~ Boston                         

             Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann                           

***************************************************************************************************

The Hanafin-Cooley Branch, Boston, Massachusetts hosted the North American Provincial Convention in April 2003 at the Hilton Boston Hotel ~ Logan Airport 

***********************************************************************

 Our thanks to all who attended and contributed to it's great success!

  ***********************************************************************

~ BRANCH CHAIRMAN'S REFLECTIONS - May 1, 2003 ~

A chairde,                                      

    The North American Provincial Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Convention 2003, now behind us, met with much success. People traveled to the convention from all over the United States, Canada, Ireland, England, and beyond. Many arrived early in the week, as did the Director General of Comhaltas, Senator Labhras O'Murchu, and others stayed on, to take in all Boston has to offer. In addition, people commuted daily to participate in ceilis, and music, dance, and singing workshops and sessions.

    We are most grateful to convention Vice Chairman, Jim Roach, who by nature shuns recognition . . . Jim donned many hats during the planning and implementation stages of the convention without hesitation. Thanks also to the committee leaders and their teams whose dedication over the course of a year made it all possible. Your efforts paid off! Our appreciation is also extended to all the volunteers who, under the direction of Tara Lynch and assistant, Tim O'Connell, covered key areas each day and night.

    The use of Concannon's Village Function Room for our many planning meetings leading up to the convention was graciously made available by Tom and Mary Ann Concannon. Tom was also on board, early on, offering his support and expertise. And we would be remiss if we neglected to acknowledge Ed Barron for lending his support and expertise as well.

    The music, song, and dance workshop teachers did us proud presenting a banquet entertainment program that will long be remembered. Another highlight of the weekend was the Irish Mass concelebrated by Rev. Bartley Mac Phaidin, Rev. Charles Coen, and Rev. Dan Finn. Singer Mairin Ui Cheide, Fiddler Seamus Connolly, the Cumann Na Gaeilge Choir, and the Harney Academy Dancers who presented the gifts, lent a spiritual element to the Irish Mass compared to none.

    Sponsors are a key component to the success of a convention without whom the program of events would not be possible. Look for the Convention 2003 sponsors listed elsewhere in the newsletter. Sincere Thanks To All Of Them!

    Our gratitude is also extended to Jim Anello and Jeff Prokos and the team at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport Hotel who contributed greatly to the success of the weekend by warmly anticipating and meeting our every need with such professionalism.

Hats off to all......for a job well done!

                                                                  Larry Reynolds and Barbara Davis, Convention2003 Co-Chairpersons

*************************************************************

   ~ CCE 2003 Convention Co-Chairpersons ~

     Larry Reynolds -  Chairman - 781-899-0911

     Barbara Davis - Branch Public Relations Officer - 781-293-7283, cceboston@verizon.net

    Tara Lynch -CCE2003 Volunteer Coordinator - 617-773-3150,Tara_Lynch@gillette.com 

Convention E-Mail: cceboston@aol.com , Website: www.cceboston.org

*************************************************************

 NEWS RELEASE - April 11, 2003
IRISH MUSIC AND DANCE ENTHUSIASTS WORLDWIDE ARE MEETING IN BOSTON 
 500 Delegates Expected to Attend Annual Convention of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann April 24-27, 2003

     (Boston) -- Irish musicians and dancers from throughout North America and other parts of the world are coming to Boston this month to attend the annual convention of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, an association dedicated to Irish culture with chapters in over 20 countries and dozens of American cities. The convention is being held at the Hilton Boston Hotel at Logan Airport in East Boston, beginning Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, April 27, 2003.

     Larry Reynolds of Waltham, a noted fiddle player and chairman of the Boston chapter of Comhaltas, expects over 500 delegates to attend from cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Philadelphia and other cities with large Irish populations. Other delegates are expected from England, Scotland, and Ireland, including Ireland's Senator Labhras O'Murchu, a noted scholar and music historian who is associated with the Comhaltas headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

     Master musicians like banjo player Mick Moloney, accordionists Joe Derrane and John Whelan, flutist Mike Raferty and fiddler Seamus Connolly will conduct workshops for students, while dance masters Donncha O Muineachain and Sally Harney will teach set and ceili dancing, elaborate dance forms that date back to the 18th century. Other workshops include a Gaelic Language class by Maire Ni Choinceanainn and Recitation primer by P.J. Gannon. 

     Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, which is Gaelic for Irish Musicians Association, was formed in Dublin in 1951 as a way to preserve traditional Irish music and dancing at a time when it was in danger of being eclipsed by modern culture. The organization has inspired thousands of people to take up the ancient music and dance, which has led to a worldwide revival of Irish and Celtic music over the last twenty-five years. 

     The convention, which is held in a different city in North America each year, typically features non-stop Irish music sessions flourishing alongside ceili dances that include up to several hundred people. 

     "The goal of Comhaltas is to celebrate and pass along the music, dance and culture of Ireland, which has survived for over ten centuries," says Reynolds, who immigrated to Boston from Galway in the 1950s and has helped fuel the Irish music revival in Boston. "Irish gatherings are very sociable, so typically these occasions allow people to talk, laugh and tell stories while enjoying the best Irish music and dancing you're likely to see anywhere."

       For more details on the convention, visit http://www.cceboston.org/CCE2003.html. For information on year round Irish activities, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com. 

Return to CCE Boston Home

http://www.cceboston.org/cce2003.html                                                                                                                                                                                 This Page revised 11 /232009

*********************************************************************************