The Melbourne branch of Comhaltas was founded in 1970.
We celebrated our 40th Anniversary in 2010 and our 50th anniversary in 2020, just before the Lockdown.
Over recent years, Comhaltas has been involved with different concerts and workshops which include Bhan Tre, The Borderers, Mauris Walsh, Kevin Burke, Anthony O’Neill, Lynnell Moran, Felix Meagher, Nikki Cramer, Ewen Baker, Irene Cunningham, Maria Ford, Manus Maguire, and recently Francis Cunningham (concertina) and Colm Broderick (uilleann pipes)
Teachers from Ireland have visited Melbourne, for example Jerry O’Connor who visited in 2006. Gerry held fiddle workshops here that were very well attended and of great benefit to the fiddle players of Melbourne.
Set Dancing:
Many Set dance teachers have visited Melbourne, including Ger Butler, Jerry O’Reilly, Joe Mannix, Mary Clancy, Mairead Casey, P. O’Dea, and Pat Murphy
Comhaltas dancers have performed at nearly all the major festivals, including The NFF Canberra, The NCF Portarlington, Malden, Frances, the WindJam Festival in Burnley, Tasmania, Melbourne Irish Festival.
Photos from some of our celebrations:
50th Anniversary Feb 2020:
smugmug.com/gallery/n-XVDgxb
40th Anniversary:
smugmug.com/gallery/n-jdhwdh
Manus Maguire Concert Dec 2018:
smugmug.com/gallery/n-8J27Vv
Irish Culture Days 2007/8:
smugmug.com/gallery/n-zS5Bps