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Subject: Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann From: Fiolar Date: 12 Feb 01 - 08:45 AM Check out this site for up-to-date information on Comhaltas. www.comhaltas.com |
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Subject: comhaltas and government funding From: The Sandman Date: 16 Apr 08 - 04:17 PM does anyone know the first year Comhaltas received government funding from the Irish government. I am under the impression that Comhaltas managed the first ten years without financial assistance from the Irish government. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Ella who is Sooze Date: 17 Apr 08 - 07:26 AM hellooo try having a look on their website comhaltas might be some info on there EWIS |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Jim Carroll Date: 18 Apr 08 - 03:21 AM According to Fintan Vallely's Companion To Irish Traditional music "Incomes were initially covered by state development funding begun in 1967, since then variously by organisational revenue generated from membership levies, fleadh cheoil and tours proceeds, promotions, grant aid and fund raising. CCÉ's 1999 grant aid of £210,000 came from the government's Irish language budget. Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: The Sandman Date: 18 Apr 08 - 01:11 PM They managed the first sixteen years without government funding relying upon volunteers. Would it be wrong to say that while they did not have state funding,they behaved in a less authoritarian manner?that while they replied on volunteers ,they treated their membership with more respect. now they have government funding has their approach become more cavalier? It mught seem very appealing to EFDSS to have government funding,but there is no such thing as a free lunch. beware the bureaucrats,and beware the politicians. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Ruth Archer Date: 18 Apr 08 - 01:24 PM Dick, Dick - and there we were becoming friends! :) I've been working around the funding systen for a while, you know. I know that funding comes with strings. But you have to admit, the trade-off may well be worth an increased status and security for folk culture in England. I'm sure the organisation which have just had their regular funding removed are well aware that funding is a double-edged sword. Hopefully 21st century organisations will learn from the mistakes and pitfalls faced by organisations like Comhaltas in the past. it was 40 or 50 years ago, after all... |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Jim Carroll Date: 18 Apr 08 - 02:46 PM Cap'n, Ruth is right - nothing do do with funding - the problems started when they appointed a politician as director - then gave him a free hand. I'll pm you a wonderful article on him that appeared in Phoenix Magazine at the time of the 'report' fiasco - enjoy. Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: The Sandman Date: 19 Apr 08 - 03:52 AM yes, your both right. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Fliss Date: 19 Apr 08 - 05:14 AM Ive met him and been sidelined.. over PLI; so our group made a sharp exit. We are still going strong as an Irish music session. The trouble is that the funding is for Eire - and the subs and the PLI advantage. It was a struggle maintaining a branch in the UK. Very few of us were Irish.... Im not. We are just a group that enjoy the music and thought by joining Comhaltas we would get some help and encouragement. Isnt the director of Bru Boru someones wife !! fliss |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Jim Carroll Date: 19 Apr 08 - 05:35 AM The Director Chairman Lao's - Mrs O'Murchú - surprise-surprise Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) Date: 03 May 08 - 09:24 AM I comletely agree with Captain Birdseye about the corrosive effect of relying on pubic funding or indeed any outside funding. One of the most precious things about Comhaltas in Britain, for me, has been its endependence. If you start sucking up to businesses or bureaucrats you lose that. That's why I was personally glad that Comhaltas didn't become a charity in the UK - one less bunch of pen pushers to deal with. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: knight_high Date: 22 Feb 09 - 07:56 PM I have said this before on other forums, but it is worth repeating in the present climate. Also the position of Uachtaran of Comhaltas becomes vacant this May. There are at least 2 candidates who have their hats in the ring. Vincent Jordan and Seamus McCormack. I would like to hear the views of these two gentlemen regarding the Clasac controversy. I am sure that the many thousands of visitors to this discussion forum (which include Comhaltas members, like myself), would like to read them also. Can anyone bring this to their attention?? ___________________________________________________________ Many people who read this thread and many thousands more who dont, work very hard to promote Irish Traditional Music and song. Many organise and run small festivals, both within and outside of the Comhaltas organisation. Organisers can apply for funding from various organisations, Local Authority Arts department, The Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, etc. When they apply, or enquire about these grants they will be informed of the criteria by which they will be eligible. In most cases the rules and requirements will be freely available and accessable. They will make an application, outlining in detail the plans for the event, budget, organisers, and many other details. Does this sound familiar so far?? If the application is successful, you will be informed of how the grant will be paid, ie half before and the remainder after the event, ON PRODUCTION OF FULL ACCOUNTS AND A DETAILED REPORT. The funding bodies publish lists of successfull applicants All very hard work you'll agree, but fair - very fair. You make your pitch and if it is deserving and if the money is there you will get grant aid. Among its other duties, the newly established Meitheal regional organisations are tasked with distributing C.C.E. within the organisation. Is the Meitheal organisation elected by the members? No. Do they publish guidelines for who can apply? No. Do they publish the application criteria? No. Is there an application form? No. How is the grant paid out and when? Well we dont know. Do Metheal insist on a detailed set of income and expenditure accounts? Dont know? Do C.C.E. publish a list of successfull applicants? No. See what i'm getting to? There is no accountability. The money is a personal slush fund to be distributed as the old guard desires. Any branch who don't toe the line or dare to criticise the Old Guard, will simply be ignored re funding. Oh and dont forget to invite the old guard to the launch banquet also or else!! And remember folks this is YOUR money. Your hard earned taxes. Before a hundred of you jump down my throat, I am not saying that the branches or the event organisers don't deserve their funds. I am saying that if the systems, checks and balances are not there then it will be corrupt. It has to be by human nature. I hope that someone reading this will bring this situation to the attention of the relevant government department, or perhaps someone from Comhaltas HQ can enlighten us further |
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Subject: hi from Edinburgh From: GUEST,SandraRuthurford Date: 13 Dec 09 - 02:39 PM hi everybody, Looking to have a nice time here. Anyone from Scotland here? |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: The Sandman Date: 13 Dec 09 - 03:29 PM jack campin,giok mackenzie,and a few others |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Joxer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 07:12 AM The following is an excerpt from the Irish Times annual review of the highs and lows of the year in the Arts from Wednesday, December 14th - it refers to the controversial Clasach centre run by Comhaltas, which received millions in Government funding: "Lows: Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's failure to harness the full potential of Clasac , the landmark cultural centre in East Wall, Dublin. Is it already a white elephant? SL" It probably is at this stage, seeing as nothing much seems to happen there. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Michael Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:06 PM I am amused and bemused to read of Chris B's declaration of Comhaltas In Britain's "endependence" (sic). Comhaltas In Britain is completely reliant on the funding they receive from Ireland. This reliance has increased over the past few years owing to the "apparent" mismanagement of funds allocated to them. There has been murmurs of overspending beyond belief - nobody knows what on. This black hole in Comhaltas UK's finances has meant that they are bailed out (presumably by Monkstown headquarters) in order to pay for staff and other associated costs. Once they receive the Emigrant Fund award (i.e. money from the Irish government), their loan debts are cleared but they are soon back to square one financially - which means another "loan" is taken out. A preposterous state of affairs and one which I hear is not going down too well with the Inland Revenue. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Peter Date: 21 Aug 11 - 03:29 PM I have also heard of this. The Embassy know about this too but a certain Senator keeps on pulling the strings and sending over money to keep it hushed up. Comhaltas In Britain is quite frankly a joke. Many members have lost faith in the organisation and the way it is being run. There is no functioning UK website anymore - why? Look at the bizarre missive that greets you when you go to www.comhaltas.co.uk - there doesn't seem to be a main London office anymore either; recent emails I have sent there for information have been ignored and the phone number is out of action. Are any of the paid workers actually doing anything? It feels like its days are numbered. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,GUEST, Michael Date: 21 Aug 11 - 10:52 PM I love this bit on the website, Peter..."this does not serve the purpose of offering a true representation of the wide range of branches and their programmed activities to any outside the organisation who view this site". Actually, it pretty much does - I hear there really is not much going on in Comhaltas UK, with members' main topic of conversation being wondering about the missing money. What an odd thing to put as the only page on an organisation's website. This does them no favours whatsoever. It's a good job they've got Laughing Larry helping them out as no other funding body would consider them for grants. It's an organisation that doesn't appear to give a toss about the public perception of them anymore. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST Date: 29 Jan 12 - 10:02 PM It is an attested fact that CCE signed an agreement with IMRO effectively allowing privatization of ALL "Irish" music - which of course includes much Scottish music See http://www.beyondthecommons.com/understandingenclosure.html Not just withdrawal govt funding, but criminal prosecution is in order The contract was not renewed but only after intensive lobbying by the Irish musicians' union |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: The Sandman Date: 30 Jan 12 - 07:00 AM this years national fleadh is in derry |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) Date: 30 Jan 12 - 07:52 AM Michael, Many fair points there in your post of a while ago. My take on Comhaltas' 'independence' (see, I got it right that time) was very much to do with its independence from the UK government/local authority arts funding system. I've since learned that I may have over-estimated that independence. And yes, since my last post on this thread I've learned more myself about the issues you mention and I share your concerns. I'm not the only one, either. My take on it remains, however, that Comhaltas' strength lies in its voluntary nature. In my view, the more money you throw at it the worse it seems to get. The rot, however, seems worst the higher up you go (as with any centralised organisation with limited accountability). Its strength has always been at the grass roots. Re. the UK website: my understanding is that it's been wound up because branches weren't sending enough information in to keep it worthwhile. The guy running it did so in his spare time and I know he expended a lot of energy trying to get material to put on it. My own experience suggests that even now a lot of local Comhaltas activists aren't really internet-type people, for better or worse. I realise saying all that raises as many questions as it answers. In the meantime, the Irish community in the UK is now a settled, established and in many cases very successful one. I can't help wondering myself if it can still be justified for Irish taxpayers (who've had to put up with job losses, wage cuts, tax rises and everything else) to be expected to continue to subsidise the teaching of Irish music to the kids of people who have themselves done OK living in Britain - and who perhaps should now be expected to fend for themselves? |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 30 Jan 12 - 08:04 AM >CCE signed an agreement with IMRO effectively allowing privatization of ALL "Irish" music How are they going to get around the public-domain stipulations set out in international copyright law? I'd like to see more information on this because I think you could probably drive a coach and horses through it, legally speaking. Where did you hear this story? Comhaltas and IMRO are not empowered legislators. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Pennyburn Boy Date: 30 Jan 12 - 10:28 AM The 2013 Fleadh is in Derry! This year's is in Cavan. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: The Sandman Date: 30 Jan 12 - 10:33 AM sorry |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Michael Date: 05 Feb 12 - 07:14 PM Quite frankly, what do the paid workers in Comhaltas actually do? Is there any need for them? Didn't Comhaltas get by fine enough in the years before this type of funding? Can you believe that there have been concerts held by Comhaltas in the UK over the past year, with the intention of raising funds to fill the black hole I mentioned previously? It's a shocking state of affairs and the whole thing stinks bearing in mind the collusion between Comhaltas UK, the Embassy and, of course, Larry. |
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Subject: RE: comhaltas and government funding From: GUEST,Michael Date: 24 Jul 12 - 12:59 PM Apparently, Comhaltas UK doesn't put in for the funding that they get from Ireland any more. Laughing Larry now sends them money direct - some extra that he's procured from the Irish government. |
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