Branch History
1957 | 1958 | 1961 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2004 | 2005 | 2007 | 2008
1957
Although traditional music sessions had regularly taken place in Nellie Mc Govern’s Bar, Lower Main St, from the early ‘50s the Letterkenny Branch of Comhaltas was not established until October 1957. The first Branch officers were Fr. Owenie Friel,CC, President; Hughie Mc Govern, Chairman; Frank Sweeney, Vice-Chairman / Treasurer; and Paddy Tunney, Secretary. Committee members included Sean Bradley, Drumkeen, Charles Mc Ginley, O.S. Illistrin, Patrick Mc Gettigan, Churchill and Charlie Mc Keever, Drumoghill.
1958
The first Fleadh Cheoil in Co. Donegal was held on 6th July in the Literary Institute, Lower Main St. It made no claims to be a County Fleadh. In fact it was organised in connection with a Donegal week held by the local guild of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association. The Secretary of the Branch, Paddy Tunney obtained permission from Central Council of Comhaltas and Sean O Boyle of Armagh adjudicated the competitions. Interestingly Jimmy Houston, from Drumkeen won the fiddle competition. Jimmy made a huge musical contribution to Comhaltas in Donegal.
1961
After the Co. Fleadh in Ballyshannon (’59), the setting up of the first Donegal Co. Board of Comhaltas in July of that year and the Co. Fleadh in Glenties (’60) the Letterkenny Branch of Comhaltas hosted the Co. Fleadh of 1961 on the 26th and 27th of August. It was estimated that around 5,000 were in attendance. The competitions adjudicators were Pat Gallagher, Ederney, Co, Fermanagh, Joe O Dowd, Sligo, and Jerry Hicks of St. Patrick’s College, Armagh. A Celebrity Concert was held on Sunday night in the Devlin Hall with Paddy Tunney as Fear a’ Tí.
For almost the next four decades C.C.É. Leitir Ceanainn continued to flourish with the loyal support of musicians from all over County Donegal. The session venue changed over the years. Boyle’s Bar in the Market Sq, the hall in St. Conal’s Hospital, St. Eunan’s G.A.A. club, the Three Ways Motel, The Old Clanree Hotel, and the Dry Arch Inn all hosted the branch session over this period.
There were many memorable nights in Letterkenny and when the members attended other branch sessions and Fleadhanna throughout the county and country. Branch officers also changed with the passing years but Hughie McGovern, as Chairman was always the mainstay and guiding influence. He was the catalysis and the weekly Tues. night session was the expression of the Branch’s commitment to afford a forum and an informal meeting place for traditional artists to perform, share music and develop as traditional musicians.
2000
After an absence of 28 years the Letterkenny Branch hosted very successfully the County Fleadh on the second weekend in May of the Millenium year. Competitions were held in the Clanree Hotel, St.Patrick’s Primary School, Lurgybrack, and Bonagee F.C. grounds.
2001
Once again on the designated weekend in May the Branch again successfully hosted the Donegal County Fleadh.
Sadly for us all in C.C.É. Leitir Ceanainn Hughie McGovern (Branch Chairman) passed away in the month of July after a lifetime commitment to traditional culture and Comhaltas. Hughie’s dedication was such that he had attended the Connacht Fleadh Cheoil in Tubbercurry and had driven there and back alone the previous day.
2002
In memory of Hughie McGovern the Branch held its first Annual Scoil Earraigh Hughie McGovern in April. Friday night saw a magnificent concert in An Grianán Theatre. Traditional workshops and classes were held on Saturday and music sessions continued into the late hours over the weekend.
The Branch organised a Mummers’Play which involved many Branch members.The play went on tour to the local pubs and hotels and raised €4,000 for the Special Olympics in the North West.
On the 7th December the Branch’s first secretary, Paddy Tunney, distinguished singer, writer and broadcaster passed away. The passing of loyal Branch member and flute player Kevin Mac Laverty from Moville occurred around the same time. Kevin, son of famous short story writer Mícheál Mac Laverty was Principal of the Seafishing School in Greencastle until his retirement and an avid seafarer.
2004
After initial overtures from Noel McGinley, the President of Fáilte Ireland and North West Tourism the Branch made a bid on behalf of the town of Letterkenny to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann the following year. The Fleadh action group chaired by Paddy (Óg) Tunney made umpteen presentations to a wide range of interested groups. A financial package was secured and both Letterkenny Town Council and Donegal Co.Council very generously committed €50,000 each. Ardchomhairle members received a very professional presentation document dossier plus a video on Letterkenny and its incomparable facilities. This video was filmed and produced by Fermanagh Comhaltas PRO Mickey Mc Philips from Newtownbutler and the branch will be eternally grateful to him. On the 16th September the Ard Comhairle of Comhaltas awarded the All Ireland Fleadh to Letterkenny. President Jim Teevan’s casting vote swayed the issue in the tightest of contests.
2005
On Saturday 14th May the Branch session group took part in Céilí House for the first time ever on the weekend of Oireachtas na Bealtaine which was held in Letterkenny. The Group which played on the programme consisted of Seamus Gibson (Button Acc.); Teresa Barron (Piano Acc); Valerie Deasley (Piano Acc); on fiddles Billy Gibson, Paddy Tunney, and Joseph Gibson; on flutes Kate Forde, Trudy O Donnell; Gerry Mc Brearty (Banjo); Finbarr Ó Raifeartaigh (Mandolin); and Seamus Mc Cullagh (Bodhran). The reel selection included “The Road to Rio” and “Cregg’s Pipes”. The hornpipes played were “The Homeruler” and “Off to California”. The jig set was made up of “Jerry’s Beaver Hat” and “Donnybrook Fair”.
The programme concluded with a reel set beginning with “The Kilmaley”. Fate Forde sang “The Rocks of Bawn”. Trudy O’Donnell played a set of reels on the flute. Young Branch members Declan Sweeney (Button Acc.), Louise Mc Kinney (Fiddle) and Fiona Barron (Flute) played a selection of tunes as did Joseph Gibson (Fiddle) accompanied by Thomas Foy on guitar. Also on the programme were Cór Áiligh (local Gaelic Choir, conducted by Frank Breslin) and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh(Fiddle) and Ciarán Mac Feidhlimidh (Uileann Pipes) who played both solo and as a duet.
2007
The Branch successfully held its sixth Scoil Earraigh Hughie McGovern. In other years classes and workshops commenced on the Saturday morning with some of the top tutors in Ireland sharing their expertise. Tommy Peoples, Bríd Harper, Róisín Mc Grory, Mick Browne, Marcas Ó Murchú, Carmel Gunning, Trudy O Donnell, Kate Forde, Aisling McPhillips, Theresa Mc Clure, Bernard Kelly, Donna Harkin, and singers Paddy (sen), Brigid & John Tunney, Rita Gallagher, Gearóidín Bhreathnach and Tadhg Maher have all been on the tutoring team.
The death of long-time branch officer Marjorie McDaid occurred on the 28th July and greatly saddened all who knew her.
At Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Tullamore Letterkenny’s Kate Forde took first place in the Senior Ladies Traditional Singing.
The Branch hosted and organised a concert as part of the Irish American Traditional Trio Chulrua’s Irish Tour on Thurs. 6th of September in the Clanree Hotel. Offaly box-player Paddy O Brien and Tipperary’s Pat Egan gave us a night to remember. Unfortunately, the 3rd member of the group, Patrick Ourceau, had just got married and was in his native France.
2008
The Branch decided to take up an outstanding invitation from the Coventry Branch to visit its city. Branch Treasurer Seamus Gibson looked after all the trip- arrangements and a group of Branch members numbering 18 in all made the historic trip on the June Bank Holiday weekend (Fri.30th May-Mon.2nd June). They were accommodated in the Highlands Hotel on the Warrick Rd and were royally entertained in the Coventry Branch headquarters in the Hearsall Bar each night where a great Fáilte Uí Cheallaigh was received from Peter and Joan Scott, the proprietors.
The group was conducted on a visit of the city’s sights on Saturday by Syl Cullen. Later that evening the Letterkenny members were guests at a Céilí/Buffet in the Parish Centre in Wychen where over 300 attended a most enjoyable function. On Sunday lunch was served in the Coventry Ramada Hotel courtesy of the Scotts. Sunday night’s session was memorable and the music continued to well after 3am. The following day the group was delivered safely to Birmingham Airport by the Coventry Branch’s triumvirate of Hughie Gallagher, Jarlath Mulhern and Syl Cullen who along with Boo Cullen (Branch Secretary) and all the Branch members had made our stay in Lady Godiva’s City an unforgettable experience.
