SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER 2019 - NUACHLITIR MEAN FOMHAIR
We’re back! And a very warm welcome to all our newcomers.
COMHALTAS CEOLTOIRI EIREANN (CCE): is the traditional Irish music association, founded in 1951, with over 400 branches worldwide. The Irish Minstrels branch (that’s us) was the first to be formed outwith Ireland in 1957. The main people at that time were Eoin Kelly (singer and lilter), Jimmy Mchugh (fiddle) and Pat McNulty (uillean pipes). 62 years later, we are still going strong. St. Roch’s Ceili Band started as a school band in 1978 but soon got involved with Comhaltas. Classes moved to St. Roch’s and we have used that name since for our branch’s bands and groups when performing and competing.
The Tuesday classes follow the school terms. We have 25 tutors. They have all learned their music through St. Roch’s for free and are happy to put something back in. They teach on a voluntary basis. The £2 charge goes towards the school let, insurance, administration and subsidising our winter school in January, so effectively the lessons are free. Pretty unique, eh? We also ask you to take out family membership for Comhaltas. This costs £16. We’ll be collecting memberships from next week.
ALL-IRELAND FLEADH (FESTIVAL): this took place in August in Drogheda. It is equivalent to the Olympics. We had a huge contingent of competitors: bands, groups, solos, duets, singers and dancers. They all did us proud! Congratulations to our medallists: Myles McAuley, 1st in U12 piano accordion, 1st in U12 accompaniment; Calum McGregor, 2nd in U18 piano; Andrew Turner, 2nd in U18 accompaniment; David Brown, 3rd in senior accordion; Cara Conway, 2nd in U15 accompaniment; Jim McElhone, 3rd in senior singing (Irish).
QUALIFIERS’ CONCERT: Friday, 13th September, in the Couper Institute, at 7.30pm. Your chance to see all those who competed at the All-Ireland. This is a great opportunity for newcomers to see the wealth of talent in the branch and for young ones to be inspired and hopefully see what is in store for them in the future. To parents of performers: please come and watch. Don’t just drop the children off.
For anyone who did not qualify, they will be in the junior band, which will play Kerry Polka+Glenside1 and Denis Murphy’s+Kerry Slide, all from Book1. This includes U18B, U12B and U12C Grupai Cheoil.
The finale tunes are: East of Glendart, Willie Coleman’s and Morrison’s, all from Book2. All musicians go on stage at the end.
All the above tunes are on our website https://www.glasgowirishminstrels.com/tunes
Other useful links : https://www.facebook.com/strochsceiliband/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/glasgowirishminstrels/ (this is private. You can join after paying membership).
https://comhaltas.ie/
200 CLUB - Eileen Murray will take over the running of the 200 club this year and will be taking a table at the top of the stairs as you come in. The cost is only £20 per annum with a monthly draw. Standing order of £20 comes off on or around June 20th and is a one-off payment. You can sign up as many times as you like. Please see Eileen for more info.
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