Mr. Séamus Mac Cormaic:

Is mise Séamus Mac Cormaic, iar-uachtarán an chomhaltais. I mo theannta tá Attracta Ni Bhradaigh, ard ollamh, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann anuraidh, Ann Marie Ní Ghallacóir, oifigeach caidreamh poibli, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann i nDoire 2013, agus Pádraig Ó Flannagáin, oifigeach caidreamh poibli an chomhaltais. Táimid fíor-bhuíoch as an chuireadh a thabhairt dúinn teacht anseo inniu.

We are delighted to be here today to make a presentation on Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. It was founded in Mullingar in 1951, its aims being the promotion and fostering of Irish traditional music, song, dance, the Irish language and all aspects of Irish culture. In the past 62 years the movement has endeavoured to work on achieving these aims with considerable success. Today Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has in excess of 400 branches with units in every county in Ireland, units in Britain, in the United States and Canada, in Australia, in South America and in a number of European and Asian countries. Branches outside of Ireland provide a significant link for the Irish diaspora and promote our culture to wide spectrum internationally. Tour concert groups from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann travel to Britain and North America every year and we also respond to invites from other countries. Groups have accompanied Presidents and trade delegations from Ireland on numerous occasions and this year we have entertained dignitaries during Ireland's presidency of the EU.

A central element in CCE activity is our education programmes and Attracta will give an overview of all the aspects of the education programmes. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is a community-based movement with a democratic structure based on a constitution, ar a dtugaimid an bunreacht. Branches and county and regional boards elect officers annually. There are six provincial councils with the governing body, the ard comhairle, being elected by the membership.

Volunteerism is at the heart of all Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann related activities and this is a key strength in our movement. More than 1,000 classes are organised to assist in the transmission of music, song and dance to succeeding generations. Fleadhanna ceoil are held in each county and region to enable young performers to pace themselves on the road to excellence. In excess of 25,000 young people take part in the fleadh competitions annually.

Ann Marie Ní Ghallachóir will give a presentation later on Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann 2013, which will be held in Derry in August.

Over the past decade, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has established seven regional resource centres and nine outreach centres to provide services to branches and communities throughout Ireland. We acknowledge with gratitude the significant support from Governments in recent years, which has provided financial support to enable these premises to be completed and to be debt free. We also acknowledge ongoing Government support to enable us to keep a core staff to provide backup to the thousands of volunteers in Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. In a major review of the financial affairs of CCE, conducted by the Government in 2009, we were singled out for praise in regard to accountability for use of State funding, particularly in regard to value for money.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is a major youth movement and up to 70% of fleadh attendees are young people. Today young people are proud to play Irish traditional music, sing Irish songs and dance sean nós and group dances. Young people involved in CCE-related activities have a significant focus away from anti-social behaviour. Young people are involved at all levels and we reserve two places on our governing body, the ard chomhairle, for people under 25. CCE has been supportive of the Irish language since its foundation. Tá an teanga Gaeilge fite fuaite tré gach gné de imeachtaí an chomhaltais. We have produced a programme to support people learning the language, Focal ar Fhocal. The language is promoted informally through all comhaltas related activities.

Visitors to Ireland want to experience events and activities that are distinctly Irish. Through our seisiún shows during the summer and through our fleadhanna and traditional festivals we provide a range of experiences for visitors and we give visitors an insight into a variety of aspects of traditional Irish culture. Other significant areas of comhaltas activity include: the collection of archive material, songs, stories, tunes and dances; Trad for Trócaire, an annual event to support the Third World; and liaison with organisations with similar aims, such as the GAA, Foras na Gaeilge and Conradh na Gaeilge.

Mar fhocal scoir, gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as ucht an seans a thabhairt duinn labhairt anseo inniu. Attracta Brady will now present the details in regard to all aspects of the comhaltas education programme.