News - 2006

Branch Outing To Omagh
We (67 of us) had another very successful outing on 13/14/15 Deireadh Fómhair to Dún Uladh, Omagh, Co. Tyrone. There was an impromptu session and set dancing on Friday night. Saturday night coincided with the scheduled Set Dancing Night in Dún Uladh and music for the sets on Frid/Saturday was by the lively Copperplate Céilí Band. There was also a parallel session on Saturday night of musicians, singers and story tellers, young and older, from Branches across Tyrone and Craobh Seán Treacy - so everyone was very happy. We also had a very interesting guided tour of the Ulster American Folk Park Museum earlier on Saturday morning.

Many thanks to our hosts the Omagh Traditional Dancing club and the Omagh and other Branches of Comhaltas from Co. Tyrone who were more than generous with their hospitality and in particular to Marie Garty, Jolie McElroy and Paul Cairns and to John Mulligan from this Branch who together did trojan work in making it all happen.

International Celtic Festival, Lorient, France 28 July - 6 August 2006
"Spleodar", the 6 person Irish traditional music group whose members include Colm Hanley, Muireann Banks and Lyndsey Moynagh (members and/or teachers in the Branch) featured on the programme of the Festival. The group also came third in the sponsored competition for traditional groups - Congratulations. Copies of their CD produced specially for their participation in the festival are available from Colm Hanley, price €15. The group were enthusiastically supported by members of the Kelleher family and friends.

There were outdoor and indoor performances from groups, pipe bands and musicians from Ireland, Galicia and Asturias in Northern Spain, Brittany, Scotland, Wales, Australia and Arcadie, New Brunswick in Canada. Regional gastronomic delights from Brittany, beaches, Funfair rides.

Participation in Scoil Éigse 2006, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Many of the younger members participated again in the Scoil Éigse which included workshops, talks, recitals by the teachers, organised slow and not so slow session every evening in Club na hÉigse, Clanree Hotel. Those enjoying the week included Karl Riordan; Stephen McCarthy; Ruairí Gleeson; Daragh and Enda Kelleher; Carmel Whelan; Niamh O'Sullivan; Paul McGee; Emer Toal; Robert, Niall and Meábh Preston; Grace Dowling,

Activities started on 20 August, i.e. Sunday evening with the welcoming informal session and concluded on 25 august, i.e. Friday lunchtime with a major concert presented by the teachers from the workshops. The Éigse activities are a marvellous opportunity to meet friends and acquaintances from around the world from previous fleadhs and workshops and to make new ones. Visitors to the Fleadh included the Ryan, Reilly, Dowling, Duffy and McKiernan (x2) families.

Friendships were helped very much by the village/community atmosphere in the campsite specially reserved for Éigse participants with its motley collection of about 50 motorhomes, caravans and tents. Thankfully the weather was drier than in 2005.

Participation (and success) in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, 2006
Branch members who qualified for the Fleadh included Niall Preston who was placed first in the Bodhrán under 15s; Emma Reilly in the Songs in English (Ladies) under 18s (Emma also accompanied Niall in the Bodhrán competition); Emer Toal in the Harp under 15s; Paula and Colm Hanly, Ruth McKiernan and Anne Marie Reilly in Na Comharsanna Céilí Band, and Aidan Duffy in Gleann na Coille Band in the Senior Céilí Band Competition.

Congratulations to all as qualifying for the finals is a major achievement in itself.