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Comhaltas Corner: 'London Junior Fleadh is a great success'
By Joe Mullarkey
Seamus Brogan has been in contact, singing the praises of a very successful Junior Fleadh held recently by the North London branch of Comhaltas at the Irish Centre in Haringey.
With entries from all the London branches and colleagues in Cambridge, Luton and Bedford, this Fleadh has proved to be very popular over the years.
It is now the only branch Fleadh currently held in Britain and the Provincial Council is keen to see others follow the example of North London.
Seamus offers congratulations to all who took part and especially to all the winners.
A huge thank-you must also go to the management and staff of the Haringey Irish Centre for the use of the premises and their courtesy and help throughout the day.
And well done to the Fleadh committee, adjudicators and all who helped to make this a very enjoyable day’s entertainment.
Farewell Jackfield
Jackfield Branch Secretary Fliss Burke has told us of the sad news of the branch’s demise.
“We have disbanded the Jackfield Branch for a number of reasons. The main one was the high level of insurance required to register the branch without any consideration for its size, whether we owned any buildings or employed any staff.
“The other main consideration was that no-one wanted to be on the committee and I was doing Secretary’s and Treasurer’s jobs.
“We intend to continue with our support for Irish music — but from outside the Comhaltas movement.”
We are also sad to hear that the Michael Davitt branch of Comhaltas in East Lancashire —kept alive for over 30 years by the late, great Dick Lett — has not registered this year.
Convention in S. Birmingham
The South Birmingham Branch of Comhaltas is hosting the Annual Convention of Britain on the weekend of February 19 and 20 next year.
Activities for the convention will centre around Birmingham Irish Club.
Workshops on fiddle, button accordion, flute, whistle, and piano accordion take place on Saturday morning, while the afternoon sees a lecture on Irish Music by Reg Hall.
A convention celebration Céilí will take place at Birmingham Irish Club on Saturday night with dancing to the Star of Munster Céilí Band from Co. Clare.
The Provincial AGM will take place on Sunday.
For further details contact Vincent Jordan on 0121 743 6958 or vince_irishmusic@hotmail.com.
Trad music from Yorkshire
This is a recently released Damhsa CD recorded live over two evenings at the Leeds Irish centre. It confirms that there is a wealth of traditional Irish music and dance in Yorkshire.
This 16 track CD is something unusual. There are no backing tracks, no smoke and mirrors — everything you hear is authentic.
The quality of the music, singing and the percussive precision of the dancing make this a very enjoyable CD. It has a good selection of jigs, reels, hornpipes, slides, polkas, marches, airs and lilting.
The Flower of Magherally and Love and Freedom, are sung with feeling by Karen Dyson.
Further details are available from: Chris Dyson,
30 Charlestown, Acworth, Nr Pontefract,WF7 7DU.
Details: www.damhsa.co.uk
Email: Ceilihouse5758@aol.com.
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