| Clare Comhaltas development
JOE MULLARKEY: jpmullarkey@eircom.net
THE CLARE Comhaltas cultural centre Cois na hAbhna is to be one of the
main beneficiaries of the organisation’s development programme.
The Ennis-based centre has been designated as one of eight regional resource
centres for the promotion of Irish cultural traditions.
It is at present undergoing major enhancement work and will be completed
in time for Fleadh Nua 2007.
Cois na hAbhna chairman Frank Whelan said: “This is an acknowledgement
of generous voluntary service and will enable us to build on the solid
foundation bequeathed to us by the great men and women of the past.
“This is good news for our cultural movement and we look forward
with confidence to the future.”
The old church in Kilrush — which has been donated by the Church
of Ireland to Comhaltas — will also benefit from a refit before
being used as an outreach centre under the development programme.
The programme is grant-aided by the Government and supported from a number
of sources and will have a price tag of over ¤65million.
This will be the most expansive programme ever for the propagation of
Irish cultural traditions in the history of the State.
The initial grant-aid for Cois na hAbhna and Kilrush will be in the region
of ¤2.5million.
Comhaltas director general Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú
said: “This is a new dawn for Comhaltas.
“It is a huge boost for our cultural identity as a distinctive nation.
It will empower the volunteers to develop cultural potential at community
level which might otherwise remain dormant.
“The result of the new Comhaltas development programme will in time
impact on every region of Ireland and throughout the Irish Diaspora.
“This is an official acknowledgement of the successful and valuable
work done by the thousands of Comhaltas volunteers at community level
for over half a century.”
The government funding for Comhaltas will help resource the new development
programme both in Ireland and abroad.
The programme includes the provision of regional resource centres based
in Dundalk, Dublin (Monkstown and Clontarf), Cashel, Ennis, Gurteen (Co.
Sligo) and Mullingar. There will also be one centre in the North of Ireland.
In addition there will be several outreach centres including a new multipurpose
cultural centre (Clashach) located in Clontarf which took a giant step
closer to reality recently when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern turned the first
sod on the site at Alphie Byrne Road.
It will include facilities such as a multipurpose fully-equipped 250-seat
theatre, rehearsal and practice rooms and an area for themed attractions,
bar facilities and library.
The entire development programme is rooted in the community and will be
sustained and developed by a number of imaginative and complementary schemes.
It will involve the decentralisation of several Comhaltas elements including
education, archives, merchandise and performance outlets.
Comhaltas which was founded in 1951 has met with significant success at
home and abroad. There are now 400 branches in 15 countries on four continents.
It has 1,000 classes each week passing on our cultural traditions to the
young generation.
Comhaltas also makes a major contribution to the tourism industry through
40 Fleadhanna Cheoil each year, the nationwide seisiún network,
céilithe, concert tours and sessions.
Comhaltas makes a huge contribution to the cultural and social life of
Ireland.
It has an impressive youth programme and young people are involved at
every level of the movement. Over 25,000 young musicians perform at Fleadhanna
Cheoil each year.
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