News
Scór Sinsir Uibh fhailí
Well Done to Shamrocks on their absolute clean up at the county final on Saturday by nearly winning every category from instrumentation to sketches & the lot! Well deserved being Offaly Champs! Also getting a well deserved club of the year! Best of luck in the Semi-Leinsters!!
Our Figure dancers
Our Instrumental musicians
Our Set dancers
Our Solo singer and our Maor Uisce
Our dream team
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Traditional Irish Music and Dance Workshop 2015
We are proud to be hosting our 2nd annual workshop right here in Tullamore.
Early booking and registration is advised as places are limited and entries are a first come first served basis !
Registration form is available for download at bottom of post.
Our WORKSHOP TUTORS for 2015
Gary Lynch – Fiddle
Garry from Co. Fermanagh, a regular Scoil Éigse tutor at Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann
Claire Anne Kearns – Fiddle
Clare Anne is a member of the Killeigh branch of CCE and is an accomplished musician on many instruments. She has recently been awarded the TTCT teaching diploma from CCE having previously completed all the SCT exams in both Fiddle and Button Accordion. She holds a diploma in Button Accordion from the London College of Music and three other diplomas in violin and piano. She has received many awards at Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann, winning her first All-Ireland at 9 years of age and competed in both the Senior Fiddle and Senior Button Accordion competitions in Sligo last year. She is a winner of the Coleman Senior Fiddle Competition in Sligo and received a scholarship to Meitheal for composition. She was a member of the group Cumasc who were finalists in the Siansa competition. Clare Anne also teaches Piano and Button Accordion in West Offaly CCE.
Claire Anne Kearns recording on comhaltaslive_450_8
Niamh O’Sullivan – Concertina
Concertina player, Niamh O’Sullivan is a primary school teacher from Dublin. In 2012, Niamh won the senior All-Ireland title in Cavan. She toured Ireland with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s, Macalla na hÉireann in 2009 and went on to tour Britain with CCÉ the following year. Recently, Niamh performed, and toured with, the National Folk Orchestra, under the guidance of Michael Rooney. Niamh has performed on several TV and radio shows, including RTÉ’s Céilí House, Geantrai and the Fleadh programme. In 2006, she received the T.T.C.T from Comhaltas, qualifying her as a music teacher. In addition to being a highly accomplished musician, Niamh is a qualified dancing teacher, having recently received her T.C.R.G. qualification from An Comhdháil. Niamh has tutored and adjudicated at festivals and competitions around the country.
Niamh_O’Sullivan recording on comhaltaslive_391_2
Anne Marie Fitzgerald – Concertina
Michael Curran – Button Accordion
‘Michael Curran is a young button accordion player from Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone. He has won numerous accolades at provincial and national level, and he is the current Senior All Ireland Button Accordion Champion, having won the coveted title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Sligo.
Michael is frequently sought after for sessions, concerts and workshops throughout the country and he has completed tours of Ireland and Britain with Comhaltas as well as travelling and performing extensively in many places around Europe and America. With a unique Ulster style of playing, Michael can be found regularly at many of the main Trad and Arts festivals in the country.’
Michael is no stranger to Tullamore, he generously gave his time to present all the awards and play a few tunes during the Offaly county board awards night last Autumn.
One of the many Michael Curran recordings on comhaltaslive
Chloe Flynn – Button Accordion
“Chloe is a very highly regarded accordion player from the faithful county, Ballyboy CCE being her branch. She has being playing music since the age of 8. Chloe has won several accolades at county and provincial level. She was 2nd in the Button Accordion (15-18) at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2013. She attended Meitheal Irish Music Summer School and has played with groups such as Mol an Oige. Chloe has played at various concerts and venues around Ireland, including the National Concert Hall in Dublin. She has completed many SCT exams and regularly teaches at home and in Banagher CCE.”
Cian Kearns – Flute
Cian Kearins, a primary school teacher from Co. Sligo has won underage and senior All-Ireland Fleadh titles in flute, tin-whistle, singing and lilting. He is a member of the popular Dartry Ceilí Band with whom he has recorded two albums. Recently, Cian was a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland who performed Michael Rooney’s Boroimhe Suite. Cian is a regular performer and tutor at festivals and workshops around Ireland and abroad.
Cian Kearns recording on comhaltaslive
Robert Harvey – Tin Whistle
Robert is from Roundwood, Mountrath, Co.Laois, a regular Scoil Éigse tutor at Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann
George McAdam – Banjo
George a crackin banjo player that loves non alcoholic beverages mixed with a good set of tunes
He hails from Ballybay in Co. Monaghan. He is currently studying B.Ed in St Pats, Dublin. In his first year playing banjo, aged 7, came 3rd place in Banjo and 2nd in Mandolin in All Ireland Fleadh Clonmel 2003, following that he went on after that to win multiple All Irelands on Banjo/Mandolin/Drums champion (x3 time Banjo champion). All Ireland Senior Scor winner 2013
He played at various concerts, festivals and shows around Ireland and on international stages including the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales.
Banjo tutor for the border county regions of Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Armagh.
Liam Scanlon – Sean Nós
Hailing from Glenhest in West Mayo. Liam has been dancing since the age of five. He took up sean nós dancing at 16, and went on to excel in his chosen dance form. He succeeded in winning Corn TG4 in the senior sean nós dancing competition at Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 2008 followed by The World Fleadh in 2009, as well as many other dancing competitions. Liam has since adjudicated at many dancing competitions including the All Ireland Fleadh, and Oireachtas na Samhna itself.
Liam regularly teaches at both home and abroad, and has performed as far afield as Briatin, Europe, Russia and the United States, both solo and with groups such as Ragús and Altan. Liam is delighted to be teaching at this years Rahan Comhaltas workshops.
Further information details on our Tutors to be added shortly so watch this space.
A Session: tutors together with the students will take place from 4.15 to 5.15 pm, all welcome family members etc.
Registration form can be downloaded from here.
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Map to venue can be found below
Facilities located within the immediate vicinity of the venue include:
- Tullamore Court hotel (across the street)
- filling station including shop located next door.
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Mummers bound for Daingean
A show not to be missed!!, that is if you enjoy a bit of craic. Rahan and Brosna mummers bring their shows to Daingean on Sat. 7th Feb at 8pm ,adults 8euro, students and senior citizens 5euro. Bigi Linn
Our Junior group
Our Senior’s
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Mummers festival 2015
The annual Mummers festival which took place in New Inn, Co.Galway on the 3rd and 4th of January was a place of great celebration for our branch as we enjoyed many successes.
For those out there who are not familiar with the Mummers festival, I will try to explain. It is a contest between a number of groups who descend on the county Galway village of New Inn during the month of January, the battle field is on the stage of the impressive community center, Each group will perform a sketch utilizing a common stage set and they will be adjudicated on many levels from acting, entertainment, singing, storytelling, music, etc, etc. The set transforms the stage into a traditional domestic kitchen and the sketches generally depict a scene where by the occupants of a house are visited by the Mummers (wrenboys / strawboys) who traditionally would have traveled around their localities during Christmas time and so you can imagine the craic that would ensue during their visit and when they leave. This tradition is sadly less common nowadays but for a number of characters (generally musicians) in many areas who are determined keep this great tradition alive.
On the Saturday it was the turn of our Senior group
With their sketch entitled “Well Well Well“, which poked fun at the imminent water charges and also the trials and tribulations of the man of the house left in charge of domestic supplies and chooses to shop in Lidil & Aldi. The group achieved second place overall and we had some individual winners, namely Pat Fulton won the Solo Singer award, Geraldine Mc’Garrigle won both the “Best in Group” and “Best Entertainer” awards, Ciana Mc’Garrigle won the Flute Solo award and Shauna Mc’Garrigle won the “Best King” award, not bad eh!
Back row: Jim Troy, Michael Mc’Conigley, Barbara Gaffey, Gerry Mc’Garrigle, Samantha Hughes, Ciana Mc’Garrigle, Lorraine Devery, Tommy Craven and James Hogan. Middle row: Paul Rice, Aoife O’Connell, Asling O’Connell, Betty Digan, Caroline Grennan and Connie Clavin. Front row: Mike Grennan, John Gaffey, Pat Fulton, Geraldine Mc’Garrigle and Shauna Mc’Garrigle. Missing from the picture was Shay Bracken the man with the sketch.
Congratulations also to our friends from Brosna Comhaltas who also took part and whose members Leo Reddy and Bernadette Moran won individual prizes in the Senior competition.
On Sunday it was the turn of the Junior group
With their sketch entitled Danny and the Virus, Louis Walsh and X factor together with misunderstandings and a hint of Cinderella were in the firing line this time and boy did this group deliver a very entertaining show. The results speak for themselves as the group were victorious and they also took a large number of individual prizes with Catlin Minnock winning the “Best Bean an tí” award, the “Best Musician” went to Theodor O’Connor, Aofie Kavanagh won the “Flute Solo” award and Eabha Fulton won the “Solo Singing” award.
Back row: Brian, Aoife, Jane, Theodore, Eabha, Barry, Caoimhe, Murrean and Rosín. Next row: Aine, Conor, Ciara, Meabh, Brianna, Clodagh, Claire and Grace. Next row: Darragh, Ronan, Ronan, Meadhbh, Caitlen and Kate. Front row: Aine, Michael John and Brian.
Post under construction and there will be lots more pictures to be added here so keep an eye.
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Riada House fund raiser
Tuesday the 23rd of December was Riada House flag day where much need funds were being raised from the many shoppers passing through the Bridge Center in Tullamore. A group of us together with our good friends the Dooley’s and Kilmartin’s from Ballyboy direction were on hand to belt out a few tunes and dance a few steps and in the process create a lively atmosphere which gave shoppers a welcome distraction from the Christmas week mayhem.
Here are a few pictures from the event.
Orla and Fianait displaying their figure dancing talents
The Friends of Riada House crew up close 🙂
Brianna stepping it out to the rhythm of a hornpipe
Many thanks to John Murphy for taking a few snaps.
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Set dancing Lessons
Many thanks to the generous patrons who turned up on the night as a whopping € 235 was raised.
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Scór na nÓg Offaly round
Congratulations to Shamrocks GAA club on running a successful Scór na nÓg Offaly county final and to all our members and friends who progress to the Leinster semi final in Parnells GAA club in Coolock village, Dublin on Sunday 14th of December.
Shamrocks club were successful in the Bailéad Ghrúpa, Tráth na gCeisteanna and Léiriú competitions.
Léiriú group who progress (You would want to watch that Scottish giant, he is a bit of a shaper!)
Our successful balladeers
This happy bunch all progress to the Leinster Semi Final
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Newsletter Dec 2014
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Set Dancing Spooky Halloween Party
Last Thursday 30th October, the GAA club in Rahan was inhabited with all sorts of creatures and characters from witches, werewolves, outlaws to pumpkins, you name it and it was probably there and all under the spell of the wicked witch Norah from Killoughy. The floor was full all night and our Bonny was constantly shedding feathers, sur you would swear we were in the middle of a pillow fight and yer man John or Sir Lancelott thinks that he is a star. Bernie Foran started to sing about hard times and you know she is getting it hard alright shur there wasn’t a pick on her not to mention poor auld Vinny bones. Mary flew in on here broom, cobwebs everywhere there was, and of course John Gaffey got the smell of blood and nobody was safe. Anyway the night came to a peaceful end when the tea and buns appeared, that civilized the lot of them I’ll tell you!.
Billy and Connie AKA Bonny and Clyde
I told you Mary, nobody would notice the spot!
Martin Nugent telling a few clean jokes (where is the box of OMO)
I know what “hair growing on the palm of your hand” means but this is ridiculous ?
There’s our Norah and she found herself a bag of bones, Larry I’d say ye will be having soup for a good while to come
John I hope you left the horse outside!
Its the way you tell em Gerry
Team photo time
Set dancing classes are running each Thursday night from 9PM in the GAA rooms, Tullabeg. You should come along and give it a go!
By the way Norah is not wicked, she is an auld softy really 🙂
Set dancing classes
Resume in the GAA rooms, Tullabeg on the 11th of September at 9pm
– See more at: http://www.rahancomhaltas.com/category/events/#sthash.zG6d4KDX.dpuf
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