Special weekend planned to mark 75th anniversary of Westmeath Comhaltas
Westmeath Comhaltas aims to echo the success of the 2022 and 2023 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann when it hosts a weekend of music and events in August to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the organisation.
The Westmeath CCÉ committee hosted a launch at Áras an Mhuilinn on Thursday of last week, when it presented plans for what should be a great weekend of music and culture in the town where Comhaltas was founded in 1951.
The feature event is a concert by the Kilfenora Céilí Band at St Paul’s Church on the evening of Saturday, August 29, but there are highlights from the Friday evening, August 28, through to a céilí by local performers Rise the Dust at Áras an Mhuilinn to close the weekend on the Sunday evening, August 30.
Brendan Doyle, chair of Westmeath County Board CCÉ, welcomed attendees at the launch and performed the important duty of introducing his colleagues at the top table – the people who put in the long hours to make Comhaltas events happen.
They are: Enda Seery, vice-chair, Barbara Reynolds, secretary, Linda Price, treasurer, Nicole O’Brien, PRO, Joe Connaire, former chair, Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann Executive Committee 2022 and 2023, Willie Penrose, former vice-chair, Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann Executive Committee 2022 and 2023, and Colette Glynn, former secretary, Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann Executive Committee 2022 and 2023.
"So that’s the committee for this event," said Brendan. "We will be, of course, calling on many other people for help in various parts of the weekend as it unfolds, so anybody who’s interested in helping, please let us know."
Opening the weekend are the Ox Mountain Quartet with elite musicians, singers and dancers from Westmeath at the arts centre; then the Saturday (August 29) will include, among other events, the performance of a play telling the story of the foundation of Comhaltas, and the unveiling of a plaque on the Market Square to commemorate the 2022 and 2023 fleadhanna.
There will also be an event to honour local families whose members were among the founders of Comhaltas, the Reynolds, Moynihans, and Seerys, and some of the senior CCÉ executives are expected to attend.
Also there will be an inclusive céilí, a youth performance, pub sessions, a Comhaltas Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, a history lecture, Mullingar Town Band, Westmeath céilí bands and an open session, as well as the Kilfenora Céilí Band and the céilí with Rise the Dust.