July-August edition of the Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann newsletter
Letter From Our Chairperson, Tara Lynch:
A Chairde,
I trust you are all enjoying the longer days and taking advantage of the ever changing summer weather while it lasts.
Some of our young people will be heading to Ireland soon to compete and experience the magic of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Ennis, County Clare. The branch was happy to host a fundraiser in their honor in June. What a delightful night it was! To listen and witness several students showcase their varied talents, the teachers who participated, and the musicians that came along to encourage and support . . . all certainly made for a heart warming event. My personal Thank You goes to those who joined us with kudos to the parents and all the behind-the-scene people who assisted us. I am also especially appreciative to the few members who generously sent in donations.
A special thank you to Marie Yeager and family for designating the Larry Reynolds Memorial Scholarship Fund as the charity to receive donations in Eddie’s memory. We sincerely appreciate Marie’s acknowledgement of the enjoyment that she and Eddie received from the music and acknowledge this gesture to pass on the music and tradition.
We wish to thank the Mullen family indeed for their whole- hearted efforts in establishing the Annie Mullen Scholarship Fund. Students of our music school that qualify to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann each year will be eligible for this scholarship.
At the September 24th Seisiún/Céili in Watertown, we’ll have the drawing for the prize to be awarded to a person that sponsored members during our spring membership campaign.
God bless everyone . . . Tara Lynch, Chairperson
EVENTS/NOTICES
♦ Next Seisiún / Céilí – Sun., Sept. 24th ▪ 3-7 p.m.
Canadian-American Hall, 202 Arlington St.,
Watertown. ▪ Adm. $10 ▪ Donations of baked goods
and raffle prizes always greatly appreciated.
♦ Boston Comhaltas Music School – Registration opens
Aug. 12th and closes Sept. 9th. Classes: Sept. 16, 23, 30
~ Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 ~ Nov. 4, 11, 18. Make up 12/9&16
Children and Adults ~ All levels welcome!
♦ Set/Céilí Dance Workshop ~ Resumes Tues.,
Sept. 19th ▪ 7:30 p.m. ▪ Can-Am Hall in Watertown
Come and enjoy the craic! Beginners always welcome!
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES
♦ To Colin Kadis this year’s recipient of the
Larry Reynolds Memorial Scholarship
REGULAR BRANCH ACTIVITIES
Semi-Monthly Seisiún/Ceili – The second and fourth Sundays of the month, Sept. thru June from 3-7 p.m. at the Canadian-American Hall, 202 Arlington St., Watertown, MA. Musicians are invited to join in. There is set, ceili, old-time waltz, and other dancing. Doors open for a slow session at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday. Refreshments served. Admission $10 Set / Céilí Dance Workshop – Every Tuesday evening, Sept. thru May, at 7:30 p.m. at the Canadian-American Hall in Watertown. All levels welcome !
CCÉ Boston Music School
Columbkille Partnership School Brighton, MA
Phone: (617) 696-0442
Email: john@cceboston.org
Website: www.cceboston.org
Instruction provided in Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, Harp, C/G Anglo Concertina, Button Accordion, Tenor Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Bodhran, Singing/English & Irish (sean nós)
● BCMS Commemorative Gifts Program
● Larry Reynolds Memorial Scholarship Fund
● Frank Forde Memorial Music Scholarship
● Annie Mullen Scholarship Fund
Make check payable to CCÉ and on memo line designate which fund you are contributing to. Mail to CCÉ c/o Michael Hickey, RHC Treas., 100 Woodpecker Rd., Stoughton, MA 02072
Newsletter Attachments
Seize the Opportunity ~ Keep the Tradition Growing
Founded in 1997, CCÉ Boston Music School is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving traditional Irish music, song, dance, language, and culture
Registration for the 2017 fall semester opens August 12th and closes September 9th. Our Executive Director
John Kearney and the teaching staff welcome both continuing and new students, adults and children, to a 10-week program
held each Saturday morning at St. Columbkille’s School, 25 Arlington St., Brighton, MA. Lessons are provided on fiddle,
flute, button accordion, tin whistle, C/G Anglo concertina, harp, uilleann pipes, guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, bodhran, and in
singing English / Irish (sean nos). We do offer a range of rental instruments and have tin whistles for sale. For further information,
visit the branch web site www.cceboston.org ▪ phone (617) 696-0442 ▪ email John@cceboston.org. Students regularly participate
in local and international competitions. Here are results of the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Fleadh held in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley CCÉ Branch Competitors
Competition Category Competitor Placed
Fiddle U-12 Aisling Doyle 1st
Button Accordion U-12 Rory Coyne 1st
Button Accordion 18+ Colin Kadis 2nd
Concert Flute 15-18 Liam Murphy 3rd
Tin Whistle U-12 Yurly Bane 1st
Tin Whistle 12-15 Molly Quinn 3rd
Tin Whistle 15-18 Liam Murphy 1st
Concertina U-12 Niamh McGillicuddy 1st
Melodeon U-12 Rory Coyne 1st
Fiddle – Slow Airs U-12 Aisling Doyle 2nd
Tin Whistle – Slow Airs 12-15 Molly Quinn 2nd
Duets U-12 Aisling Doyle & Niamh McGillicuddy 2nd
Trio U-12 Rory Coyne, Aisling Doyle
& Niamh McGillicuddy 1st
Groupai Cheoil 12-15 Realta Geala 3rd
Groupai Cheoil 15-18 Realta Geala 3rd
English Singing – Ladies 12-15 Fern Tamagini-O’Donnell 3rd
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Winner of Larry Reynolds Memorial Trophy – Sponsored by the Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley CCÉ Branch
Fiddle – Slow Airs 18+ Lindsey Ceitina
Winner of John “Jerry” Lynch Memorial Trophy – Sponsored by the Lynch Family
Concertina 15-18 John Paul Wick
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Other Northeast Competitors
Competition Category Competitor Placed
Fiddle 12-15 Jonathan Ford 3rd
Concert Flute 12-15 Seamus Noonan 1st
Tin Whistle 12-15 Jonathan Ford 1st
Tin Whistle 12-15 Seamus Noonan 2nd
Tin Whistle 18+ Torrin Ryan 2nd
Concertina 12-15 Seamus Noonan 1st
Uilleann Pipes 18+ Torrin Ryan 1st
Piano U-12 Bailey Ford 1st
Accompaniment U-12 Bailey Ford 3rd
Uilleann Pipes – Slow Airs 18+ Torrin Ryan 1st
Tin Whistle – Slow Airs 18+ Torrin Ryan 1st
Duets 12-15 Bram Pomplas & Seamus Noonan 2nd
Irish Singing Men 18+ Liam Hart 2nd
Composed Dance Song N/A Denis Galvin 2nd
Some of our Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Branch Music School students who placed at the Fleadh in Parsippany, New Jersey are preparing for their trip to Ennis, County Clare, Ireland to compete at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann during the week of August 13-20.
Here is a message from Noeleen Fitzgerald a member of the 2017 implementation team.
Dear International Comhaltas Members,
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is one of the largest festivals of traditional music in the world. For one week every August, the very best of traditional talent from all over Ireland and the world comes together to meet, to compete but most importantly to celebrate all that is best in Irish music, song and dance. Ennis hosted the Fleadh in 2016 and experienced a joyful invasion of musicians and listeners alike, young and old, families and visitors, all drawn by the magic that the Fleadh promises and always delivers. The reaction to the event was universally positive with very strong feedback from all who were in attendance. Fáilte Ireland engaged Behavior and Attitudes Consultants to undertake a professional assessment of the Fleadh and the overall satisfaction rating of overseas visitors was 8.61 out of 10.
As we prepare for 2017 again here in Ennis, Co Clare, we are reaching out to Comhaltas overseas members to highlight the great week planned for 2017.
1. Link to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2017 website – http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie
2. This year’s events – http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/images/2017/Events_Guide_Fleadh_2017_Low_Res.pdf
3. A unique piece on the musicians of County Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way
http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/whatson/wild-atlantic-way/virtual-music-trail
In recent years, TG4 have run Fleadh TV which consists of live transmission with a three hour program each night over the Fleadh weekend. The popularity of Fleadh TV continues to grow with 1.1m viewers tuning in for the 2016 event. In addition, there was significant traction on Facebook, Twitter and other online channels, both for Fleadh TV and for the Fleadh itself. There is also a link to Fleadh TV that will be live over three nights of the Fleadh here in Ennis. http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/fleadhtv.
I am a member of the 2017 implementation team here in Clare.
Regards,
Noeleen Fitzgerald
Fleadh Coordinator Clare County Council
We’re pleased to announce that we finally have a presence for our Reynolds, Hanafin, Cooley Branch on Facebook Check there frequently for updates. Click the “Like” button so you don’t miss anything. We hope you’ll join us in sharing the enjoyment and appreciation of our Irish culture, music, and dance activities in the Greater Boston area.
We’re also on Twitter! Follow us there @ccebostonorg.