News
Bridge Center Seieiun in aid of Riada House Tullamore
Thank you to all who turned out on the 23rd in support of Riada House.
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Music and Dance Classes end of year Seisiun
Our last class for the year took place on Friday 13th where we had a terrific end of year Seisiún and of course Santa Clause paid us a visit, much to the delight of all present in fact I think that some of the adults were more smitten with our bearded friend than the kids were. It was great to hear the improvements in all our students and thanks to everybody that made it happen. Our lessons will resume on January 10th.
Below are a few pictures to give a flavor of the craic on the night
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Fiver Friday 6th December 2013
Christmas stocking fillers at unbeatable prices and when they are gone they are gone!
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Trad for Trocaire 2013
We are ran a very successful Trad for Trocaire Seisiún during our weekly music and dance class on the 15th of November in Scoil Charthaigh Naofa, Newtown, Rahan. All thanks to our tutors, students, parents and volunteers for getting into the spirit of things and making this an evening of great craic to remember, the generous sum of 400 euros was raised and this money has been forwarded to Trocaire in order to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Brendan giving it loads on fiddle
Jack on flute
Sam calling the shots during the Siege of Ennis
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Uíbh Fhailí County board Awards 2013
Congratulations to our branch members and friends who received awards during this annual event which was ran by the county board in the bridge house on the 3rd of November this year. The MC was on the night was none other than Comhaltas Ardchisteoir Padraig O Dufaigh and it was broadcast live on the Midlands Radio 3 Coppers & Brass program, during which we were treated to a terrific display of music, song and dance from all recipients which is an indication of the rich pool of talent we have in Offaly at the moment. Special guest on the night to present the awards was All Ireland champion button accordion player Christopher Maguire from Co. Fermanagh.
Below some pictures from the night.
Eabha being presented with award by Christopher Maguire
Shauna and Cianna showing off their newly acquired bling with Christopher Maguire
Rosin being presented with award by Christopher Maguire
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Set-Dancing Classes Halloween party 2013
We had a mighty night’s craic on Pooky night where the theme of the night was fancy dress,
Well! There was every class of goole and scoundrel in attendance from spirits (not the bottled kind) and witches to hippies, Arabs, clowns and the even the clergy to name but a few. The floor was full all night and although we were missing Norah for guidance, John Gaffey stepped into the breach and kept the collisions to a minimum although with Mike Grennan in attendance that wasn’t going to be easy possible. We even had a few yarns from John and Martin Newton followed up by a couple of songs from Bernie Foran, John Mollin, Maureen Gaffey and Patricia Handy. The very reverend Mary Brennan serenaded us with a few tunes while we caught our breath and then with the tea drank and the goodies ate the mothly crew dispersed into the darkness once again.
Below are just a few pictures to give you a flavor of the craic on the night.
I think Winny has the measure of the Count
Olive and Maureen chilling out
Mary taking us on a trip to Durrow
Did I catch you at a bad time ?
Ah! they are a slick outfit alright
Bernie and Gerry stepping it out
Team photo time
The classes take place weekly each Thursday night in Shamrocks GAA clubhouse Tullabeg, Rahan running from the new time of 8:30pm to 10:30pm, all are welcome.
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Denise and Ronan our Strictly Come Dancing champions
Congratulations to our own Denise Bracken and her dance partner Ronan Lally who were crowned champions for 2013 in the Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser which took place in the Court hotel on the 27th October in aid of the Bring back the Fleadh campaign which are bidding to host Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann 2016 in tullamore.
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Branch Annual General Meeting 2013 report
The branch A.G.M took place on Tuesday, October 23rd in the Shamrocks GAA clubhouse
Tullabeg.
Chairperson; John Gaffey declared the meeting open and welcomed all present.
Secretary; Mary O’Brien read out the minutes from the AGM of October 2012 which were
deemed to be in order.
Matters Arising:
Trad for Trocaire we plan to have a Sessiun during the Friday night music, song and dance
classes and it is hoped that everyone makes a small contribution, money raised will be
forwarded to Trocaire, the date for the event is 15th of November.
Secretary’s report:
Marys’s report summarised the events from the past year, which included the following:
January saw our branch participate in the New Inn Mummers festival where our junior
group won 3 overall entertainment awards while our Senior groups won 2 overall
entertainment awards and she reflected on the beautiful tribute we paid to Joe Monahan on the night.
The Offaly, Leinster and All Ireland fleadhanna saw many of our members and friends
doing very well in their respective competitions which gave great cause for celebration.
A word of thanks was extended to Kathleen O’Brien and Jackie Hennesey for their great
work with the annual Irish course, which took place during July.
The Joe Monahan Tribute concert was a great success and a word of thanks was extended to all involved. Next up was Rahan CCE’s return to Charleville castle for the summer Seisiun series
which far exceeded all our expectations and proved to us what a resilient branch we are.
Unfortunately our year was again tainted with the untimely death of one of our most experienced and talented accordion players Mr Eric Mitchell in September another massive loss to the branch. Mary thanked James and other members of the county board together with the branch committee members for their support and wished the new Secretary the best for the year ahead.
Chairpersons report:
John reflected on the great history of our branch to date and spoke of the setbacks following the loss of Eric and Joe. He then remarked on the successful year which included mummers, Joe’s tribute concert, seisiun and the Tullamore show performance and how these and other events through out the year were a display of the strength of our branch and he thanked all involved. He then spoke of the transition in which the branch is going through at the moment, which is welcome and the need to make way for new blood so as not to impede the progression of the branch. He stated that Rahan CCE is in a good solid position now and as he would like to take a back seat he invited the new committee to take it to the next level.
Election of officers, which was overseen by our outgoing Chairman; John Gaffey.
Officers elected were as follows:
Honouree Presidents: Tom Nolan, Michael Lynam, Joe O’Brien, Sean Monaghan and of course the late Eric Mitchell was posthumously elected.
Chairperson: Deirdre Byrne
Assistant Chairperson: Breda Grennan
Secretary: Betty Digan
Assistant Secretary: Bernice O’Brien
Treasurer: Karen Monaghan
Assistant Treasurer: Maura Hickey
PRO: Michael Grennan
Assistant PRO: John Murphy
Youth Officer: Post to be filled in the next days
Youth Officer mentors: Sinead Fulton and Paul Rice
Treoir Gaeilge: Breda Grennan
Assistant Treoir Gaeilge: Marie O’Brien
Child Protection Officers: Sinead Fulton and Paul Rice
Internal Auditors: Ita Monaghan and Samantha Hughes
County Board delegates: Carmel Mc’Conigley, Barbara Gaffey, Eddy Scully
Looking to the year ahead:
In addition to the classes noted above. We are going to look into the possibility of having a floating (in the maritime sense) seisiun event to take place during the next month or so, details of which will be posted when available. For 2014 we again have in our sights the Mummers festival in New Inn, we will be involved in the St Patrick’s day celebrations, fleadhanna and of course Sessiun to name but a few things to look forward to. Watch this space for details of all upcoming events.
Most of our branch officers for this upcoming year
Seated L to R: Eddy Scully, Bernice O’Brien, Betty Digan, Deirdre Byrne, Karen Monahan,Michael Grennan, Back row L to R: Barbara Gaffey, Breda Grennan, Marie O’Brien, Sinead Fulton and Ita Monahan.
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Michelle Giunean Junior All Ireland ladies football champion 2013
Congratulations to our multi-talented Keyboard tutor Michelle Guinean, who played for the Offaly Ladies Football team, which won the 2013 Junior All Ireland championship. During our weekly music classes, Rahan Comhaltas presented Michelle with an award in recognition of her achievement.
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Culture Night 2013
Culture Night at Charleville Castle on Friday night was a great success, where the great hall was filled with the sounds of tunes and dancing once again. During the night we took the opportunity to make a presentation to some of our members and friends who were successful in the recent fleadh cheoil na hEireann in recognition of their efforts and as always nobody left the castle without complimentary tea and refreshments thanks to Mary and the crew (the real engine of Comhaltas). Thank you to everybody who took part in the event especially after we lost a very popular inspirational member during the week. I’m sure Eric would be proud of our efforts and our thoughts and prayers are with Helga and the extended family during this time.
Slip Jigs courtsey of Rachel and Claire
Grace Minnock, Rosin O’Brien, Eabha Fulton and Shauna Mc’Garrigle
Rosin O’Brien in action
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