Eileen,

You are correct that Clasac was never going to be "run" by the branch, in the sense that the branch would own the building or have majority representation on the board. However, I wouldn't say that the branch "wouldn't be involved". Besides using the building as their own headquarters, the branch would appoint a minority of the governing board, and probably be responsible for many of the entertainments taking place in the building. It would be Clontarf musicians and dancers, for example, who would be the nightly (paid) entertainers during the summer tourist season. The centre would also be the base for Clontarf education programmes, such as fielding and training more music teachers for North Dublin schools.

The ownership and operation of the centre, though, was agreed very early on as a national Comhaltas project. In point of fact, your chairman did not actually sign the agreement in time, so there isn't a formal agreement in place on the distribution of responsibilities between the ardchomhairle and the branch. But even under the tentative agreement (which I think will still be honoured), there was not majority Clontarf control of the building.

I recognise that the actual agreements and arrangements were not communicated at all well to the branch members, especially by the committee, whose job it was. The resultant outrage is all the more strident because of the misunderstanding.