Video
Comhaltas Video Archive
Irish traditional music is a passionate art form. The energy of dance music and the pathos and humour of traditional singing can be difficult to appreciate unless you have the chance to observe it at close quarters. Short of being there, we think that the ComhaltasLive video programmes give you a great chance to do just that.
We began a project a few years ago to document some of the great performances of traditional music. In association with the Irish International Webcasting Company, the ComhaltasLive project set out to capture some of the current ‘greats’ of traditional music, document some of the promising young stars and also to show music within its historical context by referencing audio and video from the past.
The weekly ComhaltasLive programmes have been well-received, and thousands of people have had a chance to see some of this great music up close and personal. Please take a look at this week’s programme, or browse through excerpts from our past programmes.
Suggest a show
If there’s an event or opportunity coming up that you think we ought to cover, just send us a note and we’ll see what we can do. And if we can’t get there, maybe you’d like to write up the event for our journal, Treoir. Don’t forget to include some photos and, where possible, one or two video clips on DVD which we may be able to upload on to the website.
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- ComhaltasLive #662_6:Cadhla Tohill, and Danú and Ríoghanach McKinney
- 2 October 2023
- The Reel “The White Fairy” played in the 15-18 Trios Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023, by Cadhla Tohill, and Danú and Ríoghanach McKinney from CCÉ, Keady, Co. Armagh.
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- ComhaltasLive #662_5:Mary Bergin accompaniment by Shane McGowan
- 1 October 2023
- One of our greatest and most influential tin whistle players, Mary Bergin, plays 3 Reels - “Big Pat’s”, “Billy Brockers” and “Tony Linnane’s” - with guitar accompaniment by Shane McGowan. Recorded on 15th Sept. 2023 at the CCÉ, Annual Paddy Killoran Festival in Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
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- ComhaltasLive #662_4:The Árd Eiscir Céilí Band
- 30 September 2023
- In the Senior Céilí Bands Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023, the Árd Eiscir Céilí Band from CCÉ, Raithean, Co. Offaly, play a Hornpipe - “Across the Fence” (B. McGlinchey). Band Members are - Fiddles : Ciara McKeogh, Danielle Lonergan and Clare Ann Kearns; Flutes : Eoin Carton and Brian Deegan; Accordion : James Hogan; Concertina : Eileen Brennan; Banjo : Maria Hartnett; Piano : Adrian Brady; Drums : Ciaran Brennan.
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- ComhaltasLive #662_3:Marie Walsh, Jason McGuinness and Tom Gavin
- 29 September 2023
- n the Scoil Éigse Tutors Concert at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023, Marie Walsh, Jason McGuinness and Tom Gavin play 3 Reels - “Farrel O’ Gara” , “The Tap Room” and “Trim the Velvet”.
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- ComhaltasLive #662_2:Aodhán Hughes and Hannah Lyons
- 28 September 2023
- Taking 1st place in 15-18 Duets Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023, Aodhán Hughes and Hannah Lyons, CCÉ, Caisleán a’ Bharraigh, Mayo, play the multi-part Jig “Paidín Ó Raffertí”.
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- ComhaltasLive #662_1:A group of 28 All-Ireland Senior Button Accordion Champions
- 27 September 2023
- In a special Open Air Concert Tribute to the late great Joe Burke at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023, a group of 28 All-Ireland Senior Button Accordion Champions from 1963 to 2022 played this selection of Reels - “Lord McDonald’s” and “Ballinasloe Fair” - with accompaniment by Adrian Ó Brádaigh.
The excellent Concert was organised by Karen McCormack and presented by well-known Accordion player Martin Donoghue, who also joined in the group selections. During the Concert each of the Accordion players did a solo performance and there were several full group selections during the Concert. Further items will be included in upcoming Comhaltas Live Programmes.
The participating players and their victorious years were as follows - John Bowe 1963, John Regan 1970, Seán Gavin 1972, PJ Hernon 1973, Deirdre Collis 1976, Gerry Hanley 1977, Willie Fogarty 1985, Michael Sexton 1987, Paddy Clancy 1988, John Bass 1989/90, Pádraig Kinsella 1995, Alan Costello 1997, James Kinsella 1999, Nuala Hehir 2000, Fiachna Ó Mongáin 2002, Oliver Deveney 2003, Marie Walsh 2004, Pa Foley 2006, Darren Breslin 2008, Pádraig King 2009, Conor Moriarty 2010, Chris Maguire 2013, Michael Curran 2014, Daithí Gormley 2015, Colm Slattery 2017, John McCann 2018, Séamus Tiernan 2019, Keelan McGrath 2022.
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- ComhaltasLive #661_full:
- 26 September 2023
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- ComhaltasLive #661_15:Fiona Gaffney and Clare Ann Kearns
- 25 September 2023
- A selection of 3 Reels ending with “Paddy Fahy’s” played by Fiona Gaffney and Clare Ann Kearns in a lovely Fiddle duet in the Scoil Éigse Tutors Concert at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023 in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.