Portlaoise Comhaltas AGM reviews successful year
Some of the Comhaltas Portlaoise members who entertained Chris and Mike Powell to a traditional supper and session at Treacy's, The Heath during their recent visit from Tennessee.
PORTLAOISE Comhaltas recently held its AGM in St Francis School.
The meeting heard a glowing secretary’s report by Pauline Bell, who noted that the branch had been active in places as far apart as Belfast and Tennessee and especially in Portlaoise in between.
Chairman Jason Conroy thanked all who helped with hosting the Leinster fleadh, which was deemed an outstanding success built on the two previous occasions in 2011 and 2022. Thanking management and staff at Scoil Críost Rí and St Mary’s CBS, he pointed out that such a large event could only be held with the support of the schools and the local community.
He thanked the sponsors and the members of Laois Co Council. Indeed, the branch was proud to have represented Laois Sister Cities during March at events in Franklin, Tennessee leading up to the St Patrick’s day parade in Nashville.
Following on from the Portlaoise visit in March, individuals from Tennessee have included Portlaoise on their European trip as connections continue to strengthen.
The branch is keen to support all cultural events in the area and worked with the Lions Club, Laois GAA and Old Fort Festival among others during the year in review. Combining with the Buggie School of Irish Dance, the branch is equipped to stage the full range of distinctively Irish traditional entertainment.
Trips abroad, visiting Belfast, St Patrick’s day parade and related events, while holding twice weekly classes and sessions was only possible with the support of generous sponsorship and donations so that weekly subscriptions can be kept affordable for everyone.
In her detailed financial report, treasurer Laura Thompson gave a thorough breakdown of the income and expenditure covering the large panel of specialist teachers for various instruments, supplemented periodically by additional expert tutors. A discussion regarding the expansion of the instrument bank led to the creation of an additional post of music class co-ordinator, to which Shirley Cahill was appointed.
The satisfaction of the large membership, including 60 new students who joined in September, can be judged by the fact that all outgoing officers were returned unopposed and an expanded committee was appointed to continue developing and promoting traditional music, song, Irish language and dance in the year ahead.
