
Singing (Ladies, English) over 18
Other Successes at
Fleadh Cheoil Laighean 2004
Set Dance
Competition 12 - 15 1st
Niall Preston
Bodhrán 12 - 15 3rd
Déirdre Nic Éanruig
Singing (Ladies, English) over 18 3rd
Fleadh
Cheoil na hÉireann 2004
Well done to all the Branch members who
qualified and competed.
Congratulations to Dermot Burke who won
the Fiddle Competition (Dance Music) 15 - 18 and to Ruth Nic
Thighearnáin who placed 3rd in the Flute Competition
(Dance Music) 15 - 18. Tá moladh mór tuillte
agaibh beirt.
Comhaltas Video on
Two-Hand Dances
Donncha Ó Muíneacháin
made an instructional video on 2-hand dances,
entitled "Beirt Eile,"
which was launched by Senator Labhrás
Ó Murchú, Director General CCÉ, during
the Fleá Nua in Ennis,
Co. Clare, at the Saturday night (29 May, 2004)
céilí in Cois na hAbhna and again at the
opening céilí of Fleadh Cheoil na
hÉireann 2004 in Clonmel.
The dances featured on the video, which are demonstrated by
Donncha and by Brenda Hogan, are:
2-hand reel, 2 hand jig, Stack of Barley (3 versions),
Siamsa Beirte (a 2-hand hornpipe),
Shoe the Donkey/Verse of Vienna, the Schottische, The
Peeler and the Goat,
Highland/Fling (2 versions) and the odd one out - a three
hand Highland.
The video, which was co-sponsored by Comhaltas
Headquarters and Craobh Seán Treacy CCÉ,
is available at a cost of euro20 (ST£15 / US
$25), plus postage and packaging, from the Comhaltas
Headquarters
in Dublin (Tel. 01-2800295).
Branch Trip to
Carrig-on-Bannow, Co Wexford
Over 50 members of the Branch enjoyed a great
week-end of music, song and dance and a visit to the Hook
Head Lighthouse on Saturday/Sunday 19/20 June 2004, at the
kind invitation of the Carrig-on-Bannow Branch of Comhaltas.
We were very impressed by the large number, and the quality,
of the young members of this Branch - they are extremely
talented musicians, singers, lilters and dancers, and they
have a fantastic music teacher and mentor in Áine
Kennedy. We also enjoyed the performances of such County
Wexford "luminaries" as "Pip" Murphy (mouth-organ) and
singers Paddy Berry, Phil Berry and his son Ronan and John
Ennis. And the hospitality was great. On our way back to
Dublin on the Sunday, the Branch musicians, singers and
dancers performed at an open-air charity event in
Ballycogley, near Wexford Town. A heavy downpour of rain put
a premature end to the performance, depriving our 3 teams of
set-dancers the opportunity of displaying their dancing
skills in public!
The Carrig-on-Bannow Branch paid us a return visit
Saturday/Sunday 9/10 October 2004, and we enjoyed a mighty
night - with over 60 musicians - in Scoil Chaitríona,
Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, on the Saturday night.
Honouring Des &
Mona Leech
On Tuesday night, 12th October 2004, at our
weekly session venue in Santry, a presentation was made to
longstanding members Des and Mona Leech in acknowledgement
of their dedicated and valued service to the Branch over the
years. Des served on the Branch Committee for many years -
as Chairman for a few of those years - and Mona looked after
the Branch music classes for a good many years, when they
were held in Ard Scoil Rís, Griffith Avenue. Our
genial Fear-an-Tí (and Branch President) Seán
Haverty and Branch Chairperson Mary Whelan made the
presentation.
Comórtas Siansa Gael-Linn
Bhí Craobh-Chomórtas
Siansa 2003/2004 - do ghrúpaí ceoil, le
hamhrán i nGaeilge riachtanach in a gclár
ceoil - ar siúl san Ionad Ealaíne i Muileann
Cearr, Co. na hIarmhí, ar Aoine 23 Aibreán
2004. Bhí spéis nach beag ag an gCraobh ann -
bhí baill againn i dtrí grúpaí
as ocht ngrúpaí - Cuideachta,
iontráil oifigiúil na Craoibhe, Cuisle
ar a raibh Diarmuid de Búrca (agus roinnt iarbhaill
chomh maith) páirteach sa ghrúpa, agus
grúpa ó Choláiste
Eoin/Coláiste Íosagáin ar a raibh
Ruth Nic Thighearnáin páirteach. Bhí na
grúpaí go léir ar fheabhas. Mhol na
moltóirí - Máire Breathnach, Mary
Bergin agus Ciarán Ó Gealbháin -
ard-chaighdeán na ngrúpaí ar fad.
Bhuaidh Cuisle an chéad duais de euro2,000
agus grúpa Ruth an tríú duais de
euro500 - deinimíd comhgháirdeachas leo - agus
bíodh is nach raibh Cuideachta i measc na
mBuaiteoirí an oiche sin bhíomar
an-mhórálach astu.
Seo leanas baill
"Cuideachta":
Amanda agus Emma Ní Raghallaigh,
Niamh Ní Shúilleabháin, Carl Ó
Ríordáin, Aedemar Nic Thighearnáin,
Sharon Ní Eosaidh, Clár Nic Dhomhnaill, Danny
Shields.
Is í Póilín
Ní Raghallaigh stiúrthóir ceoil an
Ghrúpa.
Week-end
in The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon ~ 13 - 15
February, 2004
57 Branch Members spent a most enjoyable
week-end in the Falls Hotel over the Valentine weekend. Most
travelled down by special bus.
Martin O'Leary got a great deal in the hotel for 2 nights B
& B and 2 evening dinners. The accommodation and meals
were excellent and
the weather was great for the time of year. Our junior
musicians were the real "stars" of the week-end, playing
with surprising maturity for
their years under the adult guidance of Annie O'Donnell and
John Kelleher. Thanks to Emma Reilly, Carmel Whelan, Niamh
O'Sullivan,
Karl Reardon, Ruairí Ó Gliasáin,
Enda Kelleher, Annie, John and the Preston Family for
entertaining us and playing for the dancers.
Thanks to Mary Murphy and Willie Lawlor and Emma Reilly for
their fine singing and all the other performers who
entertained us over
the weekend. Mary and Willie really displayed their broad
range of singing talents on the Saturday night, prompted
occasionally by the
fabulous playing of the hotel pianist. We also appreciated
the surprise appearances of two Irish Step Dancers (not
young girls you know!)
on the Friday night and two "Arabs" on the Saturday
night. Thanks Maureen, Pat and Bridie for these funny
moments. Thanks to all the
singers who shortened the bus journey for us on the way home
on Sunday, after a stop for a lovely lunch in the Racket
Hall, Roscrea.
Bhí deireadh seachtaine iontach taitneamhach againn
go léir.
