PICTURES: Laois Comhaltas celebrate year of huge success

Having celebrated the successes of the past year on Friday last, Portlaoise Comhaltas will hold an open evening on Friday, September 12 at 7pm at St Francis School, Borris Rd. to enlist new members for traditional music classes in all instruments. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

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The celebrations focussed on fleadh competitions and also a high number of students who received distinctions at the formal examinations Scrudú Ceol Tíre including two candidates who received the Micheál Ó hÉidhin Gold medal award, Jane Ramsbottom and Fionn Connolly.

The branch is very proud of the Golden Croft Grúpa Ceoil which took bronze at Wexford in August meaning that 20 members received a coveted All Ireland medal. Within the group are individual winners of nine other competitions; Harp, Banjo, Bodhrán, Mandolin, Harp Airs, Concertina, Melodion, Duet and Singing.

Dancers from the Buggie school are an integral feature of the Portlaoise Comhaltas performances such as the Fleadh Gig Rig and all four dance teams won medals at the ceili competitions, two gold, one silver and one bronze. Presentations were made to dance teachers, sisters Grainne and Brid Ann Buggie and to music teachers Mary O’Reilly, Katherine Penfold and Catriona Killeen who take responsibility for leading band and group classes. Missing due to them being on tour in America were Áine McGeeney and Colm Phelan.

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Individual citations were presented to each musician and dancer who qualified through Laois and Leinster to compete at the All Ireland Fleadh. MC P J Phelan remarked that ’Some members of this group have been representing us since Ennis in 2017 also Drogheda and Mullingar as they progressed from u12 to the 15-18 age category, proving that they have been consistently outstanding”

Caothaoirleach of Laois County Council Cllr Barry Walsh, complimented the members and pointed out that such results are a credit to all concerned, parents, committee, teachers and particularly the dedicated students. This has been progressing quietly for many years and should be made known throughout the community.

Laoise Comhaltas President Brendan Reilly, mused that he could not have foreseen the way the Portlaoise branch has gone from strength to strength since it was reformed in 2009, hosting the county and Leinster fleadhs on a number of occasions while catering for so many children and adults on a weekly basis. He thanked the local representatives for attending the function and urged them to support the development of a cultural centre similar to that in other large midlands towns. This would benefit the Portlaoise area and be a facility which could be utilised by the other branches also.

Portlaoise Comhaltas branch open evening will begin with a short presentation and an opportunity to meet teachers and advanced students with a chance to try a musical instrument for those who haven’t yet settled on a preference.