Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann North America collection of Irish music materials
Scope and Contents
Collection documenting the history and activities of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) in North America with reference to the activities of CCÉ in Ireland. The efforts by CCÉ North America members to preserve audio and video of performances of traditional Irish music, song, and dance in the United States and Canada are also reflected.
Included are administrative records, branch profiles, and correspondence from CCÉ's branches in North America, as well as brief histories of the organization. The collection features promotional materials including brochures, photographs and reviews from CCÉ's annual North American concert tours. Additionally, it contains programs from CCÉ's annual North American Provincial Conventions, regional Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and Fleadh Cheoil competitions in Ireland. Research files include biographical sketches, interview transcripts, recordings of performances and interviews, and sheet music manuscripts of Irish and Scottish music. While the collection includes music manuscripts from as early as approximately 1920, the bulk of the materials date from the founding of CCÉ North America in 1972.
Dates
- Creation: approximately 1920-2025, undated
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1972 - 2015
Creator
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Organization)
Language of Materials
This collection is primarily in English with some Irish.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Some audiovisual media in this collection have been digitally copied; all original media were retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.
The audio reels are not available for playback due to format impermanence and cannot be reformatted by Burns Library at this time. Please let Burns Library Public Services know of your specific interest; when it becomes possible we will schedule reformatting.
Conditions Governing Use
These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
Historical note: Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ)
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) was founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1951 to promote Irish music, song, dance, and language. In January 1951, members of the Thomas Street (Dublin) Pipers' Club met in County Westmeath to form an organization to promote Irish traditional music and to plan an annual festival of Irish music, song and dance. The first Fleadh Cheoil (music festival) was held in Mullingar in May 1951, and the first officers of Cumann Ceoltóirí na hÉireann were elected on October 14, 1951 in Dublin. The following year, the organization changed its name to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The aim of the Fleadh Cheoil was to publicize traditional music and to forestall a decline in its popularity in Ireland. After only five years, the annual Fleadh had grown to a major national festival featuring performances from traditional musicians, singers, and dancers from throughout Ireland.
There are currently branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in every county in Ireland, which sponsor classes, concerts and cultural events in local communities. There are over 400 branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann worldwide including more than 50 branches in North America.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's North American Province was established in Chicago in 1972. It sponsored its first concert tour group in October 1972, and continued to support concerts, dance classes, music instruction, and other events in traditional Irish arts throughout the United States and Canada.
CCÉ's headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. CCÉ North America is organized into seven regional branches: Canada East, Canada West, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Southern and Western.
Sources:
"Comhaltas North America." Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann North America. accessed on October 28, 2010,
http://ccenorthamerica.org.
"History." Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. accessed June 17, 2009,
http://comhaltas.ie/about/history/.
McGraw, Ted. "The Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Archive of Traditional Irish Music," Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore, vol. 29: 3-4 (2003): 44-45.
Partial Extent
38.25 Linear Feet (38 containers)
Partial Extent
2909 Gigabytes (200 files with approximately 137 hours of audio and video)
Abstract
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is an international organization for the promotion of Irish music, song, dance, and language. These records document the history and activities of the CCÉ Province in North America, with related material from CCÉ in Ireland. The collection includes administrative records, promotional artifacts, and biographical materials, as well as recordings of performances, interviews, and other events.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in three series: I. Administration and history; II. Events and activities; and III. Research materials and oral histories.
Series I, Administration and history, is further arranged in four subseries: A. International administration; B. Provincial administration; C. Regional administration; and D. Branch administration.
Series II, Events and activities, is further arranged in five subseries: A. North American tours; B. North American Provincial Convention; C. Hall of Fame inductions; D. Fleadh Cheoil competitions; and E. Other CCÉ events.
Series III, Research materials and oral histories, is further arranged in four subseries: A. Biographical materials; B. Recordings; C. Printed materials; and D. Sheet music.
Custodial History
The CCÉ North America Collection of Irish Music Materials was established at Boston College in 2001 by Ted McGraw, Chair of the Archives Committee of CCÉ North America, under the guidance of then Provincial Chair, Frank Kennedy. The purpose of the collection is to document traditional Irish music and CCÉ activities in North America. Donors include Gerard Buckley, David Burke, Assunta Casey, Kelly Chole, Cathy Clarke, Mitzie Collins, Séamus Connolly, Eamonn Conway, John Daly, Eileen Dillon, Martin Donohoe, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Dooher, Richard Erwin, Helen Gannon, Ray Hallman, Karin Joyce, Frank and Regina Kennedy, Frankie McCormick, Bill McEvoy, Ted and Bridget McGraw, Anne Marie McLaughlin, Andrea Mori, Richard Muir, May Mullins, Ruairí Ó Bróin, Jim O'Leary, Jack and Victoria Pendergast, Ed Reavy Jr., Larry Reynolds, Brendan Tunney, and George Walker.
Provenance
Gift from the Archive Committee of CCÉ North America and Ted McGraw (Archivist), 2001-2021.
Separated Materials
Published works associated with this collection have been transferred within the Burns Library and can be found in the Boston College Library catalog.
Processing Information
As a result of a library systems change in 2017, the identification number of this collection was modified from IMC.M104 to IM.M104.2001.
Source
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Branch (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Tom Finucane Branch (Rochester, NY) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Philadelphia-Delaware Valley Branch (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. St. Louis Irish Arts Branch (St. Louis, MO) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Seán Ó Riada Branch (Albany, NY) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Mulligan-Quinn Branch (Long Island, NY) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Martin Wynne Branch (Buffalo, NY) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Craobh Dugan (Utica, NY) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Murphy Roche (Chicago, IL) (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Mid-Atlantic Region (Organization)
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Burke Curry Seery Branch (Western Massachusetts) (Organization)
- McGraw, Ted (Edward R.), 1937-2024 (Person)
- Sweeney, Elizabeth (Librarian) (Person)
- Kennedy, Frank (Francis) (Person)
- Pendergast, Jack (John Edward) (Person)
Topical
- Duplicate programs and publications
- Duplicate programs and publications
- Reference copy AV materials
- Duplicate and out of scope published AV materials
- Title
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann North America Collection of Irish Music Materials
- Status
- Under Revision
- Subtitle
- approximately 1920-2025, undated
- Author
- Matthew Heitzman, Summer 2009; Chrissy McKeon, February 2014; Bill Kelson, June 2014; Elizabeth Peters
- Date
- 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2025 June: Added accruals 2015-2025.
Repository Details
Part of the John J. Burns Library Repository
John J. Burns Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
617-552-4861
burns@bc.libanswers.com