News
Trad for Trocaire 2014
Our Trad for Trocaire event took place on Friday the 17th in Scoil Charthaigh Naofa, Newtown, Rahan.
Although the crowd was down a bit when compared to last year, the atmosphere and generosity of all in attendance was certainly not lacking, as we we set a new money raised record this year to the tune of €452.66, which will be passed onto Trocaire where that money will be put to good use helping those less fortunate than ourselves. We had a great evening of music, song and dance which came to a close with the now traditional Siege of Ennis where by no wallflowers are tolerated which makes for a great auld laugh for everybody involved (yours truly with his two left feet included) .
Below are a few pictures taken on the night
Here are some of our younger dancers in action
Siege of Ennis about to kick off (calm before the storm)
In full swing now we are sucking diesel.
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Culture Night 2014
Charleville Castle was the venue for our Culture night which took place on the 19th of September.
The night was a great success where the first half of the night we provided the entertainment and following the break we were joined our friends from Tullamore, Ballyboy and to add some international flavor we had a chap from Kazakhstan which resulted in a cocktail of cultures, East meeting West in the true spirit of the night in the grand surrounds of the great hall within the castle.
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Newsletter Sept 2014
Please note a venue change for the Culture night on 19th of September, it is now taking place in Charleville castle and starting at 8PM,
No admission charge and all ages welcome so Bigí Linn 🙂
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Music and Dance Lessons 2014 – 2015
If you would like to be part of our performing group ?
Or would just like to take part in a Seisiún like this ?
and don’t know where to start, then why not check out our
Music and step dancing classes
Registration will take place on the 5th of September from 6 – 7 pm in Scoil Charthaigh Naofa, Newtown, Rahan.
Fiddle, Banjo / Mandolin, Guitar, Whistle / Flute, Concertina, Accordion, Keyboard are all supported. Instruments can be hired and are subject to availability. The classes run for approximately 35 to 45 minutes and are tailored to the playing or dancing level of the students.
Also if sufficient demand for Percussion (Drumming / Bodhrán) we will aim to provide classes.
Classes starting on the 12th of September.
Also
Set dancing classes
Resume in the GAA rooms, Tullabeg on the 11th of September at 9pm.
For further information, you can contact Mike on 086 3883156
It is never too late to start, so come on and give it a go!
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Fleadh Cheoil Laighean 2014
Congratulations to all our members and friends who took part in this years Leinster Fleadh Cheoil.
The Gig rig on a damp Saturday evening
Our dancers don’t mind a little bit of rain
Clodagh showing the crowd how she got placed in the 12 – 15 Whistling competition
Brian wants to reincarnated as a bodhrán
Below is a listing of our branch members who progress to compete in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which takes place in Sligo from the 10th to the 17th of August.
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Also congratulations to the Fleadh committee and all the volunteers who made the fleadh such a success, from the competition organization to the impressive gig rig set-up.
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Seisiún 2014
Hop on to the Seisiún trail throughout island of Ireland right here in Tullamore.
Comhaltas Seisiún provides a unique traditional entertainment experience at 50 venues throughout Ireland during July and August. It is a staged show of Irish music, song, dance and storytelling followed by an informal session with audience participation where all who wish to take to the floor are welcome to do so.
Seisiún boasts the longest running Summer shows of its kind, entertaining visitors and local audiences of all ages.
Below some more pictures from our Seisiún
See map below for directions to our new venue Tullamore rugby Club, which is walking distance from center of town.
View 2 Glenkeen in a larger map
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Offaly Fleadh 2014
Our local county fleadh
Congratulations to all our members and friends both as groups and individuals who competed in Fleadh Cheoil Uibh Fhalií 2014 last weekend where we enjoyed success in a very wide range of categories in both individual and group formats. We are indebted to the parents and tutors of our younger members who put in long hours helping during the preparations and now we look forward to Fleadh Cheoil Laighean in which takes place Moate from the 11th to 13th of July.
Here are some pictures from the weekend.
Below you can find out how we got on.
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Set Dancing Lessons wrap-up party 2014
Tullabeg golf club was the place to be on Thursday the 25th of April, where we had a really tasty meal followed by a great nights dancing under the ever watchful eye of Nora Carroll, mind you she did say that we was not watching our steps this time and just as well because there were some wildly unique shapes and steps thrown by yours truly on the night that many would hope might never again be repeated, somehow that can’t be guaranteed.
We were joined on the night by some of the finest dancers from Ballyboy and to say the floor was hoppin for the duration would be an understatement, shure such was the crowd on the floor that the fireplace became a mini roundabout.
Of course no night would be complete without a couple of party pieces and these were duly performed by John Molin and Bernie Foran each singing the classics while John Gaffey was recalling some suspect dining experiences (the night in question was not one of them thankfully)
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Traditional Irish Music Workshop 2014
Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore was filled with the sound of music, song and laughter on Saturday the 26th eighty one musicians and singers came together to attend our Traditional Irish Music Workshop.
Our Tutors in action
We would like to thank all the personnel involved in the preparation and operation of our hugely successful Workshop. We would also like to thank all the parents who are constantly ferrying their children to and from music lessons, practices, events, etc, both on the day but also on very many other days and they are the reason why we have such a strong tradition of Irish music which is of a really high standard in the midlands and this was very evident on Saturday. Together with many local musicians we had students come from places like Carlow, Kildare, Westmeath, just to name a few of the counties represented.
The workshops culminated with a group Seisiún which took place in the canteen area of the school where our tutors initially displayed their talents as a group and then all our students were invited to join in thus transforming the canteen area of the school into a lively music hall much to the delight of many parents and friends who came to listen.
Our WORKSHOP TUTORS
DAVID DOOCEY – FIDDLE
David from Foxfort, Co.Mayo, has won several awards including All-Ireland medals on the fiddle and also the first ever World Fleadh fiddle championship in 2005. He has also achieved the Feile Oriel trophy, an award previously held by Tommy Peoples. David has shared the stage with likes of Michael McGoldrick, Martin Hayes, Dermot Byrne and Sharon Shannon.
www.daviddoocey.com for more info
KIERAN MUNNELLY – FLUTE
Hailing from the West OF Ireland, Kieran is one of the founding member’s of the David Munnelly Band. Much sought after as a performer a teacher and a University lecturer; Kieran has held posts and tutored in institutes such as University of Limerick and Dublin College University.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmaR-XzHyxI
GAVIN WHEELAN – WHISTLE
Gavin Whelan is widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the tin whistle in Ireland today. Gavin was a founding member of Dal Riada.
Gavin is very well known for the workshops he teaches at the Feakle Festival Co. Clare, Willie Clancy Summer School, Skerries Irish Music Festival and The Joe Mooney Summer School Drumshambo, Co.Letrim.
www.gavinwhelan.ie for more info
CLAIRE SHERRY – BANJO
Dublin born Claire Sherry is an accomplished banjo player with All Ireland and Leinster titles.
Claire is a highly regarded and sought after music teacher throughout Ireland.
Claire has performed all over the world with many well-established musicians.
www.clairesherry.com for more info
DAOIRI FARRELL – SINGING
Daoiri is a folk singer from Dublin who is a graduate of the Ceoltoir Higher National Diploma in Traditional Music Performance course. Daoiri has more recently won the senior All-Ireland singing competition in Derry.
www.daoiri.com for more info
KIERAN LEONARD –BODHRAN
Kieran hails from Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh. Kieran was the 2011 All-Ireland senior Bodhrán champion. He was also a member of the Echoes of Erin tour group who toured Britain and North America. Kieran is now studying Orchestral Percussion, Tampani and Jazz in London.
DARREN BRESLIN – BUTTON ACCORDION
Darren hails from Lisnaskea, Co.Fermanagh and is a former All – Ireland Champion on the button accordion. Darren is a very well established music teacher and a very sought after performer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdI1tzAWrUg
GRETA CURTIN – CONCERTINA
Greta Curtain Hails from Brosna Co.Kerry and has been playing music from a very early age. Being a resident tutor in Killarney School of Music, Greta is very experienced in teaching people of all ages.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_231_1_curtin_sisters_and_friends
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