Comhdháil '97
The Annual Congress of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was held in Culturlann na hÉireann, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, on the 3/4 May. Delegates attended from all over Ireland, Britain, and North America. There was an attendance of almost 500. The annual Report of Comhaltas shows there there are now over 400 branches worldwide. These include areas such as Nuremberg, Budapest, Milan, Tokyo and Sardinia in addition to North America, Australia and Britain. The North American Convention, held in April in Boston and attended by Minister Alan Dukes, TD, had 1,400 representatives from all over the United States and Canada.
Education is a major part of the Comhaltas programme which includes over 600 classes and a Diploma course for traditional music teachers. The annual Scoil Éigse- the Summer college for promising young exponents who are given tuition by the ‘masters’ -continues to attract record numbers.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which attracts attendances of up to 150,000 people and generates in excess of £7m for the venue is still one of the highlights of the Comhaltas calendar. The 1997 event will be held in Ballina, Co. Mayo. There are 44 Fleadhanna Cheoil each year.
The first Comhaltas Concert Tour of Australia was from the 1st to the 18th May and included 14 concerts. When the Tour show Echoes of Erin was screened by RTE on St Patrick’s Night it achieved the same TAM rating as Riverdance. By popular demand it was repeated by RTE on Monday, May 5th.
