Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

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Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Society of the Musicians of Ireland in English), refers to an organisation in Ireland which is dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and language of Ireland. It was founded in 1951 by a group of traditional pipers who felt that the Irish musical tradition was on the decline. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ. Labhrás Ó Murchú is the Director General (Ardstiúrthóir) of the organisation.

The goals of Comhaltas are:

  • 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.

Comhaltas is responsible for organising the annual national Irish music festival/competition or Fleadh Cheoil. Usually held in August, the 2005 and 2006 events were held in Letterkenny, County Donegal, and the 2007 Fleadh was held in Tullamore in county Offaly which is also the location for the 2008 event. For students of traditional music, many participate in the Scrúdu Ceol Tíre (SCT) programme, a graded system of 12 progressive exams emphasising performance and music theory. Teachers wishing to be certified in teaching Irish traditional music participate in the Teastais Teagaisc Cheol Tíre (TTCT) diploma course.

Comhaltas today has 30,000 members in 400 branches, based in many countries throughout the world. Through this network of branches, Comhaltas offers > 1,000 classes per week in the performance of Irish music.

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