Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (the English translation is Gathering of the Musicians of Ireland) was started in 1951 by a group of Irish pipers who were concerned that the traditional music of Ireland was in decline and in danger of being lost. Since that time, the organization has grown into a global movement involving tens of thousands of people and has come to encompass traditional Irish dance and the Irish language as well as the music. The Comhaltas movement is organised into local branches, where most activities and classes take place. Branches are organised into regions (counties, in Ireland), and regions into provinces. As a member of Ottawa Branch, you are a member of the Canada East Region and the North American Province of Comhaltas. Membership fees collected by the local Branch are divided among the various levels and your membership card comes from Ireland. Comhaltas is democratically governed, with volunteer members on each level organizing themselves into committees which then elect representatives to the next level of the organization. Comhaltas also has a small number of professional staff, based in our Dublin headquarters or in one of our Regional Resource Centres. The Branch is the fundamental and most important unit of Comhaltas. Members come together to organize sessions, classes, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, fleadhanna cheoil (music competitions), and other events both for their own enjoyment and that of the community at large. Comhaltas branches are organized into Regions. (Within Ireland, these regions correspond to Irish counties). In Britain and North America, a Regional Board can be formed in any region where three or more branches exist. The board, made up of delegates from each branch, is responsible for the formation of new branches and promotion of the aims and objectives of the movement. Ottawa Branch is part of the Canada East Region which also includes branches in Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, Sudbury and Saint John. Provincial Councils exist in each of Ireland’s four provinces, in Britain, and in North America. These councils, made up of delegates from County/Regional Boards, generally control and direct Comhaltas activities within the Province. Canada East and Canada West Regions, along with five regions in the U. S. A., form the North American Province.