Fleadh Results

Congratulations to all the ceoltóirí who took part in the All Britain and the All Ireland Fleadhs. A hundred thousand thanks to our music director Frank McArdle and all the tutors and organizers who prepared the way. A special thanks is due to Moira Callaghan for the travel and accommodation arrangements.

Mairi Therese Deighan U12 Flute 1st

David Browne U12 Accompaniment 1st

Daniel McGuinness U18 Whistle 1st

Daniel McGuinness U18 P Acc 2nd

Johnny Canning Sen Fiddle 2nd

Danny McCafferty Sen U Pipes 2nd

Daniel McGuiness U18 Whistle S/A 3rd

David Foley U18 Bodhrán 3rd

Mairi Therese Deighan, Claire

Deighan & David Browne U12 Trio 3rd

Much Ado at St. Roch’s

Pretty much everything is back to normal at St Roch’s from 2 September. Classes in all traditional instruments and set dancing resume from 7.00pm.

Qualifiers' Concert

The Qualifiers' Concert is on Friday 12 September at 7.30pm in the Couper Institute. Everyone who qualified for the All Ireland is invited to perform. Anyone who was not involved in the All Ireland is invited to play with the Junior Band - tunes are: Dawning of the Day; Terry Teahan's and Daly's. The concert will be followed by a session upstairs in the Couper Institute. Everyone is welcome. This concert is one of the highlights of the year and we might even manage to raise some funds – please bring relations and friends. A small point – sometimes the young ones get a tad restless and noisy – please respect the performers need for quietness etc.

 Crosskeys Exchange – Return Leg

The return visit to Crosskeys CCE Antrim will take place from 19-21 September. It is open to ceoltóirí from S4 upwards. Travel out is on 19 September on the Ferry from Troon to Larne, leaving at 2020 and return is on 21 September on the 1225 flight from Belfast to Prestwick. Approximate cost £30. Contact Frank McArdle immediately in person or by ‘phone (638 1860) if you wish to go – parental permission etc required.

Scottish Traditional Music Awards

The Scottish Traditional Music Awards Night 2008 takes place on the 6 December in the Fruit Market. Our U18 Grúpa Cheoil will perform at this very prestigious event attended by the crème de la crème of trad music in Scotland.

Come & Try a Instrument

There will be a Come-and-Try day in St. Roch's on Sat 4 October for young people (particularly whistle players) interested in moving on to another instrument.

Member Information

Welcome to all our members – new and old. We hope you’ll soon be getting into the swing of things - there’s lots of activities on the horizon and we hope you’ll support the wide range of events.

All teaching is free. Subs are £1 payable each Tuesday at the door. Beginners’ information folders cost £2, whistles £3 and class tune CDs - £2 each.

You can get newsletters and information updates by e-mail by sending a request with your name to Michael Foley at litteljohnfoley@ntlworld.com The Irish Minstrels web site is at www.glasgowirishminstrels.co.uk Comhaltas on the web is at www.comhaltas.com (Britain) and www.comhaltas.ie (Ireland).

Learning an instrument and being part of the Irish Minstrels CCE is lots of fun and especially so for the younger ones. However it’s neither a playground nor a crèche and we ask everyone to keep to a few simple rules –

Safety & Protection of Children

Parents and carers must remain on the premises to supervise and ensure the safety and well being of their children under 16. Please make sure that you know where your child is at all times and ensure that children do not run in corridors, congregate on the stairwells or climb on the windowsills. You are welcome to sit in on classes, learn an instrument or join the set dancers but let your child’s tutor know where you are in the building.

Keep the school tidy!

Please leave classrooms, toilets, corridors and stairs clean and tidy after use. Remember to put desks and chairs back in order for St Roch’s pupils next day. Pick up litter when and where you see it.

Comhaltas / Branch Membership

You must be a member of the Branch to attend classes. Membership fees are a snip at £14 for a family, £12 for an adult and child and £8 for an adult. Cheques payable to Irish Minstrels CCE or cash to Cathleen Armstrong ASAP please!

Instrument Loan Scheme

Grant support in recent years from Awards for All, Glasgow City Council and the Dion Fund has enabled the Branch to add to its stock of instruments for loan. This gives members the opportunity to try out a different instrument before making an expensive purchase.

If you are thinking of learning a different instrument you can apply for an instrument loan. Loans are available for up to a year on the condition that you i) are ready to progress to a new instrument on the recommendation of your tutor, ii) you insure and look after the instrument and replace it if it is damaged and iii) you continue to be a member of the Branch. Instruments for loan include flutes, fiddles, concertinas, piano accordions, button accordions and harps. When you decide to purchase a new instrument it is advisable to discuss retail brands, instrument makers and retail outlets with your tutor and other Branch members.

Stephen Murphy (Branch chairman) will be in touch over the next few weeks with people who have a loaned instrument to review continuing needs, returns etc.

Tutors & Classes

All our tutors are volunteers - that means we don’t pay them – not even with beans! Help them to help you by arriving at your class on time, paying attention and most importantly by practicing each day for at least 15 minutes. As you progress - practice for longer – there really is no substitute and you’ll just get better and better. Parents can help by always giving positive feedback to the musicians.

Branch AGM

The Irish Minstrels AGM is in October. Membership turnout is generally pitiful and that’s being charitable! This is fair warning that all members are invited to attend to receive committee officer reports and to elect officers – even new ones!

If you fancy a turn on the committee have a chat with Stephen Murphy or any of the erstwhile committee members to check out what’s involved. Some jobs are exceptionally onerous and demanding and generally only pass to the last person not hiding, others are just tedious and relentless and prime candidates are generally those who are too shy to demur when nominated. Nominating others is of course the easiest contribution of all, - you appear to be actually doing something while in fact passing the chalice to others.

So, time to show some pluck and courage and get prepared to attend – the pain is short lived - unless of course you get elected!

 Snippets

Congratulations to Katie Boyle and Mairead McManus who were each awarded an MA with distinction in Irish Traditional Music Performance by the University of Limerick.

Our pals in the Johnny Doherty CCE are hosting a Quiz Night & Session on Friday 19 September at 8.00pm in the Post pub, Calderbank. Food will be served. Everyone welcome. Further information from Allison Cullen on 01698 733137.

Diary Dates 2008