Mr. Labhrás Ó Murchú:

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann comes at it from a different perspective after 60 years. When there was a vacuum, we decided to fill it. We created our own education structure with 1,200 classes each week. At our cultural institute in Dublin we have 120 classes weekly. To give an idea of scale, each year at the Fleadh Cheoil, 25,000 young people compete. The numbers are exceptionally big. We also found that it was like a nursery. One needed this goal, but once it is outside in the community there is also a social aspect for young people which they enjoy. The standards are a matter of young people pacing each other on the road to excellence. This has struck me on a few occasions.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was selected to represent Ireland at five world expos in the past 20 years, twice in Japan, and once in Spain, China and Milan. We also do Ireland day for the President. When President Mary McAleese was in China, we provided the grouping for that and did the same for President Michael D. Higgins in Milan. I make this point because it gives an idea of the standards that are being achieved. Young people of a certain age will take it on themselves to expand and enhance. We have the National Folk Orchestra, but we also have four regional orchestras at the moment, and all that came from the ground, outside the school. Universities are also very much embracing music. The Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, does an excellent job in this area, as does the University of Limerick, NUI Galway and UCC. That has emerged in the past 15 or 20 years. An organic growth is taking place.

Essentially, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann feels that it filled a vacuum and that our approach to musicians is that of a nursery.