Musicians forge links and friendships in Ireland

ST JAMES the Great Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann recently visited Ireland to forge close links with two branches of the Irish cultural organisation, and it was music, music, music all the way.

The St James the Great Branch (SJTG) based in the Pollok area on the south side of Glasgow, was formed in 1989. It was the brainchild of two local men, parish priest and Mullingar native, the late Monsignor Matthew Canon Coakley and parishioner, the late Rory Campbell. Several of Mr Campbell’s family members are still active in the branch and took part in the visit.

With a membership of 130 and having medal winners as well as All-Ireland winners amongst that number, the branch committee felt the time was right for it to establish links with branches in Ireland.

Following a series of successful fundraising events during the later months of last year and with financial support from the Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig Fund administered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, a party of musicians, tutors and adults from the branch, led by chairperson, Wendy Doherty, assembled in a Pollok car park at 4am on a bitterly cold February morning for the first leg of the journey to their ultimate destination, an area known by many as the home of traditional Irish music, County Clare.

By coach to Cairnryan, then by ferry to Belfast in time to board the coach for the weekend’s journeys. The first stop was Ballynacargy in County Westmeath (population 280) for a visit with the local CCÉ branch. The visit had been arranged by SJTG committee member and tutor, Ann Marie Stafford, who had spent many a childhood summer in the village with her cousin, now a member of the Ballynacargy Branch. The visitors were welcomed by the branch chairperson and accomplished banjo player, Joe Connaire (above), who had also chaired the organising committee for the Mullingar Fleadhanna in 2022 and 2023.

Following a splendid lunch, that gave the members of both branches an opportunity to get to know each other, and a welcome address in both Irish and English by Joe—in which he expressed his branch committee’s intention to plan for a reciprocal visit to Glasgow—he invited all the musicians present to join in a seisiún that, as well as a selection of music, included an exhibition of dance by some of the local young CCÉ members. The group also had the pleasure of meeting some family members of Mgr Coakley, who had travelled from Mullingar for the occasion.

Before setting off on the long journey to the weekend hostel accommodation in The Burren in County Clare, SJTG chairperson, Wendy Doherty, thanked the Ballynacargy CCÉ members for their generous hospitality and expressed the hope that the Glasgow branch would soon have an opportunity to welcome our new Irish friends to Scotland.

The next day saw a later start, with a visit to sites in the 340 to 350 million years old limestone landscape that is The Burren, before heading to the village of Crusheen (population 550) in County Clare to join up with the local Croisín Branch of Comhaltas. The visit had come about following a chat between Róisín Reid, Treasurer of SJTG, and a committee member of the Irish branch at the 2025 Fleadh in Wexford.

The group was welcomed to Crusheen by concertina player, traditional music historian and songwriter, Tim Collins. Tim has been a member of the renowned Kilfenora Ceili Band for many years and had agreed to hold a workshop for the tutors and the young musicians—what a privilege for the SJTG Branch. At the same time, SJTG tutor and former All-Ireland accordion title holder, Michael Dudgeon, held a workshop for Croisín musicians.

After lunch we were entertained to a few amazing stories from the local Seanachaí (folklore storyteller) Eddie Lenihan before both groups of musicians came together and music, song and dance filled the air all afternoon. All too soon it seemed, it was time, reluctantly, for the group to leave, but not before Wendy thanked Tim and the Croisín CCÉ members for their time and expressed the hope that they would pay a reciprocal visit to Glasgow.

So it was back to the accommodation, but not before a stop for dinner and another seisiún with local musicians at a local restaurant.

Monday started with a wet and very windy visit to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. Facing on to the Atlantic Ocean and rising entirely vertically to 214 metres the Cliffs, which along with The Burren form a UNESCO Global Geopark, are a major visitor attraction on Ireland’s 1500 miles long Wild Atlantic Way.

Then it was on to the village of Doolin, with its historic roots in Irish culture and folklore, and into O’Connor’s pub-restaurant for lunch, plenty of chat and yet another afternoon seisiún of music before heading for a visit to the Clare County Town of Ennis to join musicians there for a seisiún. Then it was back to our accommodation to prepare to head home the following day.

The weekend visit to Ireland was one that the young SJTG musicians will never forget. As one remarked: “It was a superb weekend of music, of learning and of friendship. I’ll be forever grateful that I got the opportunity to experience it.”

Commenting on the success of the weekend, branch chairperson, Wendy Doherty, added: “Our recent visit to Ireland was a demonstration of the fellowship that exists within Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. It was a pleasure to spend time with our group of talented young musicians and their tutors as we visited two CCÉ branches. I am so grateful to the members of the Ballynacargy and Croisín Branches for spending so much time with us and I look forward to welcoming them to Glasgow in the not too distant future.”