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Comhaltas in Britain News | Events Coming Up | Our Stories | Fundraising |
Get Involved with Your Local Branch
September and October are always buzzing with activity for Comhaltas branches across the country. It’s the time when memberships for 2025–2026 are being organised and branch AGMs are taking place. This is the perfect chance to get involved! Each branch relies on volunteers to keep things running smoothly - from admin and promotion to youth representatives and safeguarding officers - there really is a role for everyone. Why not join in, share your skills, and help your local branch thrive? |
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New Teachers’ Forum Launching This Autumn
Following feedback at this year’s Convention, branch teachers expressed interest in being in contact with other teachers around the country to network, share ideas, and discuss common practices. In response, Comhaltas in Britain is launching a new Teachers’ Forum this autumn - a confidential, members-only space designed to support and connect branch teachers nationwide.
Please encourage your branch teachers to sign up to stay informed and take part. We’d also love their input in shaping the forum: please ask them to complete this short form to share what they’d like from it, helping guide its focus and format. |
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Celebrate Lá na Cruite | Harp Day 2025
On Saturday 18th October, harp players everywhere will mark Lá na Cruite | Harp Day, celebrating Ireland’s 1,000-year-old harping tradition, recognised on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanities.
Organised by HarpIreland.ie, this is a fantastic way to get involved. Share your harp music through videos, pop-up performances, workshops, or ‘try your hand’ sessions.
You can post your content on social media or submit it to the Harpers’ Call initiative to be featured online. Please tag us so we can celebrate the harp with you.
Learn more: |
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Did you know that Comhaltas in Britain has a WhatsApp Channel?
It’s a simple way to: • Get all our posts direct to your phone • Share information easily with your branch members • Keep up to date with everything happening across Comhaltas in Britain
Join here: |
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Learn to Play Day!
Nottingham CCÉ: Saturday 11th October, 1–3pm at the Nottingham Irish Centre, Nottingham, NG2 1AA
Cambridge CCÉ: Sunday 12th October, 14:00–16:00 at the Rathmore Club, Cambridge, CB1 7AA
Both branches will be offering free taster lessons on a variety of instruments - perfect for anyone curious to try something new and enjoy some traditional Irish music.
Check out each branch’s Facebook page for full details. |
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East London CCÉ Saturday 11th October
The London and Southern Region are gearing up to host the All-Britain Fleadh next June! With such an exciting event on the horizon, fundraising is already in full swing across the region. One of the upcoming highlights is a Traditional Irish Session hosted by the East London branch at the Southgate Club, N14 5BP. It’s a wonderful chance to enjoy live music, meet fellow enthusiasts, and support this important event. For more details or to get involved, contact the East London branch using the button below. |
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Ashton-in-Makerfield CCÉ Saturday 11th October
An Lá Gaeilge: A Day of Irish Language Celebration
Celebrate Irish language, music, dance, and culture! Everyone is welcome to join: Workshops: 10:00am – 2:30pm - For beginners and upwards. Family Fun & Culture: 3:00pm – 5:00pm - Games and activities for children. Film Screening: Doors 7:00pm - Film 7:30pm | Free entry, all welcome.
Venue: Brian Boru Irish Club, 55 Bryn St, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN4 9AX |
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Saturday 25th October • 7.30pm
Get ready for a spooktacular night of fun at the St James the Great Halloween Céilí! Join them at St Joseph's Church Hall, Clarkston, G76 7BT for an evening of live traditional Irish music and céilí dancing for all ages.
There will be fancy dress prizes, a raffle, and a tuck shop to keep everyone fueled for the dancing. Celebrate Oíche Shamhna with friends, family, and your local Comhaltas community!
Tickets: Adults £6 | Children/Seniors £4 | Family £18 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Fáilte roimh cách! Everyone is welcome - come join the fun! |
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25th - 31st October
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann presents Cairdeas – Celebrating Connections, a special event that brings together music, song, dance, and storytelling to explore the heart of Irish culture. Through words and performance, Cairdeas celebrates the ancient Irish concept of cairdeas - friendship and community - and the connections it has fostered throughout history and continues to inspire today.
If you happen to be in Ireland at the end of October, why not try to catch one of the shows and experience this celebration of Irish culture firsthand? |
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Over the past 18 months, several Comhaltas in Britain members have shared their personal journeys with Irish traditional music, from learning their first tunes to performing, teaching, and volunteering within the organisation. These stories celebrate the passion, dedication, and community spirit that make Comhaltas so special. Below are a few examples. If you want to read more members’ blogs and stories, you can find them all on the News page of our website.
We’re always looking for members to share their own experiences - whether it’s about performing, teaching, or what being part of Comhaltas means to you. You can find a helpful guide on how to write and submit your blog [here]. |
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Jennie Nolan’s Blog
Jennie shares her journey with Comhaltas in Britain, from learning Irish traditional music as a child alongside her father to teaching and inspiring the next generation for over 35 years. She reflects on receiving the 2025 Caroline Judge Fegan TTCT scholarship, exploring what it means to honour her father’s legacy, support high-quality teaching, and continue passing on the tradition she loves to young musicians across Liverpool and beyond. |
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Paddy Callaghan's Blog
From learning the tin whistle at five to touring the world as an award-winning musician, Paddy shares his journey from student to staff member at Comhaltas in Britain. His story is full of music, community, and life-changing moments - showing how following your passion can take you further than you ever imagined. |
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Michael Nevin's Blog
Michael shares his journey with Comhaltas in Britain, from discovering Irish traditional music in his late teens to becoming a long-standing leader in the organisation. Through decades of performing, volunteering, and helping run fleadhanna, Michael reflects on how music, community, and family have shaped his life - and how the people of Comhaltas make it feel like an extended family that keeps him coming back. |
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Comhaltas Music Draw 2025
Each year, Comhaltas HQ runs the annual Music Draw, a raffle designed to support grassroots projects and help branches continue the fantastic work they do in their communities. You can get involved by speaking to your local branch secretary about ordering tickets- an easy way to support your branch while also having a chance to win some great prizes! Tickets cost €5 / £4 / $5 each, and 100% of the income from ticket sales stays with your local CCÉ unit. Branches that sell 200 or more tickets will be entered into a special draw for €1,000, and winners of the main draw - including the top prize of €5,000 - are announced before Christmas. Don’t miss this chance to support local music, help your branch thrive, and maybe even win big! |
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Easyfundraising
Please remember to use easyfundraising every time you shop online. Over 8,000 retailers will donate to us, including all the big names like eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, ASOS, Expedia, M&S, Just Eat, Uswitch and many more! This means you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying. If you haven’t signed up to support us yet, it’s easy and completely FREE. These donations really help us, so it would be great if you could take a moment to get started! You can find our easyfundraising page here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/comhaltas-in-britain/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pmc&utm_content=email-2 Thank you! |
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Every Donation Makes a Difference Just £10 can give a child their first step into the world of Irish Traditional Music. Every donation helps support young musicians and ensures the future of Irish culture and music continues to thrive. |
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