The History Of Comhaltas

 

Background
During the early part of the twentieth century there was a renaissance in Irish traditional music. Much of this was due to the famous recordings by Michael Coleman, Jim Morrison and Paddy Kiloran in the States. Many of these recordings found their way back to Ireland with returning emigrants giving a boost to our native home-based culture. However, as the century progressed various events such as the introduction of the "Dance Halls" act and the demise of house dances along with the globalisation of entertainment in general led to a certain marginalization of traditional entertainment. This threat to our traditional culture soon became apparent to many of those involved at the time and the need for urgent action to redress the situation was agreed.

Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Eireann (Comhaltas) – The Early Years
In January 1951, representatives of the Thomas Street (Dublin) Pipers' Club went to Mullingar for a meeting with traditional music enthusiasts from County Westmeath. Two ideas which had already been mentioned amongst traditional musicians were discussed at this meeting; the first was the founding of an organisation to promote Irish traditional music while the second was the organising of a great annual festival of Irish traditional music, song and dance. A further meeting was held in February, and at this meeting it was decided that, in conjunction with Feis Lár na hÉireann (a Gaelic League Feis which had been held in Mullingar for many years), a Fleadh Cheoil would be organised in the town in May over the Whit weekend.
On October 14th, 1951, at Árus Ceannt, Thomas Street, Dublin, the first standing Committee of Cumann Ceoltóirí na hÉireann was elected. At a meeting in St. Mary's Hall, Mullingar, on January 6th, 1952, the title of the organisation was changed from Cumann Ceoltóiri na hÉireann to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

The Comhaltas Movement
Branches of Comhaltas were formed all over Ireland, organising classes, concerts, and sessions at local level. Comhaltas now has more than 400 branches, established in every Irish County, in Britain, the US, Canada (40 branches have been formed in North America to date), and worldwide in places such as Japan, Hungary, Sardinia, and Australia. As it approaches its 50th anniversary in the year 2001, Comhaltas can now be seen as a truly international movement committed to the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish culture, music, song, language and dance.

Comhaltas Aims and Objects
At its formation Comhaltas adopted the following Aims and Objects:-

• To promote Irish Traditional Music in all its forms
• To restore the playing of the Harp and Uilleann Pipes in the National life of Ireland
• To promote Irish Traditional Dancing
• To foster and promote the Irish Language at all times
• To create a closer bond among all lovers of Irish Music
• To co-operate with all bodies working for the restoration of Irish Culture

• To establish branches throughout the country and abroad to achieve the foregoing aims and objects

The Fleadh Cheoil
In the years before the Fleadh, although the ordinary people of Ireland loved traditional music, the thousands of traditional musicians in the country were largely unappreciated in popular social and intellectual circles. The aim of the Fleadh was to promote traditional music and to arrest the decline in its popularity. The cream of traditional Irish musicians attending the Fleadh played a major role in furthering this aim. Fleadhanna Cheoil gave traditional musicians a platform where they could play to an appreciative audience and where traditional style was the criterion. That first Fleadh Cheoil in 1951 attracted only a few hundred patrons - a small but enthusiastic crowd. Within five years, however, this annual gathering had grown to become a great National Festival attended by thousands of traditional musicians, singers, and dancers from all parts of Ireland and overseas.
Another goal of the Fleadh Cheoil was to establish standards in Irish traditional music through competition. For this reason the Fleadh initially developed as a mainly competitive event, but it also included many other aspects such as concerts, céilithe, parades, pageants, and street sessions thus appealing to a wide range of tastes. This facet of Fleadhanna was further developed in 1970 with the introduction of Fleadh Nua which concentrates mainly on non-competitive events. Fleadh Nua started in Dublin but in 1974 it moved to Ennis, County Clare where it’s colourful and innovative programme of activities has established it as a firm favourite in the annual calendar of Comhaltas events.
Right through the sixties and seventies, the Fleadh continued to grow and the number of would-be competitors grew so large that qualifying stages had to be arranged, at county and provincial level, to produce a manageable number of participants for the All-Ireland finals at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Today Fleadh Cheoil events are organised annually in every county in Ireland, in each region of the UK and North America culminating in Provincial Fleadhanna and finally Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2000 in Enniscorthy attracted over 200,000 patrons including amongst their number more than 10,000 musicians. These traditional enthusiasts carry on the great tradition of playing and cherishing our music, song and dance thereby ensuring the survival and further development of the Fleadh Cheoil concept.

Comhaltas Work Programme
To assist in the achievement of its aims and objects, Comhaltas has a very comprehensive work programme which includes:-
Archives
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has one of the most valuable national archives of traditional music and song in the country. This collection, housed at Cultúrlann na hÉireann, contains over 4000 hours of edited priceless material, which is being added to regularly. Much of this material was collected over the years by An Timire Ceoil, Séamus MacMathúna. It reflects the many talents and styles of the various regions of the country and the Irish community abroad.
Concert Tours
Comhaltas concert tours form a vital part of the movement's annual work programme. For audiences at home and abroad, these tours showcase all that's best in our traditional music, song, and dance. Top class performers in all fields display the high standards and regional styles that have become synonymous with these events through the years.
Concert tours date back to 1972 when the first official North American Tour took place. The Tour of Britain in 1973 and the Tour of Ireland in 1980 followed. While these three tours have become an annual feature in the Comhaltas calendar, other equally successful tours have been organized from time to time. Examples are the1997 Tour of Australia and the 1998 Tour of China by the Brú Ború Group from Cashel.
These Tours not only serve a very important ambassadorial function for Ireland, but they also forge strong links between the Irish Diaspora and the homeland. Taking North America as an example, thousands of Irish-Americans (first and second generation) play Irish traditional music and visit Ireland on a regular basis.
Education
Educational facilities have a high priority in the Comhaltas programme. Through its numerous classes and courses, Comhaltas encourages the development of artistic abilities in the indigenous Irish arts. With the use of publications, recordings, summer schools, concerts, sessions, céilís, and other recreational and educational projects, the movement continues to mould Irish music, song, and dance as powerful, integral components of community life.
Irish, the native language of Ireland, is afforded a special status in Comhaltas and the movement is unreservedly committed to its promotion.
In addition to over 600 music classes organised by Comhaltas each week, the following educational facilities are available to members and non-members alike:-
- a Diploma Course for teachers of Irish traditional music (In the region of 450 teachers have now qualified for this TTCT Diploma).
- Scoil Éigse, a week-long Summer College of Irish traditional music, song, dance

and language (regularly attended by up to 600 students) is held each year in the week immediately preceding Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
- A nationwide Irish traditional music examination is now available twice yearly.
Amongst the many other components of the educational programme is the quarterly Treoir magazine which has been published regularly for more than 30 years.

For more information go to the main Comhaltas website