About Us
Cobh Comhaltas offers group lessons and sessions weekly at Gaelscoil Uí Éigeartaigh. We offer instruction in 8 different instruments from our 8 dedicated instructors. Cobh Comhaltas provides an excellent opportunity for individuals of all ages, kids and adults included, to learn to play traditional music. All music abilities are catered for and our weekly group trad sessions allow everyone to participate and have a great time.
Committee and Volunteers
Our branch is run entirely by a hardworking group of volunteer committee members. We are always on the lookout for new members so please contact us if you wish to join in.
Classes & Sessions
We offer group lessons every Monday during the term, starting from 7pm to 9pm. Each lesson lasts for 30 minutes and includes a teacher and fellow learners who share your skill level. We have three skill levels available, catering to Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced learners, making it accessible to anyone eager to start learning. We have instructor lead sessions every Monday night between lessons to experience playing with a group and learn new tunes.
Timetable
Level Descriptions
- Beginner: From just starting out to being able to play 1 to 2 tunes.
- Improver: Can play 3 to 4 tunes and has the ability to sit in on a session.
- Advanced: Focusing on learning technique and ornamentation and is able to learn a new tune each week.
Lesson and Membership fees
Our fees per term are below. We continuously review our fee structure to keep costs as low as possible but still allow us to provide funding for our paid instructors.
We do want to encourage everyone to try out new instruments and so we do offer a discounted rate for adults wishing to take up a second instrument. To attend lessons a Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann membership fee is also included as part of the lesson costs.
- Child: €65 for 10 lessons (Comhaltas membership fee included)
- Adult: €110 for 10 lessons (Comhaltas membership fee included)
*Second instrument: €60
Information about the Spring Term - 2025
Our Spring term will began Monday night the 10th of February. Class times are from 7pm to 9pm.
Setlist
Our set-list provides a great way to focus practice sessions and learn a few tunes that you can play along with us at one of our sessions. We host weekly sessions in our hall between classes and everyone is welcome to join in. We will have additional playing opportunities during the year so our set list was established so we have tunes we can play together as a group. We will be adding more tunes to our standard set list during the year and are open to adding new tunes on so please just join in and let us know what you'd like to play. All page numbers are from Seinn Port 112 Great Session Tunes.
| Maggie in the Woods (p8) | Kerry Polka (p5) |
| Rathlin Bog (p5) | Terry Teahan's (p9) |
| Tripping to the Well (p8) | Armagh Polka (p10) |
| Out on the Ocean (p17) | the Miller of Glanmire (p13) |
| The Leg of the Duck (p13) | the Blackthorn Stick (p14) |
| The Foggy Dew (p11) | Shoe the Donkey (p11) |
| The Haunted House (p16) |
New tunes - some great new tunes for everyone to work on during the term - the more tunes we can play as a group the more fun we can make the sessions. Please feel fee to suggest additional tunes to add to our repertoire
| Reels | Hornpipes | Slip Jigs |
| Crowley's Reel (p46) | The Boy's of Bluehill (p32) | A Fig for Kiss (P28) |
| The Wind the Shakes the Barley (p44) | Harvest Home (p34) | Hunting The Hare (p28) |
| Anything for John Joe (p42) | The Navigator (p33) | The Rocky Road to Dublin (p13) |
Instruments
At Cobh Comhaltas, our mission is to foster a love for traditional Irish music in our community. Whether you're a novice or an experienced musician, we've got something for you.
Here is a selection of the instruments available for lessons:
- bodhrán
- concertina
- banjo
- tin whistle
- fiddle
- harp
- button accordion
- guitar
Renting
A limited number of rental instruments are available through Cobh Comhaltas or Crowley’s Music. If you have a Cobh Comhaltas rental instrument we have made it easy to register and pay for your rental online. Follow this link for instructions on how to pay for the term.
Child Protection and Usage Statement
All of our instructors and committee members are Garda vetted and adhere to the strict child protection policy of CCÉ.
Gaelscoil Uí Éigeartaigh facilities usage statement is linked here: Usage Statement
Funding Sources
Cobh Comhaltas would like to acknowledge the support of Music Network, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the Arts Council through the Music Network instrument fund to aid in our instrument purchases during 2024. In addition we would like to thank Cobh Credit Union for the student sponsorship program to fund classes for new traditional music players. To everyone in the community who has supported us through donations and time, thank you all.
Contact
You can also reach out to us via email at comhaltascobh@outlook.com.