Comhaltas Ceolteoirí ÉireannTHE outstanding work of Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann over the past 60 years has been acknowledged by Mayo County Council.

The organisation, which has 16 branches throughout the county, is preparing to host the Connaught Fleadh in Castlebar in 2014.

Máirtín Ó Maicín, who gave a detailed presentation at a meeting of the authority, spoke about the potential of promoting Mayo as a centre of cultural and musical excellence.

He explained there were 400 branches of Comhaltas worldwide and the easy access to Mayo through Ireland West Airport Knock represented a golden opportunity to establish the county as the global centre of traditional Irish music.

He stated: “It is in this particular area that Mayo County Council can be of huge assistance to us.

“We have a great deal to offer each other when it comes to nurturing and developing cultural tourism.

“If we only succeeded in attracting a modest percentage of our members worldwide to Mayo on a consistent basis, the spin-off effects could be immense. I would like to see us working together to achieve those goals.”

Mr. Ó Maicín said the strength of Comhaltas in Mayo was reflected in its members winning 28 All-Ireland titles in 2011.

“Hundreds of young people are involved in learning the skills of playing a traditional Irish instrument as well as learning to sing and dance on a daily and weekly basis. We are very proud at what is being achieved at local level by our tutors, students and volunteers.”

John Coll, director of cultural and educational services, Mayo County Council, said the members of the authority’s cultural strategic policy committee, under the chairmanship of Councillor Al McDonnell, had pledged its support to working closing with Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann in the pursuit of their objective.

Peter Hynes, county manager, said he looked forward to those links being cultivated and expanded over the coming years.

“I am certainly committed to supporting the aims of Comhaltas.”

Fifteen elected members spoke in glowing terms of the organisation’s contribution to life and culture in Mayo.

Councillor Cyril Burke said he was pleasantly surprised to learn that 45 universities in America taught Irish due to the efforts of Comhaltas.

Councillor Eddie Staunton stated he was a proud member of Comhaltas for many years and enjoyed every minute of it.

Councillor Micheál McNamara said Scoil Acla in Dooagh would not be as strong as it is today without the backing of Comhaltas.

Councillor Michael Burke described their work as ‘fantastic’ and wished them every success in the future.

Councillor Margaret Adams said people were actively involved in Comhaltas because of their love of music and nothing else.

Councillor Gerry Ginty stated traditional music had outlined many contemporary styles of music because it was never elitist.