Comhaltas expands to South America
20 Meitheamh 2007, 1:06 PM GMT
Buenos Aires Branch – Last night a new branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann was established. The branch is known as The River Plate Branch and is unique insofar as it is the first branch registered in South America.
The inaugral meeting took place in Ceolaras Coleman in Gurteen, Co. Sligo under the chairmanship of Seamus McCormack, Leas Uachtaran of Comhaltas and chairman of Connaught Council, when 4 dancers and 26 musicians from Buenos Aires, Argentina elected their committee. Also in attendance were Mr. gerry Lundy, Leas Cathaoirleach, of Sligo Co. Council and Martin Enright, Cathaoirleach Coiste Coundae Shligigh
The event was the culmination of negotiations between the Argentinian group and Vince Hearns the Meitheal Reachtaire for Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Fermanagh. Earlier in the day The Reachtaire arranged a civic reception by the newly elected Mayor of Sligo, Jonathan Mc Goldrick and afterwards the group entertained shoppers with an impromptu session in O Connell Street, Sligo.
The thirty visitors some of whom are descendents of Irish emigrants entertained a capacity audience in the theatre at Ceolaras Coleman in Gurteen after their inaugral meeting and amazed those present at the high standard of playing Irish traditional music , song and dance.
Later, they adjourned to the Roisín Dubh where they were joined with such local stalwards as Sheila O Dowd, Peter Horan, Philip Doddy, Loretta Taheny (who was visiting from Canada), John and Maria McHugh from Foxford, Co. Mayo all in all there were 52 musicians at that session.
Fernando Marcos, a member of the group is one of only two qualified teachers of Irish traditional dancing in the South American continent was complimented by the renowned Ted McGowan saying that it was the best performance that he had seen since Michael Flately (a neighbours son) tapped the hallowed tiled floor of the the famous establishment. Fernando said “ I like to tango, but Irish music is everything to me. I love dancing hornpipes and reels and I love the Irish music.” Referring to the establishment of the new branch he said “ It is quite unbelievable to me that we live so far away but are being linked in this way today. It makes us feel so welcome, warm and loved.”
Also in the group was Augustin Brown (29) a seventh generation descendent of Admiral William Brown who was born in Foxford, Co. Mayo, founder of the Argentinian navy and revered throughout Argentina. He told us that there were no less than 1,100 streets, six towns, 320 schools, 441 plazzas and 6 football teams called after his illustrious Irish ancestor. He described this his second visit to Ireland as being very significant and that he felt he had come home.
Póstáilte ag comhaltas
Tuairimí
- jj o hara
- 27 June 2007
- 5:06 PM GMT
well done to vince and all the comhaltas groups who made my guests so welcome.the 150 annivesary of admiral brown was more rich because of them.BUT the real reward was for them to feel part of comhaltas and meet so many.it can only be the start of something great.well done vince and matt molloy and sligo mayo galway clare tipp and dublin… what a great two weeks they are having.
- Vince Hearns
- 29 June 2007
- 6:06 PM GMT
We have received a request from the Martin Byrnes branch in Co. Galway wishing to twin with the River Plate Branch, also a new branch-- the Admiral brown branch in Foxford Co. mayo has been established and thay also wish to twin with the Argentinian branch. I am meeting Tomas Nelson the chairman on Saturday 30/06/07 and will discuss these developments.
- Tomás (Tommy) Nelson
- 19 July 2007
- 10:07 PM GMT
Hi! Here we are, back in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a fantastic trip and we are very happy to join the Comhaltas family. We are now preparing everything to begin our branch´s activities. So, to all the people interested in comunicate or visit us, we ask a little pacience. Soon we´ll be able to announce our plans. Aniway, till this happens, you can send messages to my email adress. Thanks a million to J.J. O´Hara for all he´d done ro us and to improve links between our countries! And to Vince and all the other friends we met in our magic time in Ireland. Best wishes!
- Roxana Farina
- 24 July 2007
- 2:07 PM GMT
I’d like to thank Vince for the gorgeous evening we spent in Cashel at the Brú Ború Centre. The show the lads presented was fun-tastic! We’d love to see them again.
Also, Vince, as a personal note, thanks for the lift to the Thurles train station, sure it was very early.
All the best, God bless!
Rox
Go raibh mile maith agat!
- Vince Hearns
- 26 July 2007
- 12:07 PM GMT
Hi Rox, I really enjoyed meeting you and all the’forgotten cousins’. I am in regular contact with Tommy Nelson and with Xandra (Sean) Reguera assisting them in getting the branch in Argentina functional.
Keep in touch,
le gach dea ghuí
Vince
- Vince Hearns
- 13 August 2007
- 3:08 PM GMT
Hi Fernando Marcos!
Did you have any problem getting the dancing shoes past the customs??
Regards,
Vince Hearns
- Fernando Marcos
- 21 August 2007
- 5:08 PM GMT
Hi Vince!,
It’s so good to know from you!, I didn’t have any problems getting the hardshoes into Argentina!,
The shoes are now with their very happy owners… (my student’s neighbours are not that happy though).
Thank you very much for all your support and for those unforgettable days in Gurteen and Brú Ború!!!!.
Warm Regards,
Fernando
- Vince Hearns
- 4 September 2007
- 6:09 PM GMT
Buenos tardes! Ola
Check out the Argentinian page on this website. Click location and enter River Plate Branch.
- Roxana Farina
- 6 September 2007
- 11:09 AM GMT
Hi Vince! I just did! Very good!
Cheers!
Rox
- Tommy Nelson
- 8 September 2007
- 12:09 PM GMT
Hello friends! Last night we had our first official session in Buenos Aires and it was fantastic. We were delighted with the visit of Aurora Burd, a young fiddler from Washington D.C., who had contact us in june, when this article was posted in the Comhaltas blog. We had a good number of musicians and we were playing for hours. Later we join a group of setdancers who had benn practicing in another saloon, and whe had a good pizza together! Soon we´ll anounce our activities in the website page that Vince Hearns announced a few days ago. If you are planning to come to Buenos Aires or you´re already here, contact us! We´ll be happy to meet you to share music and frienship. Best wishes!
- Vince Hratns
- 12 September 2007
- 1:09 PM GMT
Ola amigos!
delighted to read that you are “up and running”. Great to see that the network is working and that Aurora Burd joined up with you for the session. I am hopeful that the The Admiral Brown Branch in Foxford will be established officially very soon and that the twinning process will follow.
Regards to all,
Vince
- Meitheal - Gurteen
- 2 November 2007
- 10:11 AM GMT
Ola amigos!
Congratulations to all present at the annual general meeting on 21 Oct. Visit the web page for a report on the meeting. Note the branch name was changed to Buenos Aires branch.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Vince Hearns
- Vince Hearns
- 24 March 2008
- 6:03 PM GMT
As we prepare to leave Argentina, a short note of thanks to all our friends for their kindness and hospitality during our visit. Also to our new found friends in Uruguay who will join the comhaltas family in the near future.
Vince and Mona
- Elias Montiel
- 26 March 2008
- 2:03 PM GMT
Thank you Vince for your visit, hope Mona and you had
a good time here on your 40th anniversary.
We had a great time last saturday at the fahy club and thanks for the Sean nós song about the yellow bird.
We’ll be looking forward to meet you again in the furture for more music and dancing!
Take Care!
Elias
- Conrad O'Neill
- 25 April 2008
- 1:04 AM GMT
Vince and Mona,
I just found this blog and went quickly over it.
Just a short note to say it was a pleasure and a great honour to play for such an audience at the Beltrán in Colonia last 14 March. We were delighted to meet you and Mona and really hope you had a chance to relax and enjoy your holidays. Hope you have recovered completely now.
Best regards from Uruguay!
Grianan
- Aurora Burd
- 12 May 2008
- 9:05 PM GMT
Hi folks,
I just came back from my 4th trip to Argentina, where I played at a lovely session at the Fahy Club during Mr. Hearns’ visit. Anyway, Tommy, Pamela, Alfredo, and the other members of the branch are wonderful. I’m so glad to know them and to play with them!
Regards from Seattle!
Aurora
- Marcelo Muttis
- 5 February 2009
- 3:02 PM GMT
Hi all, I got in touch with some friends that attends to the Buenos Aires Branch and although I´m a beginner piper I hope to join a session soon.
Kind Regards
River Plate Branch are on tour in Ireland and would like to meet with other branches for a session. They are in Ballina tonight 20th Jun, Westport tomorrow In the Culturlann on Saturday, O’Sheas merchant on Sunday. Would you like to host a session for them? Give me a call on 0872746033 or at .