About Comhaltas

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (the English translation is Gathering of the Musicians of Ireland) was founded 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 the 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.

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.

Maidir Comhaltas

Bunaíodh Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann sa bhliain 1951. Ba ghrúpa piopairí Éireannacha a bhunaigh an grúpa, agus iad imníoch go raibh cursaí ceoil thraidisiúnta in Éirinn ag dul i léig, agus go raibh baol ann go gcaillfear an traidisiún ina iomláine. Ón am sin, tháinig fás agus forbairt ollmhór ar an eagraíocht atá anois ar fud an domhain, leis na mílte daoine ag obair leis, agus an teanga Gaeilge agus an damhsa Gaelach á bplé acu chomh maith.

Bíonn bráinse áitiúil ag feidhmiú mar chuid de Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, áit ina mbíonn an chuid is mó de na himeachtaí ar siúl ann. Dáilfear amach iad ina réigiúin, agus na réigiúin seo bunaithe ar limistéir na gContaetha in Éirinn, agus na réigiúin ina gcúigí. Mar bhall de bhráinse Ottawa, is ball thú de Reigiúin Cheanada Thoir, agus Cúige an Mhéiriceá Thuaidh de Chomhaltas. Roinntear na táillí ballraíochta a mbailíonn an bráinse áítiúil i measc na leibheáil éagsúla agus tagann do chárta ballraíochta go díreach ó Éirinn.

Is é an bráinse an chuid is lárnaí agus is tábhachtaí de Chomhaltas. Tagann baill le chéile chun seisiúin, ranganna, ceolchoirmeacha, féilte, taispeantais, fleadhanna cheoil agus imeachtaí eile chun deis a thabhairt dóibh féin agus don phobal taitneamh agus tairbhe a bhaint astu.

Eagraítear bráinsí ina réigiúin. (In Éirinn, téann limistéir na mbrainsí lámh le lámh le limistéir na gcontaetha). Sa Bhreatain agus i Méiriceá, is féidir Coiste Réigiúnach a bhunú in aon áit ina maireann trí bhráinse nó níos mó. Bíonn an coiste, ar a suíonn toscairí ó gach bráinse, freagrach as bunú bráinsí nua agus cur chun cinn na n-aidhmeanna éagsúla atá ag Comhaltas. Tá bráinse Ottawa mar bhall de Reigiún Cheanada Thoir, agus inár measc tá bráinsí ó Montréal, Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, Sudbury agus Saint John.

Suíonn Coistí Cúige sna ceithe chúige in Éirinn, sa Bhreatain agus i Meiriceá Thuaidh. Bíonn imeachtaí Chomhaltas sa chúige á n-éagrú acu. Is cuid de Chúige Mheiriceá Thuaidh é Réigiúin Cheanada Thoir agus Thiar, agus cúig réigiún i Méiriceá.

Below you can download the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Constitution, or the document of what constitutes the Ideal Branch (detailed description of each responsibilities for the officers of the Branch), if you wish to read them. 

CCE_Bunreacht_English.pdf CCE_Bunreacht_English.pdf
Size : 721.322 Kb
Type : pdf
Comhaltas - Ideal Branch 2012.pdf Comhaltas - Ideal Branch 2012.pdf
Size : 270.609 Kb
Type : pdf