Comhaltas

Trad Irish Music
1

We are in the process of starting up a Comhaltas chapter here in Arizona. This will be the first branch in our State and an addition to the mere three branches currently established in the Western region of North America. Needless to say Comhaltas is excited to have the additional representation here in the West.

Having never seen any discussion here in the forums I was just curious how many of you are involved with the organization throughout the US or elsewhere. Do you have any praises to sing regarding the resource Comhaltas has been for your local music scene? Do you have any negative experiences from the organization?

2

The Comhaltas Chapter in Boston is very active. It runs an ITM school for most instruments on Satuday mornings for 10-12 week cycles, every Fall and Winter. We are fortunate to who some nationally known players who live in the area and also teach.

There’s also a regular session and special performances such as

  • Tuesday, April 1st :black_small_square: 7-9 p.m. :black_small_square:

Concert – "Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, and Irish Flute

By Cillian Vallely and Kevin Crawford

Boston College ~ Connolly House

Here are a couple of links.

http://www.cceboston.org/
http://www.ccebostonmusicschool.org/

I can’t say enough good things about the many volunteers who make it all work.

3

The Clontarf Branch of Comhaltas - the largest in Ireland, and possibly the world - over the last 20 years fundraised, begged, and lobbied all the agencies, Government, Arts Council, City Council etc., and recently completed the construction of an €11 million Centre for Traditional Arts - ‘The Clasach’.
In a row over control, i.e. who’s the boss - the Clontarf Branch have now been suspended and face dissolution by Comhalts HQ who want to nominate ALL the management board, with no Clontarf or local input.
There is no democracy within Comhaltas, control is centralised in a manner that the Dear Leader in North Korea would envy.
moral of the story ? don’t trust them, don’t join them.

4




But not a surprising set of events, they like their control and power don’t they? I mean, read up on the history of Na Piobairi Uilleann or the Willie Clancy Week. Or the funding of the Arts episode. And that’s only for starters.

5

This is normal in any organization. I have seen it several times through other charitable organizations I have been invoved with.

A bunch of locals, with only the best motives in their hearts, based on their status as members of a well-known organization, set out to accomplish some noble goal or other. They bust their buns for years, overcoming huge barriers, until they finally manage to succeed.

Two things are wrong, here: a). The locals are really only using the good name, marks, and credit of the higher organization to legitimize themselves and their efforts, and b). the locals’ focus and goal(s) really only helps their own locality, even though it is accomplished under the name of the larger organization.

When you use a larger organization for the furtherance of your own goals, the larger organization always takes over afterwards. The only way around this is to start off local and independent, and stay that way for the duration of the project. This often tends to put a crimp on what can be achieved locally, however.

djm

6

I’m not associated with it, but yes, Comhaltas is active here and Larry Reynolds (its president) is fantastic.

however, that concert has nothing to do with Comhaltas- it’s organized by Seamus Connolly through the Irish Studies Program at BC and its affiliate Gaelic Roots. hope to see you there though!

7

wrong on both counts.
The ‘locals’ are, or were, until suspended/dissolved, a branch of Comhalts in good standing. The Clasach development was initiated by Clontarf branch in full consultation with Comhaltas and as a project that was vested in Comhaltas - i.e. the property ownership is vested in the Comhaltas trustees.
The Clasach was intended as a venue for traditional arts with a number of different sized performance areas - most definitely NOT just 'their own locality, which most certainly could not sustain a major venue of this scale. The only other such venue in Dublin is Comhaltas HQ - the so-called ‘Culturlann’ which is both small and relatively inaccessible. The Clasach is 10 minutes from the centre of Dublin, and beside a Dart station.
Anyway, that’s enough - I’m not a member of Comhaltas, have little connection with Clontarf branch, which is just as well or I might find your comments quite offensive.

8

My mistake. Though I found the listing on the Comholtas site. And the Comholtas classes are based at BC. To this outside observer it appears that the various ITM-supporting organizations around Boston seem to cooperate pretty well. I’m sure there are issues but to consumers like me it’s a good deal.

Logistics have always kept me from the BC Irish studies music programs. Maybe it will work out this time.

9

Clarity from Clonfarf, silence from Monkstown:

10

very interesting discussion about Clasach on RTE at lunchtime today - the programme received a copy of a letter from Comhaltas HQ, addressed to Clontarf Branch confirming dissolution, dated 14th March - yet none of the officers of Clontarf Branch have seen it !
A member of the ‘new’ Clontarf Branch spoke on the programme, when pressed as to how many people were at the meeting to vote on setting up the ‘new and approved’ branch, her phone suddenly disconnected. (apparently there may have been as many as 5, many of them related, and some who work in Comhaltas HQ) - Clontarf Branch has over 100 members.
This is nothing short of a blatant power and glory grab - power of control, and the glory of - look what good boys we are, look what we’ve done.
All of the work in connection with the Clasach was done by Clontarf Branch, all very quietly, no public blowing of horns, always under the banner of Comhaltas on the understanding that they would have 5 members on the Board of management of Clasach - a minority, but remember - these are the people who drove the entire operation - lobbied for the site from the City Council, lobbied for grants from Government agencies, fundraised for years for the balance - none of this work was done by Comhaltas HQ.
My connection, by the way, is not as a member of any Comhaltas branch - I live in Clontarf, and know several of the people involved, know how hard they worked, and the absolute good faith of all their actions.
Read the information at the link Peter provided, and if you are a member of Comhaltas - any branch - write to HQ and object, at the very least, to the undemocratic and arrogant manner in which they have acted.

11

In response to misinformed speculation regarding Clontarf CCE and the Comhaltas Clasaċ project at Clontarf, the Ardchomhairle of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann feels obliged to release the following information;

The Ardchomhairle of Comhaltas, which is elected by the general membership through the Provincial and Annual Congress structures, is charged with the proper governance of the organisation including financial matters and the rights of individual members.

Clontarf CCÉ set up the Clasaċ sub-committee to spearhead the building of a centre on Dublin’s Northside. The Clasaċ building was subsequently to be recognised as one of seven Regional Resource Centres of Comhaltas and funded as such by the Ardchomhairle under the grant - aided Development Programme of the organisation. The local Comhaltas would also have a home in the centre. The local committee - as was the case with the other regional centres - was expected through fundraising to make a substantial contribution. This never materialised.

The cost of the project rose to over € 9,000,000. The Clasaċ development committee splintered with most of the early advocates of the project resigning, claiming mismanagement of the project and raising questions regarding financial matters.

Several other centres which were scheduled to receive funding under the Development Programme agreed to forego this funding to help prop up the Clasaċ project.

The Trustees of Comhaltas carried out an investigation of the project and issued a highly critical report, which was adopted by the Ardchomhairle. This report was discussed with representatives of the local committee who accepted its findings.

This situation reached crisis point in December 2007 when debts of almost € 2,000,000 incurred by the Clasaċ committee, remained unpaid. Several small contractors who have not been paid for their work on the project were facing financial ruin. The chairman of the local branch of Comhaltas who was also chairman of the Clasaċ development committee, Maurice Mullen, in the presence of a professional arbitrator on the 7th of December 2007, met with the main contractor and undertook to pay a portion of the outstanding debts prior to Christmas. This payment never materialised.

The Ardchomhairle at this stage had no option but to intervene. It established a modus operandi to stabilise the situation. This is chaired by the Secretary General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and includes the Treasurer General. The Ardchomhairle borrowed € 2,000,000 from the bank to pay the outstanding debts.

The local committee initiated an application for refund of VAT. It has refused to provide the Ardchomhairle with all documentation and information relating to the basis and process of the application by the local committee to the Revenue Commissioners for refund of VAT, which had in fact been paid by the Ardchomhairle. We have not had sight of the invoices submitted to substantiate this VAT claim. As the VAT had already been paid to Comhaltas by way of grant-aid, a refund would be deemed to be double funding and the local committee was informed of this. Invoices for all work carried out were in the name of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co Dublin, which were paid by Comhaltas and re-claimed as such (including VAT) from the Department which was supplied with original copies of the invoices and the Architect’s Certificates which were audited and certified.

In the course of the process initiated by by the Ardchomhairle to investigate and regularise all the financial dealings of the project, a decision was made by some people in the local committee to deregister the VAT status and the refund received was returned to the Revenue Commissioners. This fundamental and serious move did not have the required sanction of a properly convened meeting of the full membership of the local branch.

The various directives issued unanimously by the 31- member Ardchomhairle were not brought, within the specified time, to a properly convened meeting of the full membership of the branch to allow them to have an input into their future within the organisation. This was a clear breach of the organisation’s Bunreacht.

The situation has now been stabilised; the Centre is in the process of completion and will be opened later in the year.

It is a source of regret to the Ardchomhairle that the local committee did not avail of the several opportunities provided to regularise its position within the organisation; take responsibility for its actions and be in full conformity with the Bunreacht of Comhaltas.

The Ardchomhairle, following several postponments of its directives was left with no choice but to fulfil its obligations and disolve the branch. However there will be a modus operandi to acknowledge and recognise the members who were not afforded their constitutional rights to have an input into the matters under review.

http://comhaltas.ie/press_room/detail/clontarf/

12

and now for the truth : from www.cluaintarbh.net -

Response to issues raised in HQ’s letter of 14 March and its press statement of 28 March 2008

HQ has presented misleading and false information in its letter of 14 March and its press statement of 28 March. The branch Executive Committee asks members to note the following facts:

VAT
The branch has responded fully to all the queries raised by HQ within the suspension period, including in relation to VAT refund matters. Furthermore, the VAT refund position has been explained in the information notes provided to members at the EGM and the general meeting on 1 March.

The VAT refund was handled in conjunction with HQ with the benefit of expert tax advice. Allegations of any irregularities in relation to the VAT refund can only be treated as malicious as HQ was the original promoters of the refund, it agreed to the application process and supplied most of the information required. This included registering CLASAC as a separate taxable entity.

HQ was also made fully aware of the tax implications of it taking control of the centre, including that the VAT refund would have to be returned to Revenue. At its meeting on 25 February the branch Executive Committee adopted the advice of the tax expert to return the refund in full to Revenue as we were legally obliged to do. The termination of the VAT registration was an integral part of that process and the branch’s actions in relation to the VAT refund were vindicated in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.

The use of our repayment of VAT as a pretext for dissolving the branch is totally unwarranted.

Debts
HQ’s assertion that the branch incurred huge debts and that no provision was made for their payment is grossly misleading. HQ caused the financial problems.

It had been agreed with HQ from the outset of the project, and as part of our business plan, that a bank loan would be arranged to supplement Government grants and fundraising to cover the cost of the project. HQ had no difficulty at that time with the trustees entering into the loans on behalf of the branch. (Indeed, HQ representatives participated fully in the negotiations with the bank). Had these arrangements been put in place as agreed there would not have been any financial difficulties for any of the contractors.

The agreed bank loans were successfully negotiated to cover all outstanding project costs, but at the eleventh hour HQ withdrew its support by preventing the Trustees (the only persons under the Comhaltas constitution entitled to do so) from signing for the loans on our behalf. HQ even suggested individual branch members provide the collateral (you will recall the EGM on 8 January).

HQ then blamed us for not having the funding in place to pay contractors and used this as their excuse to take the centre from us. HQ staff, who had been handling payments to contractors up to that point, then directed all contractors to seek outstanding payments from named branch officers.

In an effort to allay fears the branch engaged into direct dialogue with contractors to explain the unjustifiable actions of HQ. On the basis that it expected to receive the VAT refund about mid December 2007 the CLASAC committee (which included a Comhaltas HQ employee) agreed unanimously to allocate a portion of the expected refund to the main contractor as a means of providing some alleviation. The main contractor was informed of this decision on 7 December, subject to the refund actually being received.

While the expected refund materialised about a fortnight later, the question of the branch being in a position to retain and utilise the VAT refund arose in the intervening time. The contractor was immediately informed of this further development. The branch maintained the dialogue with the contractors and it appreciates very much the forbearance and understanding shown by all the contractors during this period as it sought to have the trustees commit on the branch’s behalf to the agreed loan arrangements.

Informing the branch
HQ’s assertion that there was a serious breach of the Bunreacht because the branch failed to bring key correspondence to the attention of a full meeting of the branch is specious.

All requests from the branch since the EGM on 8 January to meet HQ have been turned down. This stands in marked contrast to the approach adopted by the branch Executive Committee where all correspondence from HQ was discussed in detail and where, during a 10 week period, the whole branch met on 4 separate nights to discuss all matters.

The unanimous vote of confidence in the branch Executive Committee at the general meeting on 19 March also undermines HQ’s position.

No appeal process
The letter of 14 March informing us of the dissolution of the branch makes no provision for any appeal. HQ has acted as judge, jury and executioner in our case.

The branch has been denied a fair hearing at every stage of the dispute, including:
· Our correspondence setting out our case has been withheld from the members of the Ard Comhairle,
· Our formal request to meet the Ard Comhairle was also withheld from them.
· The normal appeal process through the County Board as provided for in the Comhaltas constitution has been denied to us because of HQ’s instruction to Dublin County Board not to deal with our case and to exclude our representatives from their meetings.

Statement of Clontarf branch of Comhaltas 29 March 2008

Clontarf branch of Comhaltas rejects outright the version of events/statement issued yesterday by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The statement is as mischievous as it is inaccurate and represents one more attempt by Comhaltas HQ to muddy the waters to cover up their own improper actions in dissolving the Branch and in taking over our CLASAC centre project.

Clontarf branch has been teaching traditional music in Dublin for 45 years. Clontarf conceived CLASAC as a world-class centre for the performance, teaching and fostering of traditional music.

Clontarf has led the development for the past 15 years, including acquiring the site, running many fundraising activities, securing public funding for the project, obtaining planning permission and managing the building project to completion. A professional design team has successfully controlled all costs.

For the past two years, during the building phase, the branch worked closely with HQ. However, it became progressively clear in recent months that their main interest was to take control of centre after the hard work was done and the building was ready to open.

At the eleventh hour HQ withdrew their support for previously agreed bank loans that had been successfully negotiated to cover all outstanding project costs. They then blamed us for not having the funding in place to pay contractors and used this as their excuse to take the centre from us.

In a further step in their campaign against the branch, they used the issue of repayment of VAT as a pretext for dissolving the branch. At all stages the branch acted with the benefit of professional tax advice, and the actions in relation to the VAT refund were vindicated in writing by the Revenue Commissioners. Allegations of any irregularities in relation to the VAT refund can only be treated as malicious as Comhaltas HQ were the original promoters of the refund, they agreed to the application process and supplied most of the information required.

In making key decisions against the interests of the branch, Comhaltas HQ withheld vital information from the Central Executive Council, they refused to allow the branch make their case directly and they refused the branch any avenue of appeal. Furthermore, all requests by the branch to meet representatives of HQ to try and resolve the difficulties were rejected.

Branch members are incensed by their treatment and what they see as bullying and intimidatory tactics by HQ and by the continual distortion of the facts by them, including the latest press statement. At the most recent general meeting of the branch on 19 March the members unanimously endorsed the actions of the Branch executive committee and rejected the dissolution.

The branch activities will continue as normal, including the very significant teaching programme for children. Many messages of support have been received from Comhaltas branches at home and abroad and from the wider traditional music community

The Branch demands to be reinstated and the return of the Clasac project. Justice and fair play demand nothing less.

13

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bitter-row-erupts-over-funding-for-trad-centre-1332262.html

This sounds like a classic “he said, she said” case requiring truly independent arbitration in the courts or elsewhere to sort things out. Maybe Hillary Clinton should step in again and bring lasting peace to Northern Dublin. :wink:

Meanwhile, I’m sure it’s the ordinary Comhaltas members, the students and musicians and dancers, who will suffer the consequences of the row.

My impression is that the Celtic Tiger is experiencing all manner of growing pains as a result of new affluence and exuberance, the temptations thereof, and inexperience therewith. Eleven million for what amounts to a music and culture club would have been unimaginable just a few short years ago, no?

14

Celtic Tiger? :wink:

15

I know who I am inclined to believe though John.

hmm… self proclaimed president for life…

take a look at their dealings with IMRO and where the money went there too

an account appears in the article:

McCann, Anthony. “Irish Traditional Music and the Copyright Debate.” Irish Folk Festival 2003.

which can be found at


http://www.beyondthecommons.com/iff2003.html

on the other hand, I know many dedicated local branches and the people that run them that have done extraordinary good for musicians and the tradition

it is the top of the organization I find hard to take

16

Sure Ben, I can imagine. I’m far too ignorant of the particulars to wield a partisan opinion. But this is an interesting thread, and the situation reinforces some of my preconceptions about the way Comhaltas operates. If Clontarf have the facts on their side, and HQ have much to hide, I’d think an open neutral accounting would greatly benefit the aggrieved party. And the sooner the better for the membership caught in the middle.

17

With discussions raging on different fronts like thesession.org and mudcat, a lot of information is available.


The only ‘ordinary’ members of the organisation, as far as I can see, suffering are those who found their branch dissolved and the fruit of their labours taken away from them.

The point has been made over and over that the general behaviour exhibited here by the Comhaltas HO is not at all unprecedented. It fits a pattern that can be seen throughout the history of the organisation. It has happened before and will happen again if the members of the organisation put up with it.

18

I would tend to be disposed to believe anything bad about Comhaltas HQ and its leader (being myself a long-standing member of the schismatic church of NPU).

But before anyone gets too carried away on this thread, I suggest you all read the Mudcat thread (and thanks to Peter for pointing to it), in which Breandán (aka “b” on the less-informative Session.org thread) declares his interest from the outset, but tries to put fairly the case for CCE HQ, and admits quite openly that the organisation has been appallingly remiss in not setting out its side of the story.

19

by all means read Breandán’s comments - but do bear in mind that he works for Comhaltas HO and their responses to date are still spinning so rapidly that they are difficult to read!
Last Friday night I attended a fundraiser for Clontarf Comhaltas - aka the ‘Reel Branch’.
Place was packed out, standing room only - Performers included John Kelly and family, Mick O’Brien and family, Neillidh Mulligan, Nollaig Mac Carthaigh, Kevin and Seamus Glackin, Catherine McEvoy, Clontarf Comhaltas junior players, Fintan Vallelly, Liam O’Connor, Sean McKeon and so many more that I can’t remember, went on to 1.30am, wonderful night, a lot of support from other branches.
Without a doubt, Clontarf Comhaltas Branch will be around for a long time yet.
worth noting that the point was made by a speaker that Clontarf Comhaltas enjoy being in Comhaltas, want to be in Comhaltas, and intend to be in Comhaltas.

20

Just received an e-mail in which the dissolved Clontarf Branch asks for support by signing a petition at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/clontarf/

and if you’re inclined to do so, give them a bit of financial support.


A good cause I’d think.