News
Scór na nÓg finals this weekend
Well done to our friends and fellow Comhaltas members from Killeagh parish; Cathal Brady, Helen Brady, Muireann Carton, Rachel Dunne and Ciaran Brennan who make up the Na Fianna Instrumental group, their mentor James Hogan and also to the Ferbane / Belmont ballad group who represented their GAA club, county and province in the All Ireland Scór na nÓg finals.
The Competitions took place in ‘The Venue’ at Ebrington this Saturday February 23rd as Derry hosts the national finals of Scór na nÓg for the first time.
Unfortunately success eluded both groups this time around, who knows what next year will bring.
To borrow a quote from the Derry Journal “Scór is a GAA competition which promotes traditional Irish music and culture and involves people of all ages.
There are eight events/disciplines in Scór that cover all aspects of Irish culture: Figure/Céilí Dancing, Solo Singing, Instrumental Music, Recitation/Scéalaíocht, Ballad Group, Novelty Act, Question Time and Set Dancing. The competition is divided into two age levels, Scór Na nÓg, for young people under 17 years-old and Scór Sinsear, for those over 17 years-old.
Scór winners are regarded as All-Ireland champions and are presented with their medals by the GAA president just like All-Ireland senior football and hurling winners”.
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Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 – Accomadation news
The message below has been forwarded to me by the vice chair of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 for the attention of all Irish Comhaltas branches.
A chairde,
As you may be aware the Duncreggan student village (part of the university campus) in Derry is the accommodation we are providing to branches staying the full week (i.e. Scoil Éigse attendees and their families) during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013.
The accommodation available here is self-catering dormitories made up of approx. 6 single bedrooms with a shared kitchen/living room and bathrooms.
This accommodation is available for you/your provincial branches to stay from Sunday 11.08.13 through to Monday 19.08.13 for £22.80 per person per night.
The U.S.A and Britain branches have completed their block bookings and now I am offering this to our Irish members.
Could you please circulate this among your province and large branches ASAP.
Please ask that they email me their confirmed numbers before 29.01.13 (1 weeks’ time) and I will ensure that they are booked as priority. This accommodation will be give out on a “first come first served” basis. My email address is brendan.molloy1@btopenworld.com
After this date, the bookings and subsequent queries will all be dealt with by the university themselves and I have no control over this element.
For any other accommodation queries (i.e.not student village related) please email info@fleadhcheoil.ie
Kind Regards,
Mary o Brien
(Vice-chair Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013)
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Mummers Festival 2013
Congratulations to both our Junior and Senior team’s who competed in the annual Mummers festival in New Inn, Galway on the 4th and 5th January.
The Junior team put in a great performance and won runner-up spot while Katlyn Minnock won the “Best Performer Award”, Laura Kelly won the “Best Singer Award” and Aoife Kavanagh won the “Best Flute Player Award”
The Senior team put on a very strong show and followed it up with a very fitting tribute piece to the late great Joe Monaghan who was always a strong supporter of the Mummers festival and though sadly he is no longer with us in person he definitely was with us in spirit on the night.
The team won runner-up spot while Ciana Mc’Garrigle won the “Best Performer Award” and Shauna Mc’Garrigle won the “Best Singer Award”
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Grand Branch Reunion 2012
We had a terrific night on the 27th of December with many of our past members coming along and taking part in the fun filled night which started with a delicious buffet meal and then with the dance floor cleared of furniture, the instruments appeared and the music started, dancers took to the floor, singers serenaded us while story tellers had us in tears of laughter, it was a night of pure craic to say the least.
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Rahan Parish Christmas Carol service 2012
A small group of us took part in the Annual Christmas carol service which involved groups from all over the parish including choirs from both our national schools. The event took place in St Colmans church on the 16th Dec
Maeve Emmett Rosin Sean Aisling Brian Mike John Niamh and Karen giving it loads
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Trad for Trócaire
Took place on Friday 7th December from 7 to 8 PM, in Scoil Charthaigh Naofa, Newtown, Rahan and it was a massive success, all thanks to our music and dance class volunteers, tutors, students and their parents, who made the night what it was.
The amount raised was a massive 300 Euro and this money will be forwarded to Trocaire to help people less fortunate than ourselves.
Many thanks to the board of management of the school for the continued use of the facilities and also Emmett and Tony for their support as without this it would be difficult for us to have these events.
Our 3 hard working amigo’s Bernice, Maura and Karen
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Branch member becomes Strictly Come Dancing Champ 2012
Congratulations to our own James Hogan and his dance partner Aoife Marron who were crowned champions for 2012 in the Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser which took place on the 16th November in aid of the Carers association and Power 4Good
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Images from the weekly Set dancing classes
We had a mighty night’s craic on the 1st November 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 70’s rock stars and cowboys to name but a few. Most probably still on their way home from the night before by the looks of them. The floor was full all night and we even had a few yarns from Bertie Mc’Mahon and John Gaffey and a couple of songs from our own “devil woman” Bernie Foran and John Mollin while we downed the tea and buns before the mothly crew dispersed.
The classes take place weekly each Thursday night in Shamrocks GAA clubhouse Tullabeg, running from 8:30pm to 10:30pm, all are welcome.
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REPORT OF BRANCH AGM 2012
The branch A.G.M took place on Tuesday, October 23rd in the Shamrocks GAA clubhouse
Tullabeg.
Assistant Chairperson; Theresa Scully declared the meeting open and welcomed all present.
Secretary; Deirdre Byrne read out the minutes from the AGM of October 2011 which were
deemed to be in order.
Matters Arising:
Our acting Chairperson made a very poignant observation that our very successful
CD & DVD are now of great sentimental value to us all, now that Joe Monaghan
is no longer with us in person.
Trad for Trocaire was discussed and 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, when the date is agreed it will be advertised.
Secretary’s report:
Deirdre’s report summarised the events from the past year, which included the following:
October 2011 saw our Chairman Mr Joe Monaghan R.I.P represent our branch on the Irish
C.C.E tour of North America acting as Fear an tí for the trip.
November 2011 saw another prominent member of our branch Mr James Hogan being
elected as the County Board Chairman.
January saw our branch participate in the New Inn Mummers festival where both junior
and Senior groups won 3 overall entertainment awards.
The Offaly and Leinster fleadhanna saw many of our members doing very well in their
respective competitions.
Unfortunately Deirdre’s report ended on a sad note with the untimely death of our
Chairman Mr Joe Monaghan in June, our branch did not participate in Sessiun 2012 as
a mark of respect to Joe.
Chairpersons report:
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. Also the efforts of everybody involved at Joe’s funeral on the 21st of June ensuring that he got a terrific send off was commended. He will be sadly missed by everyone, but as a branch we must continue to drive forward as Joe would have wished.
Karen on behalf of the Monaghan family extended a heart felt thank you to all members and friends of our branch.
The meeting was also informed that the Deputy Head of the Irish Embassy in Canada who is a valuable past member of our branch Hilary O’Brien ensured a tribute was paid to Joe, such was his international reputation and recognition.
Election of officers, which was overseen by the County board Chairman; James Hogan.
Officers elected were as follows:
Honouree Presidents: Eric Mitchell, Tom Nolan, Michael Lynam, Joe O’Brien and Sean Monaghan,
Chairperson: John Gaffey, Assistant Chairperson: Deirdre Byrne
Secretary: Mary O’Brien, Assistant Secretary: Carmel Mc’Conigley,
Treasurer: Karen Monaghan, Assistant Treasurer: Maura Hickey
PRO: Michael Grennan, Assistant PRO: Bernice O’Brien
Treoir Gaeilge: Breda Grennan, Assistant Treoir Gaeilge: Martina Delaney
Youth Officer: Garrett Delaney
Child Protection Officer: Theresa Scully
Auditors: Ita Monaghan and Eric Mitchell
County Board delegates: Carmel Mc’Conigley, Barbara Gaffey, Kathleen O’Brien
Looking to the year ahead:
In addition to the classes noted above. We are planning a big reunion event to take place during the next month or so, details of which will be posted when available. For 2013 we 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.
It was decided unanimously that once this AGM concluded that another meeting dedicated
To the memory of Mr Joe Monaghan be opened and this meeting will never be closed so that Joe can always be a part of our branch.
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The Legend That Was Joe
On June 19th my phone, it did ring
To convey to me the most terrible thing:
The Lord the Almighty with 1 wave of his Hand,
Took from our midst the great Joe Monahan.
A non drinker, non smoker and great lover of life,
Married to Ita – what a wonderful wife.
Blessed with 2 lovely daughters Karen and Elaine
Despite being dealt a cruel blow, they never complained.
A Brilliant MC who was at home on the stage
Be it concert or Fundraiser with the crowds could engage.
Born in Derrycooley in a place they call Rahan,
Joe kept goals for his club and never got rattled.
A great lover of Scor all down through the years
At the all Ireland Finals, just how he would cheer.
Be it juniors or seniors he could not shut up,
Told tales of how Shamrocks, they brought home 5 Cups.
A very keen Golfer with his Esker Hills Club,
Shure once he made Captain, he’d longer be a sub.
He often spoke of Holes in 1 or Birdies or Eagles I’d say,
But he never mentioned a Bogey, shure that was for drawing home hay.
Building was his Business
In his favourite silver van
As for your leaking roof Mrs –
I’ll fix it when I can!
To the Mighty Rahan Comhaltas,
Shure he was our favourite Son
He enthralled the crowds from Tullamore
To a place called Kingdom Come.
Joe often went with the Wren Boys
And the Mummers too,
He might dress up as Santa Claus
And tell a yarn or two.
The All Ireland Fleadhs in Tullamore
Were No. 1 for me
And when Joe took to the Gig Rig
The crowd they danced with glee.
His finest moment on that famed Gig Rig
When the Band failed to appear
Joe told yarns for ¾ of an hour
To an almighty cheer.
When the Band Winners did appear,
They being very slow,
Were amazed to have to wait in a Q
Shure the Crowd just wanted Joe!
In Mucklagh Church on that sad June day,
What beautiful music the Musicians did play.
The Crowds came from all over our land
To bid farewell to a Wonderful Man
I could go on for hours like this
Or talk and talk till sore
But to take a leaf from Joe’s own Book
Always leave them wanting more.
Shay Bracken, July 19th 2012
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