BRANCH LIFE IN THE CULTÚRLANN
(1976 - 1985)

Cultúrlann na h-Éireann at 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, became the headquarters of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in 1976. Prior to this move from 6 Harcourt Street, an extraordinary general meeting of the Seán Treacy Branch took place in the Teachers' Club in Parnell Square. This meeting, prompted by letters from the Glackin and Haverty families, was to decide if we would avail of the option to move our session to the Cultúrlann. A vote ensued, the result being the move was on - and it happened in May, 1976. Initially our session took place downstairs, but increasing attendances and the proximity to the bar caused us some months later to transfer to the hall. The move to the Cultúrlann was of great benefit financially; we were no longer on fixed rent - one third of the door takings we kept, two thirds went to Comhaltas. Tea or coffee (or milk for Mícheál Ó hAlmhain) was available and also bar facilities, and some months later soup, beautiful scones and delicious apple tart came on the menu. Our membership also increased - in our first year we had 162 members and in 1977 we had 200. We had the biggest adult membership in Comhaltas for a few years. Being in Comhaltas Headquarters, visiting musicians flocked to our door, in holiday time in particular. We had many tremendous sessions, which were well supported by our own Branch musicians and patrons.

Apart from the talent we brought to the Cultúrlann, our new membership yielded more, and with this strengthened pool of talent, we participated, with much success, in competitions such as Scoraíocht, Pléaracha and later on, Ceol an Gheimhridh.

In the late 1970s the Dúchas Branch (which operated from the Cultúrlann also) disbanded and we gained into our membership some of their talented and youthful members such as Diarmuid, Eoin agus Nollaig Ó Cionnaith, Mícheál Ó Cionna, Fiontán Ó Meachair, Niall Ó Callanáin, Seosamh Ó Dúill, Fearghal Ó Brolcháin.

Volunteer members featured everywhere, manning the door at the Friday night sessions (Paddy King, Nuala and Jim Flynn, Phil McAvinue, Séamus Duffy, Donncha Ó Muíneacháin, Jim Markey, Arthur Keenan, Stephen Sheerin, Mick Cantwell being among the most constant), ladies catering in the kitchen to supply the "goodies", also the many "fir-an-tí" (of whom Connie Ryan, Seán Haverty, Jimmy Morgan most readily spring to mind), personnel to run the card drives and again a kitchen staff to supply tea, scones/apple tart and act as bar persons. It was dedication all the way. Maureen Glackin was "queen" of the kitchen - she was a gracious and friendly hostess for the many regulars and visitors to the Cultúrlann on Friday nights. And many a night she was called upon at short notice to make those lovely fruit scones. Somehow or other, the night was not the same if Maureen was not on duty in the Cultúrlann for the Seán Treacy Branch sessions. Other willing kitchen helpers over the years were - Nuala and Niamh Flynn, Kay, Helen and Marie Galvin, Helen & Donncha Ó Muíneacháin, Gráinne and Eileen Murphy, Mairéad Ryan, Freda Keady, Ann & Mary Ronan, Máire Morgan, Heilmí Saidléar, Mary O'Kelly, Patricia Keenan. Bar assistance was mainly provided by Mícheál and Siobhán Treacy, Jim Flynn, Mick Cantwell and Jim Markey.

The Branch Committee ran a competition for a Branch Banner in 1982. Artistic uilleann-piper Seosamh Ó Dúill was the winner. The Branch Banner, designed by Seosamh, was made by Freda Keady, another member of considerable artistic talent at a cost of £180. (The Banner can now be seen hanging at the regular Tuesday night Branch session in Millmount House). Speaking of artists, Louis Sinclair, a very gentle, caring and generous person from the U.S.A. would be our best known member. A beautiful painting he donated to the Branch was passed on to Árd-Stiúrthóir Labhrás Ó Murchú to adorn his office. Louis took tin whistle lessons from Mícheál Ó hAlmhain for a number of years. Louis and his lovely wife Adele and baby Owen now live in Maine, U.S.A., but may be returning to Dublin in the near future.

Unrest became obvious after our 1982 A.G.M. when Labhrás Ó Murchú addressed the meeting as guest speaker. He spoke about the proposed extension to the Cultúrlann - the need to replace the hall, etc. but while our members appreciated the need for the renovations at a projected cost of £813,000, we were left unsure of where our session would take place in this new structure.

Sessions continued, fund raising for C.C.É. in the form of card drives and raffles continued, and on our own behalf our Annual Diner was the highlight of every year. Our sessions were being held downstairs in "Geantraí" in the fireside area, with problems being caused by the proximity to the bar, through-traffic, etc. The Seán Treacy Branch was still a strong one - featuring successfully every year at the Fleadhanna Cheoil and in tours of America and Britain.

The introduction of a Friday night céilí in the Halla Nua sparked off the warning bells for our members. Its effects on our session were disastrous. The loss of our Branch identity and independence in the Cultúrlann had also become a concern to many of our members in the early 1980s. At our A.G.M. in Croke Park on 18 November, 1985 a vote on the change of venue was carried. Unfortunately, our move cost us the loss of many valued south city members, who formed a new Comhaltas Branch in the Cultúrlann, called Craobh Chualann.

Mar fhocal scoir, on behalf of the Branch, I wish to acknowledge with sincere thanks the courtesy and assistance we have been given over the years during our tenancy at the Cultúrlann from Head-office staff, in particular from Kit Hodge and John McCracken. Go raibh mile maith agaibh.