Video
Comhaltas Video Archive
Irish traditional music is a passionate art form. The energy of dance music and the pathos and humour of traditional singing can be difficult to appreciate unless you have the chance to observe it at close quarters. Short of being there, we think that the ComhaltasLive video programmes give you a great chance to do just that.
We began a project a few years ago to document some of the great performances of traditional music. In association with the Irish International Webcasting Company, the ComhaltasLive project set out to capture some of the current ‘greats’ of traditional music, document some of the promising young stars and also to show music within its historical context by referencing audio and video from the past.
The weekly ComhaltasLive programmes have been well-received, and thousands of people have had a chance to see some of this great music up close and personal. Please take a look at this week’s programme, or browse through excerpts from our past programmes.
Suggest a show
If there’s an event or opportunity coming up that you think we ought to cover, just send us a note and we’ll see what we can do. And if we can’t get there, maybe you’d like to write up the event for our journal, Treoir. Don’t forget to include some photos and, where possible, one or two video clips on DVD which we may be able to upload on to the website.
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- ComhaltasLive #281-3: Innisfree Céilí Band reels
- 3 December 2008
- Winners of the 2008 Senior Céilí Band competition, the Innisfree Céilí Band from Sligo play their selection of reels, ending with “Trim the Velvet.” They were recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Band members are: Cormac Mac Diarmada, Damian O’Brien and Oisín Mac Diarmada, fiddles; Máire Nic Dhiarmada Finbar McGreevy and David Sheridan, flutes; Paul Finn, button accordion; Oliver Loughlin, piano accordion; Charles O’Connor, piano and Daragh Kelly on drums.
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- ComhaltasLive #281-2: Scoil Éigse quintet
- 2 December 2008
- A selection of jigs: “The Bluebells in Bloom” composed by Mike Dwyer, and “The Humours of Drinagh”, played by five of the tutors at Scoil Éigse 2008. The musicians are Sabina McCague (harp) from Co. Monaghan, Máire Nic Dhiarmada (flute) of Sligo, Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes) of Leitrim, Oisín MacDiarmada (fiddle) of Sligo and Pádraig King (button accordion) of Limerick. As well as being a member of the group “Téada”, Oisín is also leader of the Innisfree Céilí band, who won the Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008.
The music was recorded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008 at Scoil Éigse, an annual summer school attended by approximately 800 pupils from many parts of the world.
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- ComhaltasLive #281-1: Fleadh Session
- 1 December 2008
- A selection of reels ending with “The Congress Reel” played by Sorcha Rooney (harp) from Sligo, Daire Mulhearn (button accordion) from Ennis, Co. Clare, Karen Hickey (fiddle), Fiachra O’Regan (uilleann pipes) and Pádraig O’Neill (fiddle) of Dublin. This was one of the many impromptu sessions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
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- ComhaltasLive #280 (Full Programme)
- 27 November 2008
- This week we bring you more music from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008. Performers include Darren McGee (fiddle), Rosie Ferguson (fiddle), Declan McGee (guitar), Louise Mulcahy (flute), Mairéad McManus (flute), Deirdre Granville (flute), Aoife Granville (harp), the Breffni Céilí Band, Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach, Eilís Nic Aogáin (fiddle), Johnny Canning (fiddle) and Ciara Brennan (fiddle).
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- ComhaltasLive #280-7: Ciara Brennan at the All-Ireland
- 26 November 2008
- Ciara Brennan of CCÉ Craobh na bPíobairí Uilleann, Dublin, playing a jig in the senior fiddle competition. The music was recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #280-6: Johnny Canning on Fiddle
- 25 November 2008
- “Lord Gordon’s Reel” played in the 2008 senior fiddle competition by Johnny Canning from Glasgow, Scotland, who took 2nd place. The music was recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #280-5: Eilís Nic Aogáin in the Senior Fiddle
- 24 November 2008
- Eilís Nic Aogáin from CCÉ Dun Doire, Co. Meath plays the four-part jig “The Humours of Ballyloughlin” in the senior fiddle competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #280-4: Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach Reels
- 23 November 2008
- Third place at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008 went to Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach from Co. Clare, who played this selection of reels commencing with “Rattigan’s”. They were recorded at the Senior Céilí Band competition.
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